The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-13

days announcement by q letter writ
leen BY Secretary Of War Baker. made
Public to-day In this letter Secretary
Baker wrote in answer to an unnamed
correspondent:
Referring to your letter of July
IL, In which you suggest that In tho
absence OF state of war the War
Department should issue such an or
der as would permit the return to
their civilian occupations OF members
of the organized militia and National
Guard now in the service of the gov
eminent on the border, who desire to
return to their business careers, I beg
leave to say that the assembling of the
militia upon the Mexican border, pur-
suant to an order OF the President,
was done only in presence OF a ma
tional emergency. the regular army of
the United States being Inadequate in
size to AFFORD the necessary protection
to the lives OF men. women and chill
dren OF the United States in that dis
turbed section.
"A call to arms upon any body OF
men in the country except the regular
army, who make a profession of the
military life, would inevitably inter-
rupt business, professional and per-
sonal careers. and 1t is impossible to
imagine any situation In which the
organized militia or National Guard or
the several States could be summoned
into the Federal service without hard
ship and Inconvenience, and yet both
the Constitution of the United States
and the laws made pursuant thereto
recognize these militia and National
Guard units as the secondary reliance
of the government for the protection
of the interests of the United States
and the lives of citizens of the coun-
try.
The department regrets these in
conveniences and hopes that the
emergency will rapidly disappear and
that there will be such a restoration
of order and security on the frontier
as will permit the speedy return of
these citizen-soIdIers to their several
civilian pursuits"
safety is Primary Consideration.
I'm the meantime this department
has taken steps to mitigate and re-
lieve as far as possible the usual and
exceptional hardships which have
arisen in classes especially subject to
distress by reason OF the service de-
manded. To the extent that It can
be done It will be done. but the pri-
mary consideration must be the safety
of our border and the preservation and
protection of the lives of our citizens
IneTe. IL VIII De a source OF great
happiness to me when full relief can
be given to these men who have
placed themselves subject to this call
of duty and in the meantime I am
filled with admiration for the spirit
with which the militia has met the
call and with which they are per-
forming an important and necessary
service to their country at this time"
Although II is believed that the Vir-
Einia troops now at the mobilization
camp here will be included In the gen
eraE orders of the War Department
and sent to the border shortly. up to
last night General Sale had not re-
ceived orders for their enrichment
1t Is expected at any time.
Yesterday afternoon authorities in
Washington communicated with the
railroad agents here to arrange for
an early movement OF troops, which
is further indication that they will
leave in a few days. With the trans
portation arranged. II will require only
Il few hours to get the men in shape
to move.
News Hailed with Joy.
News that there Is n possibility OF
an early enrichment was hailed with
Joy by the officers and men, who have
been impatiently awaiting transfer
from the monotony OF Camp Stuart
General Sale has been persistentfy
urging the War Department to afford
relief for the men here, either by sends
Ing them to training stations or to-
the border, and he had been advised
that 1t would be done at the earliest
possible opportunity.
While the further orders for laen
to be sent to the border may make it
necessary TO call out the Fourth Regi-