River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-07-06
CALL TO BORDER NOT PROBABLE
BEFORE FINAL MUSTER, SAY
BRIGADE OFFICERS.
Reject ABOUT 10 PER CENT
Call for 500 Additional Recruits May
Be Necessary to Bring Depleted
Ranks to War Strength-Equip-
ment for 5000 Received.

troops will not be sent to the Mexican
border at once as requested by Gen.
Funston Monday night unless Gen.
Barry changes his orders to muster in
the guardsmen into federal service
before leaving for the south, and it is
not probable these orders will be
changed, as the muster in is well un-
der way, according to Capt. Lorraine
T. Richardson, U. S. A, who is in
| charge of the muster in.
Gen. Funston has authority to or
der the regiments to the border after
they have been mustered in" said
Capt Richardson. But the orders to
muster in the troops come from the
department headquarters at Chicago,
and any change in orders must come
from the same source. OF course the
change may be made and the troops
mustered in after arriving at the Dor
der. This is not probable, however,
the physical examination by federal
officers, which will take some time,
could be waived and made on the bor-
der if the department wanted to move
the troops Immediately"
No orders from the war department
or army headquarters have been re-
| ceived at Camp Douglas for the sol
diers to leave at once. 1t is settled
that the troops are not ready, because
they must be armed, equipped, exam
ined by federal physicians and mus
tered in before they will be in the
state of efficiency which the state Off
GERS want them to be when they leave
Wisconsin.
Many May Be Eliminated.
Scores of men and probably num-
Der of commissioned officers will be
eliminated by the rigid physical ex-
animation which is being conducted
under the direction of Col. Kennedy,
United States army hospital corps,
who came from jefferson barracks to
take charge of the work. Privates and
honcommissioned officers in the cav
airy, troop, the battery, the various
Infantry commands and the field hos
bita1 have been eliminated until the
reduction in many commands is as
high as 10 per cent. The reduction in
consisted of seventy men, was 10 per
cent.
Call for 500 Recruits Probable.
A call for 500 more recruits may be
sent out through the state for volun-
teers to take the place of men who fail
to pass the physical examination now
being given the men. There are
enough men in camp to replace those
discharged to date, but if more go,
volunteers will have TO be called to
keep the troop up to war strength as
now required.
Men in some commands who we're
thought to be among the sOundest and
whom their officers considered among
the most valuable soldiers, have been
eliminated in the federal examina-
ton and now the lieutenants, captains
and other commissiond officers are
wondering who among them will be
ordered out of service by the regular
army physicians.
Preliminary Test Mild.
Many men were sifted out in the
first examination conducted by the
National Guard physicians upon in
structions from the war department,
but that examination is considered
mild as compared to the one the army
representatives are now making. Men
are ordered out because of slight de-
fects which in many instances were
not even noticed by the officers who
conducted the first examination.
Vaccination against typhoid fever
has been ordered, and all of the men
will have to undergo the treatment
before they leave. 1t is probable that
they will have to submit to vaccina-
ton for smallpox also, as that disease
is prevalent in Mexico.
Uniforms and full equipment to the
number of 3,110 outfits have arrived
from army storehouses at st. Louis
and were taken in charge by the chief
ouartermaster, who will distribute
them to the regiments at once. The
guns and ordnance supplies having
also arrived, every one of the 5000
men will be armed, equipped and in
| uniform probably by Wednesday night.
Five Wisconsin National Guard Off
GERS of high rank on Sunday took the
oath which made them officers of the
regular army.
Adit.-Gen. John G. SALESMAN of
Madison, was made colonel, Maj. G. R.
Williams, quartermaster of Camp
Douglas and Maj. Gilbert E. Seaman
of Milwaukee, were appointed majors
in the federal service. Capt. e. T.
Markell of Fond du Lac, and Capt
Charles A. Green Of the qua.termas-
tiers corps. from Appleton, were given
captaincies. They were mustered in
nv Cant. L. T. Richardson and Lieut..
Carrothers of the regular army.
Mais. Williams and Seaman, it is I'M
derstood, will go to the front with the
first brigade of troops. The other
three officers may be left behind for
administrative duties. They may or
ganize troops throughout the state.
Col. J. G. Salsman, IT is thought, viii