Bisbee daily review., 1916-08-22
Secretary of War Baker De clares Militia Will Remain Until All Danger to Amer ican Lives Is Past.
MANY COMPLAINTS
 MADE TO DEPARTMENT
Militia Is Winning Bloodless Victories" Adds Official.
 Security of Border En- hanced By Their Presence.
(By Review Leased Wire)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l-The ha- tional guard will be retained on the Mexican border until it can be with drawn without again endangering American lives aud property. Secre- tarv Baker so declared the administra- tion's policy today, in answering score of letters from many parts or the country complaining that the state troops were being held in serv'ce after their emergency for which they were called out apparently had passed
 In general the compartments, whose names were withheld, allege that DOT der service was ntailing loss fnanciat ly on militiamen and hardship on thelr families. The secretary repheo to all those seeming to merit attention By its presence on the porder' ne wrote to one, the guard is "wlnnihg bIoodIess victories daily" He de7 clared that American residents along the international line were en)oyihe neace and security they could not know without the military forces to 
 protect them.
 The department appreciates, MT. Baker said, in another letter, the IacI that a call for military service upon militia organizations must lneVllaoly present cases of hardship" He adoeo'
 "The emergency. however, which re- o,,irad this call for the militia was one of a grave character, anectlhg uie safety and lives of citizens or the limited Statesmen, women ana chll- Aren The presence of the militia on tbe Mexican border has restored or der and givn a high degree of safety and security to the lives or our peo- pla in that troubled country than they have for A long time had. The militia is therefore performing a ValuaDle service and the fact that the serVlce is heinz performed without active military actions entailing loss or lte to our soldiers. is a cause Of congra- ;ulation and happiness.
 Referring to the elaborate ana eN sensive training the militiamen are receiving under supervision or regu lar army officers. the secretary e1' pressed the opinion that 1t would nt them to act in time of war or other emergencies as a supporting arm, or second line for the regular army. fur- nishing an assert to national prepar- edness that could not have been ob- tained otherwise.
 "Clearly. so soon as a restored state of order on the border justihes it. these troops will be returned to their homes" he wrote. !" in the mean time. it is not possible for the de- partment to say how soon such situ- ation will arise, although the Mexican situation is one of increasing hope fitness"
 In another letter he called attention to steps taken to relieve guardsmen where there is unusual hardships re sulting from their being called into the service.
 "I am filled with admiration for the spirit with which the militia has met this call" the secretary said, and with which they are performing an important and necessary service to their country"
 To another correspondent, the secre tary explained that the national guard was maintained for such eXigencies as that which now exists on the bor der, and that it had cost the govern ment many millions to prepare and keep it ready for such emergencies He pointed out that national guards men were fully aware of the duties they undertook when they enlisted.
 All of the letters emphasized tho scientific and highly successful man ner in which the mobilization of thu national guard had been handled b. army officers. As evidence of this attention was directed to the low sicl rate and to the adequate measures taken to insure proper sanitary con ditions and provide ample and varie' food supplies.