Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-18
REFUSE TO REAFF|RM
ALLEGIANCE TO U. S.
Men of Third D. C. Infantry Un-
willing to Sign Pledge
for Future.
MAY BE HOME CHRISTMAS
BY J. CROSBY MCCARTHY.
STAFF Correspondent.


CAMP WILSON. San Antonio, Tex.
November 1s.-Considerable difficulty is
being experienced in getting the men
of the Sd District Regiment to sign a pa
per reaffirming their obligation to defend
the institution. and obey the orders of
the President, which they took at the
time they were mustered into the fed
eral service. An effort is being made
to get the men to make the reaffirma-
ton in order to definitely settle their
status as members Of the National
Guard of the United States While the
men subscribed to an oath that is sub
stantial1y the same as that provided
by the act of June 5 last. it is not iden-
teal. and the purpose of the reaffirma-
ton is to settle any dispute that might
arise concerning appropriations.
Meaning Not Understood.
A misapprehension mas arisen among
the men as to the import of the paper
they have been asked to sign, many OF
them believing that by doing SO they
will be pledging themselves three
years service in the reserve in addition
to their present enlistment. In one
of the companies every man has re-
fused to sign. In others only few
have attached their signatures. The
signing must be voluntary. and the
officers are powerless If the men re-
fuse
May Abandon Leon Springs Trip.
The Sd District of Columbia Regi-
ment may not make it's proposed trip
tn
gage in two weeks of rife practice
and if it does not go this fact prob
ably will have an important bearing
upon the time of it's return to Wash
ington. .scting on orders from brigade
headquarters, all the company COM
manders have reported on the amount
OF rifle practice their men have had.
These reports show that the great
majority of men already have received
rifle training that is about equivalent
to that which other commands have
received at Leon Springs. and the regi-
! ment may not be ordered to make the
trip.
Many officers of the regiment be-
lieve, with that program abandoned
that the chances for return home be-
fore Christmas will be increased. II
the trip is made. the regiment prob
ably will be kept at the rife range
until about the middle of December.
Trying to Hasten Homecoming.
Yesterday many of the state regi-
! ments in camp doubled their efforts tc
bring about the issuing of orders which
will take them home. The fact thai
| the Sd Wisconsin received orders to &c
| home. as the outcome Of consid bic
wire pulling which its officers and mer
| had done, has served to encourage the
other commands.
The LIST and I'd Wisconsin regiments
both of which reached the border
ahead of the Sd Wisconsin. are making
a big play to be the next to be selected
: from this camp for return.
The Field Hospital. Sanitary and Am
bulance Company of the 18th Division
left this morning for Leon Springs. fol-
maneuvers. scheduled to last twelv,
days. The column will camp tonight il
shelter tents midway of the journey
All the medical troops of the Distric
Regiment accompanied the column ex
cept Lieut.. Francis D. Gibbs and fiv,
enlisted men. While the other medica
officers are away, DIR. Gibbs will hav,
| to handle the medical and sanitar,
work of the regiment SINGLE ba nded