Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-09-07
IONAL GUARD MESS NEARING NATIONAL, SCANDAL

the OF patriotism and pepaf-
edness The Washington rejection of the Carranza commits.
sion proposition year or so ago. the skfu working up Of
sudden subsistence of trouble following the Wilson accept
ance OF the Caranza commission deaa combine to show
cratic friends larger army under false pretences to
meet the national demand for preparedness.
great army would be needed to guard interests in the
Rio Gande region three classes of responded from Yer
mont and other Sides First those who desire to devote their
lives to military professon second those who oppo
tnity for temporary military glory third those who had
lust OF war and who did not want to enlist but per-
sunded that it was their duty to respond to her country
For the first two to be forced to remain in the
army when all real need of their has passed no
natural incnations defend the Stripes in al
legged crisis and not to become part of permanent army
enforced retention the Mexican border is bitter
that will surely make its influence felt whenever another
call is made to the Of this country to join the
army.
-. The course which has been pursued in this whole Ma
tlona Guard situation tending to reduce military service to
purely mecenary basis based upon force and upon the
foundation Of patriotism with voluntary beacon for
American youth When a government leads young men to
enlist IN the army under false preences that
never recover either the confidence the enthusiasm of in
IDENTIFY right when he said the must be sufficient to attract
men 20 the army.
Some Of the officers Of the National Guard have been al
lowed to leave the Rio Gande region because they felt they
could be Of more service at home That is we'll But why
should the government discriminate? Why should Vermont
boys who enlisted merely to defend the flag in time of peril
what G aS 80 bSe" ad m be forced to stay in
when General Funston has shown no longer need
hereafter IN Vermont Our taxpayers will surely inquire
hereafter whether they can afford to maintain body of
troops at can mus be uggled in political campaign, in
stead OF State militia doing real military service in time of
That Vermont not alone in it's indignation over the mis-
use OF our soldier boys indicated by the following special
Washington despatch to the Boston Transcript the last
"At the request of Senator John W. Weeks, who made
to 20 over his lists & and mar weher rif
VIII De possible for him to order home of the Massach
@ troops nov III service on the Mexican border. Secre
of in
IN ms order issued Yesterday the States whose troops might
troops from States Where none had been s eft
was pointed out to the secretary, however, that if this
dea Were followed absolutely gross injustice would be done
10 states IKE whose the first to make
ey o go TO inc front and who now have the longest
secretary that although such intention could be SUSPECTED
OF the war department. the practical this policy was
states whose offerings already had generous States
rhe mary spirit was strong enough to the
H'Ihient OF more men than the emergency called for
, Senator Weeks pointed out particularly that the art-
ginning might well be With commands which could not
possibly be called into important active except in case
n view Of these representations Secretary Baker prom
lSed to consult his lists again and if something could be
oe TO restore some OF the Bay State to their families
Senator Weeks is wise in distinguishing between stand
Tat army ana troops to be used only in of actual
is now federal and not State body
Une Oh the excuses given in another quarter by the
WOES or pay for dependent families Congressman Greene
wired Governor Gates would be the before the Vermont
me War department says that since provision has
peeh maze Tor soldiers with families dependent pon them
mere no need Of sending that class of soldiers home and
hey have thus been anchored army for three wears o
tol Such part thereof the administration deems wise
to hold them for military service
~ Parents OF students in the University Vermont and
NorWlch University naturally anxious that the latter
Snoud be IN position to go with preparation life work
the situation does not demand the retention of men who
90 not intend to make soldering the permanent occupation
Company made up entirely of university students and many
medical corps men the Rio Grande MANY Norwich
men VINO started out cavarymen but changed to the
nd
at Fort Ethan Allen. w.
PRESIDENT Bent of the State University in compliance
WIN e request OF number of such parents has taken steps
tit lam Wlat are the prospects for the return of the
Stuuet company to college The following statement has
% received by President Benton from the adutant of the
United States army: ~
secretary OF war directs to inform YOU with refer
your Telegram this date that orders calling for discharge
VI sue We're revoked for that investigation dem
oSIfed number very large and that dsorganza-
loh Oh many militia units would take place general dis
charge OF students We're ordered Certain purely student
2ahHatolH recognized by department such will be held
at OF returned to mobilization camps but it will be poss-
PIE 10 GO more Tor the present It is hoped conditions in
Mexico problem will improve enough that will be