The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-25
MANY MILITARY QUESTIONS ARE
BEING ASKED.
THE PRESIDENT AND STATE TROOPS
Preparations Being Made at Fort CasweIl ard
in Wilmington Harbor to Repel In
vasion-- The G. A. R. to
Volunteer.

Yesterday Mr. f.. III. Briggs, caShler
of the National Bank, of Raleigh, re-
ceived the following telegram from Il
firm of well known New York brokers:
No market for any class of securities
on account of war scare
With the probability of war daily grow
ing stronger, many letters are being
received at the capitol making inquiries
touching military matters.
Many members of the State Guard
and others are asking whether there is
a probability of their being called on,
in case of war, and if so, will they be
called out by the President or by the
Governor
On these points there is some differ
ence of opinion, but the best authorities
held that the President should not,
except in n case of refusal of the Gov
ernor, order out the State troops, eX-
cept through the chief executive of the
State. The military regulations require
that an order from the commandments
chief Shall pass through the various
grades until it reaches the officer at
whom it is finally directed For instance,
when the Governor of Il State desires to
order out a military company to protect
a prisoner from mob violence, his order
must be directed to the colonel of the
regiment of which the company is a
part, unless the emergency is very press
ing, and even in this case, a copy of the
order from the Governor TO the company
commander must be sent to the latter's
superior officers.
However, the War Department has
decided that the President need not ask
the Governor for troops, but may order
out any portion of the organized force
he may deem necessary. As to the I'M
organized force, it would, of course, be
different.
4 bill is at present pending in Con-
gress giving TO the President power To
call out the militia without reference 10
the Governors of States. This would
indicate that the power is not ut present
clearly conferred.
Ex-Adjutant General Francis I'll.
Cameron, a high authority on military
matters, said yesterday:
I'm my opinion, the President of the
United States has authority to call the
military of the states into service in time
of war, but he should make the cal
through the Governors of the States.
known as the National Guard, and is,
in sense part of the United States
army. 1t is armed and equipped at the
expense of the general government, and
it is fact perfectly well established,
that the President can call on the Gov
ernors of the States to send their or
ganized militia into any part Of the
United States, where invasion is threat
ened. In case of Governors refusal
to account, probably the President ought
TO have power, if he has not already, TO
call direct"
1t is also asked whether the President
has power to order these troops mot in
the regular army ont of the country.
The Constitution and statutes empower
him TO call out the militia Ito suppress
instruction and repel invasion" Moth
ing is said as TO his power to order them
beyond the limits of the country. 1t is
contended, though, that the makers of
the Constitution did not mean to imply
that militia could not be used as an in
yading force; that in those days the
United States were weak and in danger
from invasion, and that the law makers
did not think much about invading ter
ritOry.
The opinion is generally held that the
President has a right TO order the militia
TO foreign country. Certainly North
Cardinals militia would raise no Objec-
ton to going TO Cuba.
1t is also frequently asked if an oath
of allegiance will be required of the men
after they enter the national service.
Tine North Carolina militia take this
oath on entering the State service, so it
is presumed they would not have to do
so after they have been mustered into
the regular army. The War Depart
ment, however. thinks the oath test OF
loyalty, and it can do no harm to read
minister it.
An officer of the War Department has
tins week been in Wilmington docking
into the matter Of the defense of thai
city in the event of war. He kept the
details of his business quiet, but it iS
understood that the situation was inves
tigated and that measures will be taker
to make that port safe against attack
1t is learned that in the event of hos
filities, strong garrisons will be PLACED
a Fort Caswell, at the mouth of The
Cape Fear, at the Rocks Fort Fisher
for the protection of the New Inlet
breakwater, and at Wrightsville to pro
tect that portion of the coast from al
invasion.
If hostilities begin and Wilmington
is attacked, the Messenger says torpe
does and mines will be laid in tho
channel at the bar, in the offng and
bay at the Rocks, and in the channel.
at MasonbOro and Moore's Inlets. anC
along the coast. In the event of tn,
capture of Fort Caswell, the channel o
the Cape Fear to Wilmington will h
quickly laid with torpedoes and batter
les will be constructed on both sides 0
the river. Even should the Spanish cap
ture Fort Caswell, which is hardly con
sidered as contingency. it is not be
lieved the enemy would ever he able {
reach Wilmington, as was the case i
the war of 1912 with Great Britain.
The government will erect an emplacC