Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-22

Washington, Aug. %. = The admin
istration hopes to withdraw the Ma
tional Guard from the Mexican border
by November /. This hope, according
to persons close to the Administration,
is based on the belief that the joint
commission to settle the Mexican dis
putes will be able to complete its work
by the end of October.
The representatives of the United
States and of the defacto government
of Mexico are expected to complete
their task of settling the points at is
sue without lengthy parleys.
This settlement will include
ment of the safety of life and proper
ty of foreigners in Mexico. it is indi-
Gated.
1t is planned to withdraw the regu-
lar army forces from Mexican soil and
to have them continue on patrol duty
on the border. This will give Major
General Funston about 1900 more
regulars than he has now on a similar
duty, and would permit the demobili-
cation of the entire National Guard.
Secretary of Wa Baker yesterday,
in answering a score of letters from
many parts of the country complain
ing that the State troops were being
held in service after the emergency for
which they were called out apparently
had passed, intimated that 1t vas the
Administrators policy to keep the
National Guard on the border only so
long as American lives and property
are in danger.
By it's presence on the border, he
wrote to one, the guard is winning
bloodless victories daily" He declared
that Americans resident along the in
t~ernational line we're enjoying a peace
and security they could not know
without the military forces to protect
them.
The department appreciates, Mr..
Baker said in another letter, the act
that a call for military service upon
militia organizations must inevitably
present cases of hardship" He added:
The emergency, however, which re-
quired this call for the militia was n
of a grave character, affecting the
safety and lives of citizens of the
United Statesmen, women and chill
dren. The presence of the militia on
the Mexican border has restored order
and given a higher degree of safety
and security to the lives of our peo-
pie in that troubled country than they
nave TOT a long Time mad. Inc militia
is, therefore, performing a valuable
service; and the fact hat this service
is being performed without active mil
itary operations entailing loss of life
to our soldiers is a cause of c~ongratu-
lation and happiness"
Referring to the elaborate and ex-
tensive training the militiamen are
receiving under supervision of regu-
lar army officers. the secretary ex-
pressed the opinion that it would fit
them to act in time of war or other
emergency as a supporting arm, or
second line, for the regular army, fur
nishing an asset to national prepared
ness that could not have been obtained
otherwise.
Clearly, so oon as a restored state
of order on the border justifies it, these
troops will be returned to their
homes" he wrote, lin the meantime,
it is not possible for the department
to say how soon such a situation will
arise, although the Mexican situation
Is one of increasing hopefulness."
To another correspondent, the Sec
rotary explained hat the National
Guard was maintained for just such
exigencies as that which now exists on
the border, and that it had cost the
government many millions to prepare
and keep it ready for such emergen-
cies. He pointed out that National
Guardsmen were fully aware of the
duty they undertook when they en-
listed.