The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-20
ROCKIES WANT TO
GO TO THE BORDER
Fourteen Of Their Number,
Members Of Militia. Depart
for State Camps.
MAY GET CHANCE LATER

PLArrsBrBo, ~. Y. Jun l9.-There
10 . new note In the air at camp. an
atmosphere OF seriousness ever more in
tense than the earnestness OF the earlier
days. II Is caused by the new term OF
oHairS In the Mexican situation.
The rockies are seeing their bunkies,
who are member OF the National Guard.
depart for their mobilization camps, with
the probability OF the border later and
actual experience in IN. great game of
war that they have been miniicking on
the sandy plains here this month. Mexico
a the possibilities OF intervention are
the sole topic Of conversation in camp.
AZ mess and even in the tents at night
after "taps."
, The nrst handful OF milltiamen left
to-day, fourteen In all. Four were New
Workers and most of the others we're
euardsmen from Massachusetts,. They
had been summoned by their militia COM
manders; there are probably 100 mem
bsrs OF the guard throughout the coun-
Try In camp. but tho others have not yet
been called. They expect to have to
leave within a day or SO.
g. W. Mason OF New York and X. NJ.
Locke OF Washington left to-day TO Join
shetr command. Squadron A Of New
York. John 3. Crimmins, ". NJ. Bootay,
n William y. Granger OF Brooklyn
we're the other New Workers who left
tor the State mobilization at Beekman.
The others were George n. Lummis of
Delaware. NJ. II. Mial OF Paterson. y. j.,
n Philip Cunningham, w. =. Homar,
:. b. 0lidden, Albert Lowell, Stanley v.
Hall and O. n. Chadwick of Boston.
Hope for Volunteer CALL.
Aside from the other suardsmen who
will be called there are many who are
wondering IL a call for volunteers will
let them In. A large number OF tele-
ff9Ts were sent 10 the War Department
~ some OF the ROCKIES who in private
lHe have influence at Washington. They
wanted to know II in case OF a call for
volunteers their work In the camp would
hslp them to obtain commissions
the answer invariably was that at
present no call for volunteer. is conten-
esAted. The militia will increase the
nvhtlng strength on the border sufYl-
ciently. but II volunteers are needed
later preference will be given men who
nave had such training as the camp
affords.
The official notification OF the Pres,-
dents call was received al the camp to-
DAY. but none OF the officers would COM
ment on II or It's bearing on Plattsburg.
the feeling IS growing. however, that
the training camp of this month will
30 on TO Its normal conclusion and prob
"a4A NC III interference WIKI
the plans for later camps this summer
Capt Halsted Dorey. personal aid to
Gen. Wood. talked to the regiment after
supper tonight. and IN the course Of
da remarks he alluded to the questions
01the rockies as to their standing in
military affairs. He explained that the
NV army bill will create about 1900
vacancies for Second LleYtenants in the
Army. and added hat men such are at.
tendins Plattsburg might hope TO receive
H@ss:ss:onS TO the res uiar army in
hAese vacancies.
Also the reserve corps provided FOR by
s1e bill will open tho way for many
framed men to receive commissions as
tCerve ofhcers to be called upon in case
need. He offered 10 advise any OF
~ men a. to the details OF applying for
sch commissions
You younger men here are the sort
- Officers would like to see come into
the army" he said. "You are the sort
~ would like for comrades rather than
. punch Of sons OF Senators. You have
seen the hardest part of the soldiers
ufe here at camp and you have borne
the hardships we'll II you 60 into the
service you know what It means and we
know that you are In earnest"
Real Bullets Used.
The rockies were under FIRE to-day
not the flare Of blank cartridges, but the
real singing, humping pellets OF lead
and cupro steel that speed through the
air with a velocity of some Zoo feet per
second.
The men shot the first REQUIRED
course. nve rounds sitting and five kneel-
ms from the 200 yard line at the "a.
targets. whose bullseye mea sures six
inches across. They made good scores.
especially when It is considered that
11h1iv HhtC rnrrtr . 49, L. -
nad never fred a high powered rife in
their lives.
They came to the firing line some
what fearfully. for they had heard great
esles OF the terrible kick in the butt of
n American service piece. Some OF
. did get their noses blooded and
their chins scratched a bit, through
holding their guns incorrectly. but after
3ey had been shown the right way, they
found that Uncle Sans blunderbuss
really does not hurt ones shoulder, even
II will knock a pound weight fifteen
feet by the sheer force of it's recoil.
The men In the pits-the sand rats"
as the resuiars call tiie,n-realiy mad
the best time of II. They had the expert
Snce that is given 70 few men Of hearing
bullets hurtle over their heads, crash
with a ~resounding pow Into the sand
behind the targets, and do 1t all in per-
feet safety. They were ten feet under
ground with thick walls Of solid con-
crete about them.
Lieut.. J a. Atkins. in Of
Company d, was taken to the post hos
pital this afternoon, suffering from
malaria caused by the mud and slime
nj the old camp. from which the men
moved last week. He was taken i'll
while directing his ~company's fire at the
range earlier in the day. Lieut.. Atkins
Eame here from Panama. where his
regiment Is stationed.
lust Published