The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-19
|0WA NATIONAL GUARD READY FOR WORD
! TO START FOR THE SOUTHERN FRONT

does not intend to ask congress for
any further approval or authorize
ton for such a step, he said today.
Chamberlain bases his belief on the
grounds that in case invasion Of the
United States Is threatened, very
broad powers are allowed the presi-
dent to meet an emergency. He said
he did not doubt In the least that
among these powers Is the presidents
right to order state troops into Mexi-
can territory as strategic step to
prevent Mexican aggression.
How far, however, the president
may proceed in such q move. puzzles
Chamberlain as we'll as most army
officers. The weight of opinion is that
the state troops may not be used for
a campaign in Mexico before July 1,
when the new army law goes into ef-
feet. Before that, militiamen must
take the double oath Of allegiance.
Available Immediately.
WASHINGTON. June 19.-Secra.
tary If War Baker took steps today
to make the national guard available
for immediate duty in Mexico.
The secretary, through General
Crowder, sent copy Of special
resolution to Chairman Hay of the
house military affairs committee,
which II acted on favorably by con-
gress, would make effective at once
that section Of the new army law
which gives the war department
authority to order the militia into
foreign territory. 9
Neither the secretary nor General
Crowder would discuss the step.
Other officers, members OF the gen.
eral staff, insisted 1t was merely Il
precautionary PLAN" They said the
situation was admittedly teemed with
the widest possibilities and that
every effort would be made to be con-
0uardsnen enthusiastic.
SAN FRANCISCO. Calf, June 10.
within seventy-two hours the 5000
militia in the states of California, Ore
gon, Washington, Idaho and Montana
will be mobilized in their home sta
ice on the Mexican border in accord
ance with President Wilson's call, ac-
cording to adv1ces received here to-
day from the adjutant general Of the
five states.
Immediately on receipt Of the presi-
dents order, the commanding officers
of each state ordered their men to
assemble and the plans for mobiliza-
tion began at once. During the night,
Adjutant General Thomas Of Califor-
MIA, sent out his official call, by direc-
ton Of Acting Governor Thompson
and the soldiers are expected to be
on their way before night to the
mobilization ground at the Sacra-
mento fair grounds.
This state will bring together ap-
proximately four thousand men.
simultaneously, similar orders were
issued by the adjutants general of the
other five coast and northwestern
states. Oregon's guardsmen number
LOO; Washington between 1000 and
1.50o; Montana, S75 and Idaho the
same.
Dispatches indicate enthusiasm at
all points by the guardsmen over the
prospect Of border duty. Plans for
entrainment were being rushed early
today and no hitch in the transfer of
the soldiers was expected.
Feeding the Men.
CHICAGO, June 19.-Until they get
to federal mobilization points at the
border, the various state militia or
ganizations must provision themselves
with government funds, it was stated
today at the Office of the central de-
partment Of the United States army.
After the border mobilization be-
gins, provisioning will be under d.
rect supervision of the quartermaster
department at San Antonio. Prepar-
ations are under way at Washington,
1t Is understood, to buy large quanti-
ties of provisions in the middle west
Wholesale meat prices were boost
ed trif1e at the stock yards markets
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