Evening star., 1916-07-28
D. c. men REALIZE
OFFENSE IS GRAVE
Signal Corps ''Invaders of
Mexico" Told They Face
Serious Charges.
LUCKY TO HAVE GOT BACK
ALIVE, CAPT. DODGE SAYS
Guardsmen, if Arrested by Civilians
Instead of Soldiers, Would Have
Been Executed, Is Belief.
BYJ. CROSBY MCCARTHY.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CAMP
WARREN. Ariz., July 24-The ''inva-
| sion" of Mexico yesterday by six mem
bers of the Field Hospital unit is the
chief topic of conversation today ir
the camp. Members of the hospita'
! unit and of the Signal Corps are jus.
beginning to realize the seriousness o.
| this invasion"
| Last night the militiamen looked
Field Hospital men as harmless
escapade. today they are beginning to
appreciate that the sightseeing triI
taken by the men might have resulted
| in a tragedy. They are also beginning
to realize that the six Invaders" prob
| ably will have to face a court-martial; ;
| that they will be called upon to answer
a charge of going to Naco without hav-
| ing obtained permission from their
company commander and also their
violation of a rigid amy order prohibit
ing soldiers of the United States from
entering Mexican territory unless un-
/ der orders.
Serious Situation Confronts Men.
Capt Dodge of the 22d Infantry, in
spector and instructor at the camp has
just finished talking to the men of both
units on the seriousness of the act OF
the Field Hospital men in crossing the
border. He spoke to them in plain
terms and made them understand that
although the men were returned to tins
country without being harmed, seri-
Gus situation still eonfronts them. ~
Capt. Dodge said it was fortunate
that the Field Hospital men were ar
rested by soldiers and not civilians.
Had they been taken in custody by
civilians. they might all have lost
their lives before Mexican military
authorities could have intervened, he
said He explained that the soldiers
who arrested the men constitute part
of the command of Gen. Gales, gov
ernor of Sonora, who is friendly to the
United states and who is exerting
every influence to maintain friendly
relationship between the two countries.
He has his men under good control.
Capt. Dodge said. and this fact is re-
sponsible for the fair treatment which
the District militiamen received.
Danger of Grave Complications.
Had the militiamen been harmed, in
ternational complications might have
resulted. Capt. Dodge explained. He
further stated that any trouble along
the border endargers the lives and
properties of Americans within Mex
leo: that the seemingly harmless sight
seeing expedition of the hospital men
might have brought about a situation
that would have endangered Gen.
Pershing's column In Mexico and also
the lives of Americans living along
the border.
tn.
instructor had finished talking to the
men all realized the seriousness of the
situation which still confronts the
militiamen who crossed the border. He
said that were they regulars instead of
militiamen, they could expect a dis
honorable discharge and a sentence of
AT least one year in the military prison
at Fort Leavenworth.
The invasion" is the first serious in
fraction of rules that has occurred
since the o. M. D. c. units arrived
here. Since going into camp it has
not been necessary to punish single
member of the Signal Corps for any
misconduct by sending him to the
guardhouse.
Too Much "Bootleg" Aboard.
The other night one member of the
Field Hospital unit took too much
bootleg" on board and created such
racket when he returned to camp
that he was sent to the guardhouse of
the 22d Infantry for punishment. The
hospital unit maintains no guardhouse
and neither does the Signal Corps.
Some of the men have had extra
kitchen detail assignments as the re-
suit of having stayed out Of camp
after hours and for having reported
late at assembly. For the most part
the conduct of the men has been ex-
cellent. Even the night following the
receipt of their pay there was no dissi-
patton among the men and no disorder
at the camp
The good behavior Of the men has
been the basis for many compliments
from officers Of the regular Infantry
regiment stationed here and from the
civil population of Warren and Bisbee.
The District militiamen have made a
good impression and they are working
hard to keep up their good record.