Evening journal., 1914-04-23
rifle RANCE MAY
BE WAR CAMP SITE
General WickerSham Gets
Telegram Inquiring About
Its Availability
NO HINT OF CALL FOR
STATE MILITIA YET

Delaware may yet take an active
part in the Mexican war; not only in
sending volunteer soldiers and mill
itiamen to the field of activity, which
would be done Immediately upon the
call from President Wilson, but may
become a base for regiments of re-
cruits from neighboring States as
we'll.
The first official recognition of Del
aware in the war situation came late
yesterday afternoon in the form OF
a telegram from the Adjutant-Gen-
eral, Department of the East. Cover
nor's Island, New York, addressed to
Adjutant General l.. Pusey Wicker
sham, commander of the Organized
Militia of Delaware.
General Wickersham, when oues-
toned by an EVENING JOURNAL. re-
porter this morning. refused to di.
yulge the contents of the telegram.
He stated that no definite arrange.
ments are to be made until further
orders are received He said the tele.
gram contained nothing alarming and
nothing would indicate that the Del,
aware militia is to be ordered out
very soon.
While General Wickersham declines
70 discuss the contents Of the tele-
gram II Is understood that the govern
ment inquired into the availability OF
ehe state Rifle Range, below New
Oasue' as the site for a mobilization
camp General Wickersham replied
information. gu
The telegram is regarded as sioni6.
cant in that it raises a question ~
whether the rifle range. in addition 10
being utilized to recruit the Delaware
Infantry up to the standard strength
will be used as a camp for regiments
OF other states after they are recruited
to the standard in case Of war.
In case the Delaware Regiment ooes
into war service and is not called upon
to recruit up to the standard regimental
strength OF the regular army it is al
together likely that it would 20 into
service as a provisional battalion at
taehed to some regiment from another,
lor a regiment of the United States regu-
lar army
The militiamen are evincing great in
terest IN the situation, many of them
being anxious TO follow the stars and
stripes to the front. The State Armory
IS nightly crowded with them. The Of
icers as well as the men are aroused
! and the company drills each evening
. are being largely attended. Several of
! the companies are already being re-
J cruited up to their full strength The
officers believe that should a call be is
! sued for the militia the number of
/, men desiring to enlist would be far in
excess Of the number required to meet
the States quota. The War Depart-
ment specifies 700 men as the number
Delaware would be required to furnish
on first call in case of war
The State Rifle Range. It Is under
stood, had long ago been selected not
only as a site for the summer en-
, campment of the militia, but for
mobilization camp should It be neces-
sary to mobilize the organized militia
into the volunteer service. The range
: is better adapted for this purpose
p than those in many other states, as
storehouses and other essential fea-
lures are already located there, the
water supply is plentiful and the
fields have an excellent natural
drainage.
After the Organized Militia of Del
aware is recruited to full strength
should it be called into service, It
would very likely be called upon to
do guard duty along the Mexican
border, according to the plans of the
War Department at Washington. as
announced recently, and It is be-
, lieved that the men would get their
full fill of fighting and real war duty.
,, BORDER TOWNS ORDERLY.
! By The United Press.
FL PASO, Tex, April 23.-Despite
the letter General Nenustiano Carranza
sent to President Wilson. indicating a
probability that the United States
would be compelled to fight united
Mexico, Juarez and FL Paso were un-
RULED today, and there is no sign of a
disturbance. There was strong un.
dercurrent of bitter feeling, however.
2 and the greatest care is being exercised
: by the authorities in both cities to
prevent a clash.
? Perfect quiet today marked the mill
tary establishments on both sides of
] the river The publication of General
Z, Carranza's letter cast damper on the
| reception being given in honor of Col
onel II. R. r. Loughborough, Of the
? Twentieth United States Infantry in
that il caused most OF the officers to
: leave for their homes.
} If Carranza's 5 letter has caused the
Washington authorities to close the
, ports of the Northern border, no word
, 20 that effect has been received by the
/, collector of the port or Colonel Hat
field, commanding the cavalry brigade
along the border.
ElfrinO NJ. Franco, editor of FL Tihre
a Radical Huertista daily. which has
been calling upon Mcxicans to arm and
; defend their country against American
invasion, and denouncing Villa and Car
rama, and urging Constitutionalists sol
diers to desert to Huerta, was arrested
last night. His printing plant has been
. seized.
4 To TECTTrRP nv DTrrr,u