Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-22

Addressing the members Of the
Rotary club at their regular luncheon
session at the Augusta House, Friday
evening. Brigadier General Albert
Greenlaw in speaking Of the Maine
National Guard declared that mo
State in the Union at the present
time has a National Guard organiza-
ton SO well equipped as is Names"
The talk was one of a series by MEM
bers Of the club. and General Green
law gave the Rotarians and their
guests a splendid insight into the or
ganization Of the Guard and the
plans for its training.
The speaker informed his hearers
that 1t meeting held In Boston this
week II was definitely decided to hold
the IL days encampment Of the seth
Infantry Brigade at the State muster
field in this city next summer. This
encampment will include about $500
troops and win be the largest body
OF men ever gathered together in this
State at one time and place for
training. Besides the 172nd Infantry
Of Vermont and the 103rd Infantry of
Maine. this encampment will be at
tended by the Maine battalion of the
152nd Field Artillery. and by several
companies Of Regular Army troops
including company Of brigade
troops and one of cavalry.
General Greenlaw. who has had
81 years experience and service in
the National Guard, told his fellow
club members that in the years prior
to the World war, the State Guards
men carried on under the sobriquet
Of tin soldiers" and that those con-
nected with the organization longed
for the opportunity to Justify their
existence, which came with the
entry OF the United States into the
World war. AS an indication of the
extent to which the National Guard
did Justify themselves. Gen. Green
law pointed out that of the first Is
divisions in France. Nine Of them
were National Guard Divisions.
The speaker said that the quota
for this State under the War Act
OF 1920 is $500 troops. but that cur
tailment of appropriations by the
|, Federal government had cut down
that program somewhat. The total
personnel OF the National Guard in
Maine at the present time is about
300 enlisted men and 200 officers.
The Maine National Guard consists
OF the 103rd Infantry of the Ard
Division. comprising a Headquarters
and Headquarters Company and is
field companies: 1900 men and So
officers. The 24Oth Coast Artillery,
comprised Of Headquarters, a
Headquarters Company and Bat
teries Of heavy artillery: 531 men
and 33 officers. Also one Battalion
of the 152nd Field Artillery.
The Ard Division. OF which the
Maine Guard Is part. includes the
National Guard of all of the New
England states except Massachusetts,
which makes up the Goth Division.
This State also has the headquarters
of the Seth Infantry Brigade, which
Is in Augusta.
In connection with the bringing Of
the seth Infantry Brigade to this city
next summer General Greenlaw
| mentioned something Of the prelim-
mary arrangements which would he
necessary. He said that there is no
finer camp ground for troops In the
country than the State muster field.
but that facilities would have to be
provided for maneuvers and field
training. With certain improvements
the field in this city could be made
the equal of any regular army post
in the U. s.. and in this connection
| the Adjutant General of the State has
I called for $15,OU to be devoted to
that purpose. in his budget for 1.I2o,
The Rotary meeting of last even
| ing was particularly well attended
and proved most instructive and in
teresting. It was decided to extend
| an invitation to the members of the
Cony High school orchestra and
band to be the special guests at the
next meeting OF the club. and it was
also decided TO hold a ''Bowdoin
Night observance on some date n
December. when the club would have
as its speaker. Professor Austin II.
| MacCormick. Alumni Secrctary of
| Bowdoin college,
Considerable fun was occasioned
Friday evening, when the Rotarians
were asked to guess on the number
of seeds in n giant squash contrfbut-
ed by Rotarian Harold Weeks Her.