Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-17

Training Camp, where they watched
the boys in training. Returning to
the Vermont camp, NJ. Robinson says:
And the thing that impressed the
men the most: the one thing in the
whole long program that evoked the
most applause was the announcement
made by Gen. Edwards TO the men of
the Legion and to the students. follow
ing dinner
The General had dealt at some
length with what the Government is
trying to do with and for these bc.-s
who are attending the citizens camp.
He urged the National Guard men to
get behind the movement. and he said:
NOW it is up to all of US to inspire
these lads, to get solidly behind this
movement that means so much to our
country. And I promise YOU that if
you will get me 10000 boys at this
camp next year and get Congress to
give US the money with which to train
them, I'll move up here with my whole
in person. Then well get busy and
have another New England Division
ready to take the field each year"
Bedlam broke jo'se. The men ap-
plauded, stamped and cheered and to
a man they promised to do what the
"Old Man" asked.
When he was addressing the officers
at the Hostess House Gen. Edwards
said:
We are going to have next to no
Army at all in the United States; that
is, no Regular Army. But my idea is
to have both the Army and Navy a
great school in which to teach con.
structive citizenship to the youth OF
the United States and to prepare them
for the battle Of life
He told of the efforts that have been
made to give the boys who are attend
ing the camp this year the best posi-
BILE service and training. He ex-
pressed a desire that the Army may
always have men like Col Bolles here
to train men for service; men with
stripes on both arms (Col. Bolles
was wounded three times in the World
War) Gen. Edwards again cited the
example of Switzerland; small Ma
ton, but SO powerful that no other
Nation dared to monkey with her; a
Nation strong because every man in
his youth has had his body made
strong and his hand and arm trained
to defend his home in case of emer-
gency.
| There is a germ for your thought"
he said. First prepare our youth for
the battle Of life, and secondly pre-
pare them to defend their homes
inc aol-
never come"
During the inspection of the bar
! racks of the Vermont men both Gov
HARNESS and Gen. Edwards asked the
men many questions. Gen. Edwards
for the most part sought to find out
what actuated the men in joining the
National Guard.
! To a man OF Co Is, which comes
from Ludlow and is commanded by
Capt. E. c. Vail, he said
If someone came over here to clean
US up what would you do?"
Fight like hell, SIR" answered a
husky young Eermonter.
III bet YOU would" grinifed the
General
The Governor and the General and
the entire party, including the hun
dreds or Legion men, messed with the
50 Battalion at the Citizens Training
Camp. All sat right down with the
boys and ate their meal off enameled
plates, eating corned beef and cabbage.
pudding and coffee. After dinner the
General thanked the guests for COM
ing.
| Il am glad" he said, that you
could get here to see how these Door
youngsters suffer. (Laughter). Il
want also to thank You ex-service men
for coming back into the ranks. You
mad wonderful experience overseas
and it IS that experience that we are
seeking to capitalize. Those who re-
manned on this side had the harder ex-
perience, I think, for they ate their
hearts out because they were not at
the front, but they carried on just the
same You must remember that only
| SO per cent of rs got across to Europe
! don't anticipate that we are 60
ing TO have any military trouble for at
| least I'VE years. We had 1000. 600
men bled in the big war and 5000, 600
more ready to be bied. But we must
capitalize our experience, and remem-
Der that if Britain could have
spread over the years prior to the war
what the first six months of that war
cost her there would have been no
war at all"
He urged the ex-scrvice men to got
out among the boys of the country and
urge them to prepare. He said that it
Is costing the Government $50 per boy
to give the training this year, but he
THINKS that cost can be shaved"
You may get some arguments" he
aoded. The average boy of 16 and
girl of IA in America today thinks
they know more than their parents
II you doubt it just try to make your
daughter show her ears. But YOU
men who took the veil OF poverty and
the livery of slence.' as I call entering
the service. have much influence. Now
get out and inspire these lads And
Tell EN- that il they'll come back 10
! ooo strong next year I'll even have
manicures for en-"
Farm Buildings Near