Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-14
HONOR THEIR FIRST COMMANDING
OFFICER Ar ANNIVERSARY PARTY
COMPANY F, 103RD INFANTRY

- Stk~ BbEk sebV ~
| not because they had slipped. because
| on the contrary they had increased in
efficiency, but simply because the en-
| tire regiment had made decided ad-
vance in military work.
| He complimented the men upon their
| work and told them that they had a
| good organization and good officers and
that tho best way he could think of for
| them to make him happy would be to
Keep the organization in its present
state Of efficiency.
The guests of the company at this
birthday party were Major Irving f.
| Thomas of Waterville, commander Of
the Second Battalion of the 1O3rd In
| fantry: Major Donald Metcalf, execu-
| tive oftlcer Of the seth Brigade; Major
Charles Z. Davis, United States prop
erty and disbursing officer: Capt. Ray
mona w. Swift of W2terville. formerly
commander of Co. r and now holding
commission in the organized reserve;
Lieutenant Samuel Titcomb. judge ad-
vocatc of the 103rd regiment: Dr. Sam
uel Kagan. examining physician for
! Co. f. and Hon. Willis Z. Swift Of Au-
gusta.
/, Major Thomas in short speech de-
clared that he had the honor of COM
handing the best battalion in the reg
inent and that the Augusta company is
one reason why he can believe thus. He
stated that he is extremely pleased at
the way the people of Augusta are
| backing the company and declared that
1t would not be possible for the COM
pahv to maintain it's efficiency as it has
without this cooperation.
He said that in Captain Swift they
mad one of the best captains in the
National Guard. and that while he was
sorry he mad retired from active duty,
he was glad that he was on the oraran-
ized reserve list. He expressed his
complete confidence in Capt. Sprague
and said he felt that the new com
mander would carry on the good work
as had his predecessor.
In the course of his address lie told
the boys that there is no doubt they
would go 10 Fort Ethan Allen in Yer
mont ard that they would this year
sleep under canvas.
Major Metcalf. the next speaker
gave the boys some statistics to
think about. He told of the great
casualties due to lack of training,
Tor the troops who went into tho
Held. and of the way the training in
the National Guard would lessen
these losses to n marked extent. He
spoke Of the National Defense Act
of June 1920 which resulted from the
lesson learned in the great war. and
which If properly carried out will re-
suit in citizens army such as
Washington had advocated and had
in mind when he said ITO be pre-
pared for war is one Of the most eff
fective means of maintaining peace"
f,f AI,A r
army as insurance against war and
said that if we do not keep a goodlv
army ready Tor emergencies we will
find that it is poor policy. He de-
clarcd that tho security of the cOun-
try is now dependent Upon the extent
to which each man is willing to do
his part. Prior to 1917 the regular
army vas the first line of defense
but now 1t is but skeleton organ
izaticn and in case Of war It would
be necessary for the national guard
to defend the country until troops
could he gathered and sent into tie
field. This they must do at any cost
and they can best do it by knowing
their business.
Hon. Willis +. Swift the third
speaker on the evenings program
complimented the men upon their
appearance and ability as soldiers
and said that a national guard COM
pany such as Co. + is a distinct as
set 20 any city. He felt that the citi-
zens of Augusta realized this and
are willing to back the company to
the limit. and stated that he believes
that the people OF the country are
beginning to realize that there will
probably be more wars and that for
this reason the country must MAIN
tain an army.
He expressed his pleasure that his
son had been instrumental in the
formation of the company and in
bringing il to its present state of eff
Efficiency and pledged his support TO
the organization at all times.
Major Charles Davis. in a few
words told the boys that since he
first became associated with the ma
tional guard in 1893 as adjutant or
the First Maine Infantry he has
watched with interest the Augusta
companies and told the boys that IN
his opinion Augusta had never had
such a fine company as the city has
today. He complimented both Capt
Swift and the officers of the COM
pany upon their fine work.
DR.. Kagan, in his opening remarks
asked that each of the men whose
enlistments had or would soo7 he
terminated. should make an appoint
ment with him at once for a physical
examination so that they might re-
enlist Immediately. He asked that
every member take care that he kept
in the best of condition physically so
that the efficiency might not Re I'M
haired. and declared his Willingness
md desire to give the boys a series
of talks before they go to camp so
that they might know how 10 keep