The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
Great Excitement Caused Last Night by Age-Herald Extras About Presi-
 dents Action SEALS CALLS MEN TO BE AT ARMORY TODAY FOR SERVICE Expect to Entrain for Mont gomery Tonight or Early TOmOrrow-Duty Is
 Imperative

All units of the Alabama National Guard in the Birmingham district must report at the armOry this morning and there prepare to entrain for MontgoM- cry, the mobilization point.
 This was the official order received at II :3O o'clock last night by Mnj. Carl Of Montgomery.
 Major Seals was also notified to in- forn all company commanders of this order so that the mobilization of the local forces could be expedited.
 All company captains in Birmingham were notified by telephone at early hours this morning to have their units on hand bright and early, as it is proposed to entrain for Montgomery with the least amount of delay.
 Major Seals also made the important announcement that owing to the fact that the three companies of infantry in Birmingham were now on peace foot ing of 65 men to each unit vigorous recruiting campaign would be started at once.
 MORE MEN NEEDED
 About 255 men are needed at once and a recruiting officer of the National Guard will be on hand early this morn- ing at the city hall to register all appli- cants. All men who have military ex- perience and who desire to see service on the Mexican border are urged by Major Seals to appear this morning at the armory of the city hall and enroll in the National Guard.
 Now is the time for the patriots to rally around the flag" said Major Seals.
 Senior Capt. l.. s. Dorrance of Battery A, of the National Guard. was also noti- fled of the order to mobilize early this morning by Major Seals and he informed The Age-Herald that he would have his company ready at the armory today.
 Captain Dorrance also stated that ii was very grave offense for any mem- Der of any military company not to re- port for duty. Disobeying a presiden- tial call, according to Captain Dorrance, is fraught with a very grave penalty and incidentally the stigma of deserter is branded ,on all such.
 CANNOT DISOBEY
 You cannot disobey a presidential order in such rigorous times as there, said Captain Dorrance, land expect tc get away with a mere reprimand.
 'sAll members of the various compa- nies in the Birmingham district, whether artillery or infantry, who are not at the armory this morning ready to report for duty will be classed IS deserters and as such will be tried and given term in the federal penitentiary. A presidential call for mobilization is very serious thing and I sound this warning in order to solemnly impress upon the young militiamen that grave duty confronts them today. There is no excuse. They must all report, for duty.
 'Also our companies need to be re- cruited to war strength. and thus all who desire to enroll will be given an op- portunity this morning at the armory."
 Major Seals stated that today would be a day to arrange all details and while it was possible that the loca troops would entrain tonight for the mobilization point at Montgomery, it was more than likely that the local compa- nies would not leave the city until to- morrow.
 Rifles, uniforms and matters o1 proper equipment must be carefully looked into,' said Major Seals, "and also the physical condition of the men exam ined. We also expect to recruit easily 25O more men within the next "A hours and then we will be ready to start. Ad- jutant General Hubbard has informed me that he has received the official order to mobilize all the state troops and that means very serious work for all of us However, we are ready"
 AGE-HERALD EXTRAS