Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-30
Devens No Place
for BOOtleggers

Especial to the Kennebec Journal)
Camp Devens, July 29.-Bootleg-
gers are finding the camp of the
Maine National Guard a dangerous
section in which to ply their trade.
Three of them have already been
gathered into the tolls, as a result
of unceasing work on the part of
Capt Dan G. Adams of Pennington,
a member of the 103rd regimental
headquarters company. He has re-
ceived the assistance of a half dozen
other men and the efforts of this in
telligence squad have received the
solid backing of Col. Harry NJ.
Bigelow, commanding the 1O3rd In
fantry.
Col. Bigelow determined. on
coming to Camp Devens this year,
that every possible means should be
taken to eliminate drunkenness.
Without communicating his plans
to anybody except Capt. Adams and
his men, he started an investigation
as soon as the Maine. Guardsmen
reached Camp Devens, July Il. The
intelligence squad working as plain
clothesmen and receiving the assist
ance of the regular authorities at
Camp Devens as we'll. as the civil
authorities, worked carefully and
quietly among the barracks and out
side until their efforts were reward
ed with evidence sufficient, as they
hope to cause the conviction of the
three men. Not one of these indi-
viduals has any connection whatever
with the Maine National Guardsmen.
..1,< Ia,
the pursuit of the bootlegger, it is
learned that Capt. Adams and his
assistants mixed in with the men of
the different companies and made
visits to every one of the barracks
where the guardsmen are quartered.
TO the credit of the guardsmen, be
it said, in only few isolated cases
was there evidence of any attempt to
buy liquor and as a result of the
activities already manifested any
further attempts are sure to end
diSaStrouSly.
No better proof of the watchful
care exercised by Col. Bigelow
and the officers of the different or
CARNATIONS could be found than In
the absolute cleanliness of the Maine
men now in camp. One regular
army officer who visited Devens this
week made the remark that he hon.
estly believed that the Maine guards
men are the best from every angle
in A states. for there is no National
Guard in Nevada. And this tribute
was paid by a man from Washing
ton.
When the Headquarters Company
of the Seth Infantry Brigade returns
n TO I@.r
Camp Devens a concerted movement
will be undertaken to provide the
company with a proper armory in
which to house their equipment and
in which to drill
Many hundreds of dollars worth of
equipment has been received by the
State from the Federal government
for use by the company but the
Grove street armory is not a proper
place in which to put it, nor is there
room and for that reason the COM
pany has as yet not received the
equipment. Tho equipment includes
among other things one of the finest
radio sets for which the company has
expert operators now enlisted.
At the inspection of the company
Thursday morning by Governor Bax-
ter while at Camp Devens the need of
SuitopiC dilioly WAS explained 10
him and he expressed his hope that
an armory of the proper size and
construction could be provided, and
pledged his support to further the
plans.
The company is at the present time
housed in what was once a hose
house. about 80 feet square and three
stories high. AS there are about so
men in the company and besides their
personal equipment. which takes up
a large amount of room there is also
a large amount of special equipment
such as radio outfit, telephone outfits,
Wire reels and all sorts of necessary
equlpm9nt for unit which acts
partly as communication unit and
partly as an intelligence unit with
some transportation worked in, it
can readily be seen that more COM
mOdlOuS ouarterS arc pccoScar1-