Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-07
STATE HOUSE

two batteries Of the 240th Coast Ar
tillery on duty to maintain order in
the prison and handle the traffic in
the town. This duty was so well
performed that not prisoner es-
capped, no lives were lost and the
State was saved many thousands of
dollars by having a force readily
available to cope with the situation.
A few mon -; later when the town
of Pressure Isle suffered severe fire
loss the battery Of the Field Artil-
lery located there turned out and
assisted in putting out the fire and
maintaining order. These are only a
few of the occasions where an OF
ganized. disciplined force has render
ed service to the public.
The successful maintaining of the
National Guard Of this State Is de-
pendent to great extent upon the
attitude Of the public and the senti-
ment of employers of the members
thereof. Manufacturing and busi-
ness interests all over the country
have come to realize this fact, and
are now quite generally going on
record as heartily indorsing the
program of National defense and
lending encouragement and assist
ance, to the National Guard COM
ponent of the armies Of the United
States. In various sections, this has
taken the form of resolutions passed
by Chambers of Commerce and
clubs such as the Rotary, Kiwa mis-,
Lions, etc. These civic organizations
pledge themselves to assist the de-
velopment of the National Guard in
their vicinity every way possible
and in addition many manufacture
Ar~c hox 4r1 It'd
ing the National Guard and encour-
themselves with the organization
and in many instaccs have pledged
themselves to see that the ranks Of
the units in their vicinity are kept
filled. 1t is believed that the help
full interest shown by the business
interests of this state In the past
will be continued in the future and
that employers Of young men en-
rolled in our ranks will be as liber-
ally disposed this year as they have
been in the past and will not be
found wanting in patriotic devotion
to the interests Of our National De-
Tense.
During the past three years from
80 to 80 per cent Of the employers
of our National Guardsmen have
granted their employees leave to at
tend the summer training camps
and have either paid them their reg
ular pay while engaged in such duty
or have made up the difference be-
tween their regular pay while en-
gagged in such duty or have made
up the difference between their pay
as a soldier and the pay they would
have received had they remained in
their regular occupation. The effect
of this leberal attitude on the NOR
ale of the National Guard has been
very marked and beneficial and the
best type Of young men are to be
found in the ranks of the units in
this State The National Govern
ment and the State of Maine have
set an example III this respect, as
all employees of the United States
and the State lose neither pay nor
efficiency rating while attending
training camps with their organiza-
tons. We are asking that the same
liberal policy be extended this year
to members of the National Guard
in your employ as has been done in
the past and would welcome any
suggestions you may have or a reply
as to your attitude in this important
matter.
The dates of the encampments of
the Maine National Guard are as
follows: 240th Coast Artillery at
Fort Williams, Me-, July 3-17;
Hdqrs and Hdqrs Co. seth Inf. Bri-
gade and 103rd Inf. at Camp Keyes,
Augusta, Maine. July 24-Aug.J Z;
152nd Field Artillery at Camp
keyes, Augusta, Me-, Aug. 7-21.