Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-27

today to entrain tonight for the Next
can border, while $4,000 addlrionai
state militia in the department of the
east were ordered to start for the bor-
der tomorrow.
The organizations which are to move
tonight include nine infantry regiments,
one squadron and six troops of cavalry
two signal companies. one battalion of
engineers, three battalions of field ar
tillery, three field hospital companies
and three ambulance companies. The
New York troops will go to Brownsville
and the Massachusetts, and New Jersey
troops to Ell Paso.
Major General -, ood commanding the
department of the east, conferred with
his staff this afternoon. 1t was report
ed that all the state militia in the east
would be prepared quickly for entrain-
ment toward the border. THESE number
about $4,000.
1t was said to be General Woods pur-
pose to have all these troops started
before the end of the week.
Major General Organ, commander OF
the New York national guard, said he
feared the New York command could
not start before tomorrow owing to the
fact that not nearly enough cars were
available for the enlisted men. Cooking
cars, he said, were scarce, and freight
cars would have to be transformed into
kitchens.
In all about 900 troops in New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont ana
Massachusetts had received orders TO
start Immediately for the border.
Additional regiments from Virginia,
Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Della
ware, Maine, New Hampshire and the
District of Columbia were ordered to
start south at the earliest possible mo-
tomorrow or Wednesday.
I'VE have been called upon to furnish
900 men, said General Wood, who
said that only the taking of their finger
prints would be dispensed with. Sur
Geons of the regular army have been
examining the men for the last few days
ana the work was understood to be
nearly complete.
Speaking of the danger of sending I'M
trained troops for possible war service,
General Wood said:
CRITICISES SYSTEM.
THE blame belongs to the system. 1t
is like a football team without any
reserves on the side lines to fill up
the ranks when the time to fill them up
Genes"
The urgent call for troops was fol-
lowed by a night of activity at the
headquarters of the department Of the
east on Governors Island. The orders
from General Wood to start the troops
within twenty-four hours were tele-
phoned to the national guard command
ers in the five states chosen to pro-
vide the first contingents. General
Wood and his aides were on duty vir-
tually all night. Army quartermas-
tiers were in communication with rail-
way officials arranging tor transport
trains.
In the armories of the three New York
regiments still remaining in this city
but Included in the order to leave at
once lights blazed all night. Many of
the men were absent on liberty leaves.
Messengers were sent to round up every
man and call him back to the armory.
Early today most of them had reported.
Major General Organ spent most of
the night in the Seventh regiment arm
ory directing the assembling of the
troops and preparations for an early
start.
Meanwhile General Wood telegraphed
to General Funston for instructions as
to the routing of the troops Not until
those directions were received could any
of the troop trains start.
Most of the regiments 1t was said
would start with an average strength of
1000 men. Recruits will be trained at
the home stations and sent south later
TO ioin the commands. General Organ
declared that not a man in the New York
national guard had refused to take the
new oath to serve the federal govern
men.