Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-19
THIRD MAINE
CONTINUED from PAGE Onel


pictures of gas-mask drills and
throwing Of gas in France were
shown which brought home to the
men in the theatre just what a ter
rible thing the next war is going TO
be
F, The men of companies F of Angus
Ia and G of Waterville in common
with the others of the 3rd Battalion
have, in addition to their other du-
ties been receiving instruction in the
use Of the gas mask-hoW to wear it
and how to get it on quickly. The
men who never before wore one have
not yet become proficient. but they
soon will he and when they do they
Will be able to don their protection in
five or six seconds. the time they
must make if they hope to be safe.
In "a few, days these men will act
ually be gassed. But it viii not he
mustard gas or chlorine gas Or any of
the other serious ones. 1t will be
lachrymal OF tear gas.
! 1T won't hurt YOU a bit" Capt.
Mcintyre has been telling them. 1t
makes You CRY q little. | have been
J through the gas chamber forty times
lately and ! am far from dead yet"
There is no doubt that the men of
Companies r and {; are learning
somthing If men ever worked hard
they have. All during the morning
they have been plugging at close or
der instruction. which. in plain civil
ianese means that they have been
idrilling as the average person knows
! a soldier There have been games in
the physical exercise program, foot
inspection and other things Tuesday
they witnessed a review by tho 2Sd
Battalion. There are few leisure
moments for them until or so in
the afternoon and then they get busy
doing more work which is really play
for they 80 to their athletic sports
with a will.
Next Sunday the End Battalion will
go on the range. That means they
Will as q unit, receive their first in
struction in shooting. If the day
proves hot. they will have a time of
it The range that is being used by
place There is absolutely no shelter.
It is sand on all sides with the only
relief some poorly nourished grass
that grows up in Il discouraged sort
of way. Here the men receive their
instruction and shoot their rifles and
learn to plug out bullseyes.
Those Automobiles who have been
finding fault with detours in Maine
should take the ride from the Maine
area 10 tho range. The rocky Road
TO Dublin was a boulevard by COM
parson. 1t may have been road
once but it is no longer. From
the time the smooth surfaces
of the camp itself are left until the
range is reached there is nothing but
sand and rocks and rocks and sand.
Some of the boulders crop out nearly
two feet from the road. To so over
the road after dark would be an
accomplishment equal TO navigating
the Mississippi in the days of Mark
Twain. Why. if the immortal humor-
+ ist had ever seen this stretch of trail
when he was a pilot on the Father Of
, Waters. he would have thrown up
his hands and called il off.
The range is nearly two miles from
barracks. The men do not have 10
tramp over it. They are taken out in
trucks and brought in in tho same
way. Their dinner is carried with
them but their supper is eaten in the
regular mess hall and after being
ioltcd over that road twice, they
leave nothing for the garbage pail.
| All kinds OF pastry are being cooked
for the boys Of Co. F. Herbert Leon
ard is responsible for it and he has
already given them fresh doughnuts
for breakfast. frosted cake, and sew
craI kinds of pudding
Major Francis H. Farnum in
structor for the 3rd Maine, received
a terrible Jolt soon after the regiment
arrived in camp. After dark pri-
Nate came up 10 him and the follow
ing dialogue took place:
Can YOU tell me where my COM
pany isl"
What company"
II don't know"
"Who's Your captain
II don't know"
Where YOU FROM
Lewiston.
where's YOUR armory?'
Il don't know"
The colloquy continued little
longer and after much patience.
Major Farnum found out that the
armory Of the lost man was in the
rear of the hotel in Lewiston. The
rest of the case was easy and the
man was sent on his way.
DnaHT1