Evening star., 1916-08-28
MILITIA FORECASTS
Of HOMECOMING
May Stay Over New Year,
Brig. Gen. Davis Pro-
gram Indicates.
WORK UP TO OCTOBER |:
TALK OF DECEMBER PLANS
Field Hospital en- Eight-Mile Hike,
Riding Back in Wagons-Horses
for Battery B Obtained.
BY ]. CROSBY MCCARTHY,
Staff Correspondent.

BY j. CROSBY MCCARTHY,
staff Correspondent.
DISTRICT NATIONAL GUARD CAMP,
WARREN. Ariz., August 23.-How much
longer will the militia be kept on the
border?
This question appears foremost In the
minds of militiamen in this camp. Re
ports received here indicate that this
same state of inquisitiveness exists at
other points along the border where
National Guard organizations are sta
toned.
Rumors concerning the probable time
ment are flying thick and fast. No one
has any definite information on which
to base predictions.
A recent order of Brig. Gen. Davis.
embodying a schedule of activities for
militia units in the Arizona district ex-
tending until September 80 has set the
miiitiamen hereabouts to thinking.
Many of them previously had believed
that before September 80 they would
be on their way to home, sweet
home
May Stay Through Year.
Along comes this order outlining
work which they are to do UP to that
time What is more, it indicates that
the militia units may be kept here un-
til the beginning of 1917. In Gen. Davis
order it is stated that about Septem-
Der 25 another program of activities
extending through the month of De-
cember probably will be issued.
n h lr6 - n HI a
"dopesters" who had figured out in
their minds all kinds of home going"
schedules. The guardSman who has
been saying, We'll, you can bet we will
to scratch his head and go over his fig
ures again. The fellows who have been
willing to bet that they would eat their
Thanksgiving day dinner at home also
are little upset. In fact, everybody
is upset with regard to this all-inl-
portant question.
Officers of the regular army ask their
militia friends If they have heard any
thing about the recall of the National
Guard. Those of the militia seek out
the regulars to ask the some question,
believing that their connection with the
regular establishment places them in
position to get inside information"
Efforts to "Dope" Out Situation.
Anything which would have even the
remotest bearing on the duration of
the militia's stay on the border is taken
into consideration; nothing is allowed
to escape unnoticed. The fact that
semi permanent combination mess halls
and kitchens of the summer type have
been erected at all the camps seems
significant to some of the militiamen.
They point out that If the guard was
to stay here until cold weather ar
rives provision would have been made
for buildings that would be suitable
for both summer and winter. AS it is
the structures consist merely of
frame screened in with wire netting
and covered with tar paper roofs.
This dope" is upset" by militiamen
who declare that it will be a simple
matter to make these mess halls suit
able for winter occupancy; that the
sides can be sheathed with boards to
be nailed on right over the screening
could be taken off with little effort,
they say. and without damaging the
wire.
Know-It-Alls on Hand.
or course. among the guardsmen
who declare they have the best of au-
thority for predictions regarding the
removal of the militia units from the
border. There are many of tbis type
in every walk Of life. Fifth and sixth
hand information Is peddled around
Just as if 1t had come direct from
headquarters.
"a fellow who knows a chap who Is
right in touch with all the big bugs
in the War Department told a friend
Of mine that such and such Is going
70 be done" is sample Of the kind of
talk that is heard every day. Militia
men stop. look and listen" and then
continue TO revolve the same old ques-
tfon over and over again in their heads
How much longer are we going to
stay"