Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-22

With the appointment of a commit
tee to arrange for the proper observe
ance of National Defense Day, Septem
Der l., the board of directors of the
Augusta Chamber of Commerce at a
very important meeting held Thurs
day afternoon at the Chamber of Com
mcrce assembly room went on record
as heartily endorsing the national de-
Tense test.
Col. Francis H. Farnum, in charge of
the activities in the First Corps area,
presented the matter to the board and
gave Il detailed explanation of every
phase of the observance. He cited just
what was bling done in other places and
briefly outlined what he believed it
was possible for Augusta to do. The
members of the board of directors
showed exceptional interest in the
proposition and asked many questions
before passing the vote to endorse and
handle the patriotic demonstration in
this city.
All plans for the arrangement of the
observance were left in the hands OF
the general committee which was ap-
pointed and which is made up as fol-
lows:
Honorary chairman. Mayor Ernest l..
Mclean; chairman, Lieut.. Col. Francis
III. Farnum; secretary, LIST Lisut. Her
bert A. Folsom; Capt Lester VI. Hart
ilqtrs. Co. Seth Inf. Brigade; Capt
Frank b. Sprague, Co. +, 103rd Inf;
Lieut.. Arthur f. Tiffin, o. r. c.; Lieut..
Geo. A. j. F'roberger. commander
James Fitzgerald Post, American lie
gion; Harry II Pierce, Robert +. Became.
The secretary will issue call for
meeting of the committee some time
next week. which will be in ample
time to complete all arrangements for
the observance which takes place on
Friday. Sept. Il.
7 here is little that can be given out
of the program for the observance in
Augusta at this time, but it will close
~ follow the outline Of the war depart
mnc, and will be in compliance with
the desires of the federal officials TO
make the occasion national defense
test. The local units of the Maine Ma
tional Guard will participate, and the
organizations of the Organized Re
serve, under the war act of 1920. will
be modified as completely as possible.
IN this way the National Defense
Day demonstration in the Capital City
will be of an impressive nature and
will visualize to our citizens the mean
ing of adequate defensive measures.
The purpose is not to make any "war-
like gesture" to threaten other ma
tions- but to make our own people I'M
derStand that If this country is again
forced into war they will be expected
to play their part. The womanhood as
we'll as the manhood of this community
and every other community in the
United States will have their part to
perform in an emergency, and it is en-
tirely fitting and properthat the wom-
ems organizations of Augusta will
participate in the observance of Ma
tional Defense Day here.
The units which will figure in the
demonstration in this city, which will
probably include a parade, will lie the
Headquarters of the seth Infantry
Brigade; the Headquarters Company,
seth Inf Brigade: Company r, lO3rd
Infantry. Maine National Guard: and
the following units of the Organized
Reserve: Headquarters, Special
Troops. eth Division: Headquarters
Detachment, 9th Division: Headquar-
ters 19Srd Infantry Brigade; Head
quarters Company, 193rd Inf. Brigade:
Headquarters S22nd Medical Regiment:
Service Company, 322nd Medical Regi-
ment.
The members of the various veteran
and patriotic organizations and the
civic bodies of Augusta will be called
upon to supply the personnel for these
skeleton units of the Organized Re-
serve. In this the American Legion
will figure largely, as will the Sons of
Veterans. the Spanish War Veterans,
the Military Order of the World War.
the Veterans of Foreign Wars and sim
liar groups.
The American Red Cross membership
will have its part to play. as it is a
necessary factor in the national de-
Tense plans. And the members of local
women's patriotic and civic clubs will
also ma rticiDate