Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-15
RIFLES FOR'WVES MUST
EMBASSY Of REMAIN HERE
u. s. SEIZED AS SOLDIERS
BY HUER IA GO To TEXAS
Border Cities Crowded With
Refugees From Mexico, Max
ing 1t Impossible for Army
Women to Get Quarters.
Seventeenth Infantry Expects
Orders to Leave Fort McPher-
son by Monday Morning-New
Commander Is Due Sunday.

Private Aylor, tying together the
hefty poles that will be part of the
field hospital of the Seventeenth In
fantry in Texas, grumbled plaintlve-
ly.
IF the order to move had come
three weeks ago. I would have been
happy ne announced. But I just
met the girl, and it's sure hard to 60"
There are lots of men ike the
young hospital orderly out at Fort
Mcpherson; the Seventeenth, as you
would think if you had been at the
post Saturday, seems a regiment OF
lovers. over all the paths of the post
there we've girls and soldiers walking
together, walking slowly and not
laughing much.
And over in the officers quarters,
and in the non-coms' little settlement,
there is a similar sorrow. When the
order to proceed to Mexico first came,
the wives of the post began packing,
knowing that the regiment would be
in Texas at least several months, ans
planning to accompany their hus-
bands
Order Bars Wives.
But the next mail brought discour-
aging information from General Bliss,
who commands the troops on the Dor
der His letter told the men and Off
GERS of the Seventeenth to leave their
wives in Atlanta, because the border
towns are damned so completely with
refugees from Mexico that no accom-
modations for American women are TO
be had for love or money. Conse-
quently there is gloom at the post.
Saturday was a day of real fare
well, and for once the porch of the
Of1cers' Club was deserted. The
young officers were paying their last
respects to their friends along the
married row. and the married men
were not in the humor to get very far
away from their own homes and wives
and children, Certainly it is that
Laredo, or wherever Whereabouts the
Seventeenth is stationed in Texas, will
be the scene of at least vne discon-
ISOLATE regiment in few days.
Colonel Comes Sunday.
No definite marching orders have
come from Washington to Fort Nc
Pherson yet, and the Seventeenth is
becoming FESTIVE under the suspense.
The word to be ready for the march
came three days ago, and tents were
assembled, equipment was made ready
for the field, and everything was in
a state of preparedness early Satur-
day; so that now the regiment is liz
orally resting on its arms and ready
to move at an hours notice.
Colonel Thomas Griffith. who will
command the Seventeenth, will arrive
in Atlanta Sunday morning at s:25
O'Clock. Colonel Griffith will succeed
in command Colonel j, T. VanOrsdale,
who retired from active servi1e
Thursday. under the age limit clause
of the army regulations. The new
commander has been in charge of the
recruiting station at jefferson bar
racks, St. Louis Major Martin, who
has been in charge of the post Tor
some time, will be second in COM
mand. Major Garrard, who IS quar-
termaster. will remain in Atlanta in
charge II the post when the troops
have departed With him will remain
a bare handful of men. none OF them
the regular line soldier. only the
waite, men, a bare dozen guards and
he few men In the hospital will make
up Major Garrard's garrison,
Foresee Dreary Time.
None of the men at the post an
ticipate the excitement of a real fight,
considering that they are assigned
merely for patrol duty, and not IN
preparation for actual war. The Sew
enteenth was in Texas on similar duty
three years ago. and the men know
something of the taste Of 1t. How
ever. that occasion was rather more
pleasant than this assignment VIII D.
for when last the regiment was sent
TO Texas the women went along.
II is the general opinion that me
order to move will come Sunday, and
that the regiment. nearly 900 stronE,
will leave the post Monday morning.
AT first ii was planned 70 send the
regiment 10 Savannah by rail- thence
by transport to Mexico BIZ way Of the
Culf of Mexico. But because the war
Department was unable TO dispatch
troop shin 20 Savannah The plans
we're changed. and the regiment WI
travel an the way BY rail-. no three
trains of Pullmsns. tourist aud bds-