Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-25
BLACK JACK PRAISES
Especial to Kennebec JournaI)

Camp Devens, Mass, Aug. a.
Chesty is not too strong a word to
describe the appearance of the men
of the 3rd Maine regiment, National
Guard. They have been reviewed. in
spected and praised by General John
J. Pershing, highest ranking officer
in the armies of the United States.
The great leader didn't praise the
men personally. but he did say some
. mighty fine things about them to
their commander, Col. Harry NJ.
ngelow and their commander-in-
chief. Governor Percival P. Baxter.
All this happened Monday when a
formal regimental review was held
! for the benefit of the Chief Executive
of the State. This review was
I planned as soon as the dates for the
annual tour of duty were set. It was
hoped that Maj. Gen. Clarence r. Ed
wards, commander of the First
Corps area, would attend Eut Gen
eral Pershing-not the most imagina-
! tive person in the Maine Guard even
dared to think that such an individual
| Would drop down on the camp. And
| then last week there came a rumor
| that General Pcrshing was to make
, a visit to Camp nevens, but nothing
, was said about Maine. 1t was even
then thought there was no possibility
| Of his being seen.
! Monday forenoon. however. there
! came a change. At 1870. the d;stin-
| guished fighter. accompanied by Gen
/ ~ Do 1f
! Maine. who had arrived the night be-
| fore, and Colonel Bigelow. attended a
review of the Citizens Military
| Training camp. General Mark l..
| Hersey beckoned to Colonel BigeIow,
who advanced TO General Pershing.
Colonel, I shall review your regi-
ment at els this afternoon
Colonel Bigelow didn't faint, but he
! afterwards admitted that he did feel
like sinking through the ground
AS son as the Maine comma nding
officer could get away, previous or
| ders for the review were counter
manded. New orders were issued,
careful instructions were given and
! then the review was held.
It was wonderfully successful. In
fershing, Major General Edwards.
| Brigadier General Hersey Governor
| Baxter, Col. Albert Greenlaw and a
host OF other distinguished individu-
ais. The affair went off without n
hitch.
Previous to the formal review. an
inspection was held General Per
, shlns, accompanied by the officers Of
each command, walked through the
opened ranks and carefully noted
each man. Every one who had a
wound stripe on his arm was given
a personal greeting and many Of
them were given little hints as to
what they should do.
You have a wonderful body of
men" said General Pershing to Gov
| crnor Baxter. you should be proud
to be at the head of the State that
produced them. And you, colonel.
should he proud to command them"
Both Governor Baxter and Colonel
BigeloW admitted they were proud
and when the words of praise were
later communicated to the officers
! and men, there was an epidemic of
genuine old-fashioned chestiness all
over the camp. It is regarded as very
doubtful if General Pershing has
given attention to MANY National
Guard regiments and certainly he has
personally inspected few since the
! war. That this honor was conferred
on Maine is another proof of his in
terest in the State, first around in
June, 1920, when he made three dsvs'
TOUR and visited most OF the accessi-
bic places in the Pine Tree State.
The l'ershing smile was every
Whcre present Monday and several
! hundred in the camp. given but scant
+, notice were present to see him.
After the ceremonies. General
/ Fcrshing Immediately drove to Ho,-
Yoke where he was the guest of Con-
gresham Allen Towner Treadway,
GOOD luck or something is smiling
: on the Maine men. Danny Maher,
cinenatosrapher and motion picture
! man extraordinary. Monday began a
! series of pictures illustrating the ac-
! Invites Of the ,3rd Maine. This is be-
! ING done at the request of Colonel
! Bigelow and Capt. Lester NJ. Hart of
me Maine Quartelmaster Corps has
been especially assigned TO the di-
rection OF the work. He has prepared
the scenario and is looking after the
j taking Of the pictures
Maf1sr was here Monday~and some
wonderful views Of General Pershine
and the review and inspection we're
taken. In all probability. these mo-
I ton pictures will be the most in
sTuctiVe and valuable ever taken for
! tho Guard.
There was genuine lost battalion
OF the Bird Maine this week. Ma Tor
Frank Il. Brown had ordered his out