Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-07
MEN LOSING HOPE
I OF GOING TO FRONT
Order Releasing Guardsmen
Having Dependent Families
Proves Discouragement.
ADDS TOTHE DIFFICULTY
OF OBTAINING RECRUITS
Small Prospect, It Is Argued, Of
Bringing Command Up to the
Required Strength.

Both officers and men at Camp Ordway
are inclined to be a little respondent
today following the publication of an
order issued by Secretary Baker author
izing the discharge from the service Of
those men who have dependent rela-
tives. This Is regarded as another blow
which will make it all the more diff
cult for the troops to get away. if the
Department Of the East still insists
upon its instructions that the organi-
cations must be recruited to minimum
ready.
In addition to providing the means
for the troops already in the service
to get out the growing feeling that
the troops now here will not get any
further south than this camp is hav-
ing its effect upon enlistments. Even
men whose terms of enlistment expire
shortly have informed their command
ing officers that they will not re-enlist
unless there is some assurance Of
do not want to lie around in camp
here, but will be glad to go on the
firing line and do their bit.
The order for the release from fur
ther service of those men who have
dependent relatives has not arrived
through the Department of the East.
Oficers In the camp are making no eff
fort to ascertain the number of men
who will be affected. but they admit
that there will be quite a large number
Predicted Effect of Order.
Many of the men themselves may not
want to take advantage of the order,
but the families of many of them prob
ably will press them to take advantage
Of the War Departments order. Here
tofore these men have not had any op-
portunity whatever of getting out of
the service.
The authorization for the release of
the men merely authorizes the camp
authorities to discharge them and does
not direct them. Therefore the appli-
cation for discharge must originate
with the soldier. and it is not necessary
Tor the officers to go through their
commands to ascertain what men have
people dependent upon them.
In view of the general feeling that
the troops here will remain for some
time. II they get to the border at all,
many OF the men who would not other
wise do so will take advantage Of the
loop opened by Secretary Baker.
This order, following closely upon the
order to discharge navy yard employees,
discourages both officers and men. The
Sd Infantry officers, however, are doing
everything within their power to get
the regiment up to minimum strength
SO that the command can be renorfed
ready for the front
Reports Of the number Of men turned
down on physical examinations are NOT
available, but probably will be completed
TINS AFTERNOON. Physical examinations Of
the two batteries of field artillery and
the troop of cavalry were started this
morning, and probably will be completed
by night. or II not, early tomorrow morn
ing: All OF these organizations were mus
a {n{y,
none OF them expects to lose MANY men
on account Of the physical examination
May Get Equipment Today.
New uniforms and equipment prob
ably will be issued to the members of
the Sd Infantry late this afternoon.
Many of the men are compelled to
drill with very old shoes, and some Of
them have only one uniform. In which
they must do all kinds of work.
The Sd Infantry was sent out in the
country today for outpost and patrol
;hola although a large detail of
and shoyels filing up the numerous
trenches about the camp which nro
vide breeding places for the mosquitoes.
war was started on the mosquitoes
TINS morning. when Capt. E. NJ Neyils.
quartermaster. set large force to work
cutting down all of the small trees and
clearing away all the brush around the
camp. from the road skirting Arlington
Hatfield.
There was fire scare in camp this
morning, when a brush blaze got away
from the men for a time. 1t was feared
1t might reach the tentage. Fire call
sounded on the bugle brought all of
the men from other duties. bearine
buckets and blankets. The fire was
put out in short order.