Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-20
MEN ALMOST FIGHT
FOR CHANCE TO ENLIST
Call Is Test of COuntry'S
Ability To Take Care Of
and Move Troops

every city in the nation saw Khaki clad
men answering the call for general mo-
bilizatiOn of the militia. Statistics
gathered today by the United Press
showed the national guard of all the
states called out by President Wilson
have answered the cry to the colors
with instantaneous unanimity while re-
cruiting is booming everywhere.
By the end of the week every one of
the 100000 national guardsmen requisi-
toned for service will be in concentra-
ton camps, drilling and hardening"
for actual service wherever needed.
In many cases this concentration
called for superhuman efforts by en-
gineers to construct sanitary water sup
plies and arrange disposal of sewage.
New York s 10000 troops for instance,
to be concentrated near Beekman, N. Y,
make necessary laying out of a small
sized tOwn-cOmplete sewage disposal
plants, a 800, 900 gallons a day water
supply plant and tremendous food sup
plies.
That the mobilization will be test
Of railroads and food supply stations
as well as of the guard itself, was be-
coming more and more apparent today
Nearly every city in the country today
saw its boys off or saw them making
ready for the grim business of war
No such scenes have been witnessed
since the Spanish American war of
1898. Mothers, fathers, sisters, sweet
hearts, thronged armOries everywhere,
saying farewell-good byes in which the
tears of fear were mixed with the
laughter of pride.
Thousands Want to Go.
Recruiting stations for national
guardsmen throughout the country are
flooded with applications. United Press
dispatches indicate. there will be no diff
ficulty whatever in filling all guard
regiments to their full "war strength. "
Several cities reported men almost
fighting for places in line waiting to
enlist.
Is The whole nation also reported in
+ /, stant response by employers to the spir-
y it of the national guard mobilization.
" In nearly every city employers approx.
i ed the leave taking of their guards.
u men employees, and in many instances
y announced full time pay during their
III absence, or at least half time pay.
The following descriptive summary
, of state conditions was gathered today
\ by the United Press:
\ New York-l6,000 troops mobiHzing
< including every branch of the service
= Engineers and signal branches already
X in camp. At cost of $1,000OO0, 1900
X horses and 2,l00 mules purchased now
en- route for cavalry and artillery
y branches The Fighting Sixty-ninth, .
e, First regiment under arms, slept in the
IS armory last night. Most firms follow.
ii ing lead of American Exchange Ma.
n tional bank are granting full pay or
half pay to all militia employees answer.
a ing call. Recruiting going on full blast
z All troops expected to be in camp
Is Thursday.
y, What States Are Doing.
y, California-Estimate 3400 N. G. c.
'e troops under arms by noon. Expected
II 1000 or 5000 be encamped Sacramento
ii by Saturday. Movement of troops from
le home stations to camp begins this aft
G. crnoon.
Missouri-Seven thousand men ex
Y pected at Nevada, Mo, camp tonight
X Camp expected complete by Wednesday
X regiment recruited exclusively
X among Germans is rapidly being formed
\ with S5O000 contributed by German
Y Americans for its equipment. Lieuten
ant Mcdonald of st. Louis, left bed
rs side of his dying father for mobiliza
tion, his father declaring "I'm dying
A. the flag is worth wore to you than
IS. me. -
" Louisiana-15OO guardsmcn assem-
T. hlnl n a arfae rn,ywNh 8 T,,1. Il
bratiou funds being used TO care for
s families Of guardSmen. Railroads and
u lumber mills throughout state have an
nounced will pay full salaries until fur
b. ther notice.
Vi Colorado-Strenuous recruiting cam,
t. paign on to bring militia to full
t. strength. One-third of the 1,400 men
now under call were ready at noon to.
ID day.
r. Iowa-Delay until yesterday in deliv
ID cry of president s call slowed up mobI
lc ization, but $500 guardsmeu are ready
under arms waiting at armories foI
,r state mobilization orders, expected tc
T. be issued today.
10 Mnssachusetts-5,l00 men already un
II der arms, nearly 800 new enhstments
m War footing Of 5000 men expected Il
be filled by tomorrow night.
x Maine-Rush for recruits indicate
m militia be at full strength by tomOr
y row. Present force now ready, accord
ie ing to official report Of Adjutant Gen
y eral
Vermont - Officially reported a,
Id practically complete" in men and
Is equipment
'e Mississipp-9000 militiamen coming
ne to city park, Jackson by RELAYS. Mobil
1t ization to be complete in 10 days.
Arkonsas-2,000 under arms. ready e
$, en- train for Little Rock mobili zatiou
IA grounds tomorrow War footing Of
10 $500 TO be reached Saturday.
s. Maryland-3.000 men win be in camI
u at Laurel Md, bv Thursday. most Of
these now being held at armories. Com.