The Washington times., 1916-12-03
District Soldiers Fear 1t viii
Mean Enlistment for a
New Term.
CELEBRATE ON EXTRACT
Guard House Party IL Broken
Up by Arrival Of Lieuten-
! ant Hamilton.

CAMP WILSON, SAN ANTONIO.
Tex, Nov. q tBy maiD After con-
siderable difficulty. the commanding Ole
f,cers In mostsof the companies OF the
Third Regiment have gotten n majority
OF their men to sign the reanirmation
blank sent Mere by the War Department
Some OF the commanders have been
unable 10 obtain a single signature. IL
is understood that in two companies the
men destroyed the blanks rather than
Align them. but new blanks were pro-
vided and some signature were afYixed
to them.
The officers informed their men that
the blanks had to be filled out with the
signatures OF all enlisted militiarncn
mustered into the Federal service so
that appropriations Of the proper size
could be made by Congress for the ma
tional guard.
BaIk st Enlistpaent Prsvise.
Although the officers insisted this
was the sole purpose OF the blanks,
when the men were about to sign
their names they saw section TO-" OF
the army reorganization bill. referred
to. and dropped their pens. Section
10 prescribes an enlistment period OF
three years with the coiors and three
years on reserve.
The soldiers were assured that their
signatures on the blanks would not
obligate them to serve a singn day
after the expiration OF their present
enlistment, but Notwithstanding this
scores OF them refused to sign. They
contend that their signatures on the
blanks would be equivalent to enlist.
Ing for three or six years more.
These men, called guard house law.
yerr" by the officers, are standing on
their rights and insist they cannot be
Officers admit that this j. a fact. but
point out that refusal 10 sign will
mean dllcharge from the nations
guard. This threat bringt cheers III.
stead OF tears from many OF the men.
Celebrate On Extract.
while Lieut. Charles II. Hamilton.
OF Company A, In tremendously popu.
lar In his own command. and among
the members OF the District militia
football eleven, he has been barred
from the extract socials" given by
former occupants OF the guard house.
The eS'prisoners say the blood OF a
fair American girl In upon the hand
some licutenants head.
While Lieutenant Hamilton was the
officer OF the guard several OF the
prisoners who were ordered to clean
up the kitchens and dining halls, got
vanilla and lemon extract, Sand after
gioriousiy drunk on the flsvorfng,
While thus inebriated, they decided
American girl. crossing . desert 10
meet her sweetheart, would be way
laid by a Mexican and later rescued
by her American lover.
The sYeet'smelling actors. however
with THAR Judgment. with the result
thRt Just when tho American girl had
fallen into the hands OF the Mexican
bandit and was being brutality choked
Lieutenant Hamilton completed his
rounds Of the camp. and his attention
was attracted by the loud defamation
In the guard tent. The melodrama was
broken up, with the American girl
still In the hands Of the Mexican ban
dit. hence Lieutenant's Hamilton's un
popularity.
-FuIiy Equipped"
The Third Regiments guard house
Is now fully equipped" according "a
Capt. WIN II. Chase. OF the supply
company. who has just provided the
officer OF the guard with two pairs OF
handouts. which look as though they
might Keep even Houdini busy for
The army regulations call for two
pairs OF steel handouts for each
guard house, but until recently Cap
tain Chase was unable to draw them
from the Government.
The handouts will be kept for use
on especially obstreperous prisoners
or men I'm confinement who refuse "a
work. While. as a general rule. the
District militiamen are tractable and
| obedient. there are times when tbs
army mule hasn't n thing on them for
stubbornness, and they are escorted
to the guard house. II they continue
TO disregard orders 10 work, disciplin
airy methods are resorted TO.
Before the handcuffs were provided
two militiamen had to be spread