The Washington times., 1916-07-11
Officers Say Citizen SoIdiery Is
In Much Better Shape Than
Formerly.
MILITARY STANDARDS HIGH
Proximity Of War Department
Has Kept Men Alert, and
Efficiency Is Improved.

have the distinction of being the nrst to
report on the Mexican border. officers
at the mobilization camp said today
they had read enough to convince them
the local citizen soldiery would report
IN much better shape.
They added that the District militia
would be of. more service to the United
States by reason Of tho stay In the
mobilization camp.
Because of the proximity Of the mo-
biiisation camp to the War Department.
the military standards there are neces-
sarily higher than any other militia
concentration center In the country.
Every regulation Is religiously com
piled with and each thing that has to
be done 10 done lust So"
The militia and regular officers identi-
Ned with the training Of the men. con-
duct OF the camp, and medical examine
lions do not know what moment the
Secretary Of War. the chief Of stan. the
. sral 9TH S ssn'r The CT Camp p'
Men Are Punctilious.
For that reason. md because they are
always on their Jobs. they arc most
punctilious In all the details OF their
work.
II the District militiamen had been en-
eAmped beyond automobile riding dis
lance OF the center OF things military. q
few discrepancies or delinQuencies mlsh,
have been overlooked. As It is how.
ever, the soldiers are kept toeing the
mark in regular army fashion from
.. m. until 1u:l5 p. m. and everything
u conducted in the strlctest conformity
to military regulations.
Officers OF the militia pointed out to-
day that each Of the militiamen from
the District who goes to the border VIII
Ia al nj
U. 8. A. clothes and equipment. and
he will have had training in tho duties
he will he called upon to perform. Inc
militiamen will also be provided with
adequate tentage. cots. and other tiele
All OF these things are taken fol
granted ordinarily. but the reports the
District militia officers havo received
Mas.achrset;s, New York. and othel
cttizsn.so,dier ordinations indicate
that the necessities arc the exception
with them.
Went Hungry %, Trains.
The muitiamcn WHO were marched
from their armories to the train and
dispatched to the border to make q
showing and be first out. are the nien
who went hungry on the train and after
reaching the border" said an officer al
the mobilization camp today.
ground and not having tents come
from the organizations which rushed
out to make a record rather than C
properly equip the men.
vantage in taking unframed men 4
the border and making soldiers o.
them there, that rule has never ap
piled in the regular army which make
soldiers OF men before sending then
THE pictures OF the entraininE o
the first militia organizations which
went TO the border show scores o
or equipment whatsoever. One cal
imagine the conditions under which
these men travelled. the shape in which
they arrived at the border and tn,
use they will be to the army for man!
While the District militia officer
make no attempt to alibt the loca
way before this, they insist that &C
tual service will prove that the Wash
ingtonians will be of considerably
more value than militiamen from SOM
or the States because of the trainini
at the mobilization camp.
Men Are Immunized.
One advantage the local soldier
will have over their brethren will b,
that they have been immunized from
typhoid fever. In addition to thi
IN the proiilns sun hH"1 doing o out point
scouting, and diminishing duty q
we'll as drilling in other extended or
der formations and close order, too.
The fact that the First Separate Bat
TALON. colored. has been assigned Il
guard the waterworks and puml
houses at Naco. on the Arizona Mex
lean border, is interpreted as mean
ing that General Funston believes tn
District soldiers are ft for actua
service. Naco is an important poin
on the border and may be subject t
attack by Mexicans almost any day