The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
TROOPS READY TO MOVE
INDIANA MILITARY COMPANIES ONLY
AWAIT THE COMMAND.
Governor Thinks Volunteers May BE
Called in Addition to the Regu-
lar Militia.

While little that can be considered official
information regarding the use of the Indi-
ana National Guard in the impending trou-
BILE with Spain has come to the Governor
and adjutant general of Indiana, it is true
that the most active preparations are being
made to move the troops without delay as
soon as a call for them is received. The in
formation given out at the Governors Of
flee from day to day is that
there is nothing new in the local
war situation; but at the same time
there has been no cessation of the prep
arations for war What has been done,
however, has been done merely in the way
of precautionary measures, in order that
the Indiana troops may be among the first
in the field. The mastering in of new men
TO fill the companies up 10 the full war
quota will be an advantage, even if none
of them ever get to go to war. The activ-
ity in the guard will be of great value to
it, and, war or no war. the guard will be
better for the experience it is now passing
through. 1t is getting a little insight to
what may be expected in case of war. which
cannot injure it in the future
But that war is expected and expected
soon is evident from the very definite and
detailed preparations that are being made
Several days ago the captains of all the
companies in the State were given orders
for the transportation of their companies
to Indianapolis. While they still have those
orders, a plan for quicker transportation
has been devised and will probably be put
into execution. Governor Mount ascer-
tanned yesterday that, although f. G. OAR
lington, master of transportation of the In
diana National Guard. would not be able
on account OF his illness to attend to his
ofncial\ duties, arrangements had been made
in his office for the performance of those
duties. His assistants have been fully in
structed in the work, and when the call
for troops comes the soldiers will be mo-
bilized in this city with the least possible
delay. The orders for transportation now in
the hands of captains of companies Will
only in a few Instances be presented toecon-
ductors of trains. Only when the regular
tram service Is quicker than special train
will they be used. The moment the call
comes Geographic orders will be given the
captains and special trains will be run
from the nearest points where such trains
can be made up to the points where the
companies are located, and all will be trans
ported to indianapolis within probably six
the call.
The opinion is becoming firmly en-
braced by Governor Mount and General
Gore that there will be no opportunity for
discomfort on the part of the militiamen on
account of an arbitrarily selected regiment
to go first or OH the part of the officers
of the several regiments and companies by
IcdSOll VI InC HldflulGcluTe OL a. ItSlIiltlL
out of parts of the four regiments. The
reason that there will be no discomfort is
believed to be because the first call will be
for more than one regiment Governor
Mount said yesterday that he Beloved Indt-
ana would be called upon to furnish the
entire brigade. And she may be called
upon for volunteers in addition he added.
1T is clear that the first estimates were
too low. and when they are finally revised
they will probably be made much larger.
The best of the state troops can be bene-
fitted by the severe discipline of the regular
army rules, and the War Department will
probably find it advisable to put more
troops than are at first needed into training
for the work which is to come. This would
be better than to make a second call at
the time the troops are needed, and get,
from some States, at least, the second-class
men, the first call getting the flower of the
militia. L believe plan of this kind will be
followed and that there will be no trouble
about those getting to the front who are
now so anxious not TO be sighted"
No word was received yesterday from
General Mckee and Captain Curtis, who
went to Washington to represent the Gov
ernor in the conference of militia officers
and the House committee on military af-
fairs The conference was held yesterday,
and upon the result of 1t will probably de-
pend the extent of the call for troops.