The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-06-22
EIGHTEEN OFF TO OCONTO
Men Leave Simmons Camp With Shouts
rom Fellow Workmen to Join Com
pany of Wis. National Guard-No
Call for Kenosha Company as Yet.

Answering the call to the colors
probably two score men in Kenosha
gave up their work at benches in Ke-
nosha factories today and left on the
first possible trains for cities in Hi
nois and Wisconsin to join companies
of the state militia which have been
called for service in the possible troI-
BILE with Mexico. Early this morning
eighteen of the men who have been at
Simmons camp over on Washington Is
land were aroused by a telegram
calling them to return to cities in
Northern Wisconsin at once. In half
an hour this troop had been "mobiliz-
ed'' and the eighteen left on the ten
O'Clock train for Oconto expecting to
leave with the Oconto company for
Camp Douglas either Wednesday after
noon or Thursday morning. From other
factories came the report that men
had asked for indefinite furloughs to
go back to cities in both Wisconsin
and Illinois to answer the call to the
colors. Every man who left Kenosha
to join militia companies left with the
understanding that his job would be
open and waiting for him when he got
through rendering such patriotic serv-
ice as he could to the nation. The de-
parture of the Oconto bunch from the
island was something of a function.
Ever since the call to arms was sound
ed two days ago the men had been
waiting the call. The flag was raised
over half dozen of the tents and
the men were ready with their trunks
packed when they got the call to move.
Several of the members of the Oshkosh
company were also in Kenosha and they
also left for home today.
Kenosha men who are anxious to get
to the border as members of the state
militia got no encouragement today.
There was so much for Adjutant Gen
eral Holway to look after in connection
with the moving of state troops on
Monday that he evidently had no time
to answer the offer of the Kenosha
men Of their services for the state
guard. Formal notice has been given
out from Madison that recruiting of
companies will not be possible at this
time on account of the fact that the
new federal statute providing for the
reorganization Of the state troops will
not become effective until late in July.
Secretary of War Baker on Monday
asked congress to pass a bill making
this law effective at once and it is pos
sible that congress will act today. IF
this is done it will be possible for the
adjutant general to give his immediate
sanction to the formation of the Ke-
nosha company. The possibility Of war
has stirred up a lot Of patriotic men
in Kenosha and it is certain that the
Kenosha company could be mustered
in within few hours after the form
al order for such action came.
Several Kenoshans are on the Dor
der with the United States army. This
includes the two Jorgensons, who have
been with the army for years. Arthur
Holderness has been spending a vaca-
tion in Kenosha, but he was called back
to the colors some time ago Major
Charles j. Symmonds, the ranking army
officer of Kenosha, is now in the
Philippine Islands. It is not expected
that he will have any part in the brush
with Mexico as he has not been call
ed home and he is expected to remain
indefinitely at Manila.
In the navy there are probably
twenty Kenosha boys serving in differ
ent capacities. Lieutenant Comman-
der David E. Theleen has recently been
assigned to the U. S. S. Maryland on
the Pacific coast and it is not improb-
able that his ship will be one of the
first sent for service on the west coast
of Mexico.