Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-28

| of the 90-mile wire assured the at Brigade
| commander that every avenue Of approach
| to the hearts Of the city's patriotism would
| be searched in supreme effort to flll the
| gaps caused by rejection OF Guardsmen by
| the United States medical inspectors-gaps
that cannot be filled because of Philadel-
phia's slothful response to the call.
At the same time Major Robert Brook
| field, of the 1st Battalion Sd Regiment,
and Captain Benjamin c. Tilghman, of
Company f. Sd Regiment, were speeding
toward Philadelphia In high-powered au-
tomobile to open the recruiting station at
the National Security League headquarters.
They were due to arrive in the city early
today Their hurried departure followed a
conference with Major General Clement over
the phone.
LAZY RESPONSE TO CALL. IS
"A city the size of Philadelphia, boast
ing of its patriotism cannot send us enough
men to fill our skeleton regiments" de.
clared General Price in an arraiRnment of
the sluggish patriotism. why. they should
send us 25oO men here and we are begging
for 65. Who knows how badly they are
needed in Texas?"
A small percentage of the mon were re.
jected by the Federal inspectors for physical
defects, the General explained but the
lazy response" to the call for recruits had
Ielt an alarmingly small margin above the
required peace strength Of SIS men.
FL Paso is the destination of the eth
division. El Paso is opposite Juarez The
Texas and Pacific from ST. Louis to Ell
Paso and the Southern Railway from
Washington to st. Louis completes the
route from camp to the border.
REAL SOLDIERS ANGRY.
Disgust and Indignation arose on every
hand among the officers and men of the |
brigade when the news spread from tent |
to tent that the brigade was "unprepared"
fFltF lN1Fl h1,,
flattered If they had heard some of the
opinions expressed in mess tent and over |
camp fire. |
Phlladelphie's lack of patriotism is to |
blame; and only action. action action of |
the quickest kind can save the day.
Such was the consensus of opinion of |
a majority of officers of the LIST Brigade. |
In a nutshell, more recruits are needed
before the brigade can leave for the South.
Until these are obtained Philadelphias s
troops, some with tents and storeG on rail-
way sdings ready TO depart are likely
to remain anchored here. --.. ....
The sd Regiment alone needs 100 new
men; the 1st Regiment is short, no one
knows how many; the I'd alone is ready
to CO.
The situation is critical, judging from
the officers point of view and involves the
honor of the city.
"Philadelphians cheered their lungs out
when the troops left the city for camp"
they gay with ironic sarcasm yet they
have not enlisted. They have not come
forward"
The suspense here in intense. The men
"are packed" and are eager to go, but the
greatest difficulty Is experienced in recruit.
ing the regiments to their required strength
of 65 men in each company. Major General
Clement said that of more than 90 units
in camp only one at late hour last night
had applied for their muster rolI All mus
rolls Of the first bripyada ha in1 /
out before the first brigade can break
camp.
True, many recruits have been rejected
on account of failure to pass the United
States Army medical test, which is severe
almost to the ninth degree.