Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-06-20


national guard or the national guard
reserve. II cannot be made retroac-
tive, however, and all national guards
men must voluntarily take the dual
oath OF enlistment under the federal
and state governments before they can
become subjects to its operation.
II Is believed here that there will
/ be little objection on the part of most
Of the guardsmen. II is planned TO
exercise the draft Immediately if con
gress adopts the resolution, ana state
soldiers who have taken the required
oath then Will become federal soldiers
with no connection whatever with the
national guard or the organized mill
tia. They will he available for serv-
ice in Mexico without further form
lallties
Old Law still In Force.
ON the other hand. those who may
refuse to take the oath and viii not,
therefore be subject to draft, will re-
main under federal control under the
portions OF the old law which still is
operative. They viii be available for
guard duty along the border If army
officers feel the urgent need OF keep
/ ing ready for tnat purpose
The resolution it is understood, will
authorize the president to employ the
larmed forces of the United States
either in Mexico or along the border,
for defensive purposes. Such pro-
vision would meet the objection Of
tl|as.. 4 eef
clear authorization has not been Civ
en- for the purposes of Section III of
the new army bill providing that
drafting OF national guardsmen can
begin only after proper authorization
has been given by congress for the
regular army Legal Officers of the
war department desire to make GER
tain that no complications win arise
later, to block efficient use of the
state troops
Ample equipment of all kinds is on
/ hand at the various dcpots of the
army, Secretary Baker said today, Ia
complete the outfits of all the guards
men called for servince. a sufficient
supply Of field artillery an machine
guns and enough ammunition for any
fighting that might occur also is on
| hand.
The most pressing need will be
horses to mount all the national guard
cavalry, and supply gun teams for
the fold batteries. The large excess
held In army fe-mount stables fol
thp nf he x.rttI f.,I
short Of present needs by many thou
sands
Officials are busy working ont the
number that must be supplied and
the quickest way Of securing them.
High Physical Standards.
Another step taken at the war de-
partment today was preparation for
orders calling out doctors of the medl-
cal reserve corps to examine guards
men for muster into the federal serv-
lee. The department will insist upon
the high physical standards Of the
regular army In some states that
already Is required ana there will be
little delay In others, there is rea-
son to believe, officers say that men
incapable of afduous military service
have been enrolled for the purpose of
keeping the companies up to the Hhiri-
mum strength necessary for federal
recognition and participation in fed
eral appropriations
1850 New Mcxicans Rejected.
In this connection it has been
learned that l,0s0 men of the New
Mexico national guard. called out
some weeks ago, We're found unsuited
for federal service, only three com
panies from that state. 1t is said have
been mustered in up to date. the
others awaiting recruitment to the re.
quired G5 men. The pension board
has written Secretary Baker eongratu
lating him on the fact that physical
standards for enlistment have not been
lowered in the regular army because
of the difficulty in getting men. The
examination 'pf all guardsmon has
been ordered to protect the pension
rolls from undue initiation.
No additional orders have been sent
to the state troops tonight and none
Will be sent to any unit uutil It has
completed muster into the federal
service As fast as this work is ac-
eomplshed General Funston Will be
informed that given number of in
fantry, cavalry or artillery troops are
available fer his use.
Funston to Designate Posts
He viii designate the places on the
border to which he desires forces OF
each arm sent The war department
then win designate troops and to so
and then arrange for their prompt
transportation.
There is nothing TO Indicate how
many troops will be required imme-
diately. although in the event OF an
open breach with The Mexican govern
mene the whole force probablY would
be- sent to general mobilization camps
at suitable points near he irterna-
tl0am line. 1t has leen suggested
that $4,000 additional men would be
sufficient TO stiffen the border guard
fof present purposes.
If that number We're sent forward
Immediately, part Of those remain
ing at state mobilization points prob
ably would be granted furloughs un-
Ill time for them 70 relieve these IN
active service, who in turn would be
given furloughs The plan contem-
plates distributing the duty of guard
ing the border as evenly as possible
among all the men summoned. 1t
I viii serve also TO give the guard extra
training and greatly increase the ef-
ficeney OF the force against future
emergencies
should war come, it is virtually
certain that the remainder Of the
The mobile tfoopt Of the national