Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-15
ALL NATIONAL GUARD
UNITS. ARE ORDERED
To MEXICAN BORDER
Troops Now in Mobilization
Camps Will Be Moved as
Soon as They Are Fully
Equipped
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-An the ma
tionaI guard units included in President
Wilson's call of June Is. not yet on the
Mexican border. were ordered there to-
day by the war department.
Between 10000 and $4,000 additional
troops will thus be added to the border
forces. National guard troops there
Will number approximately $4,000, and
the total of all troops on the border
CT in Mexico will be $4,000.
Secretary Baker made a formal an
nouncement that the troop movement
had nothing whatever to do with the
Mexican situation as such and was
solely to relieve thousands of troops now
held in mobilization camps only because
they lack a few recruits to bring units
up 10 fixed minimum strength.
Today's order sends the troops from
Kentucky, Ohio and Vermont to the bor-
der as soon as transportation can be ar
ranged for them and will move all the
others as soon as they are properly
equipped.
STIMULATE RECRUITING.
War department officials decided on
their action because the troops are rest
i've in camp and there seemed to be no
no prospect of movement to the border.
They now expect most of the regiments
will be filled before the troops leave.
Secretary Baker today made public
letter to a correspondent whose name
was not disclosed, who had suggested
that the government should discharge
state soldiers who desired to return
to their business careers. The secreta-
ry wrote:
h11, -
men in the country. except the regular
army, who make a profession of the
military life, would inevitably inter-
rupt business, professional and per-
sonal careers, and it is impossible to
imagine any situation in which the or
ganized militia or national guard of the
several states could be summoned into
the federal service without hardship
and inconvenience, and yet both the
constitution of the United States and
the laws made pursuant thereto recog-
nize these militia and national guard
Units as the secondary reliance of the
government for the protection of the
interests of the United States and the
lives of the citizens of the country.
HOPE TO DISBAND SOON.
1.-The department regrets these in
conveniences and hopes that the emer-
geucy will rapidly disappear and that
there Will De SuCH a TcSlOIdlAOh VI
der and security on the frontier as will
permit the speedy return of these citi-
zen soldiers TO their several civilian
pursuits. In the meantime this depart
ment has taken steps to mitigate and
relieve as far as possible the unusual
and exceptional hardships which have
arisen in classes especially subject to
distress by reason of the service de-
mand. To the extent that can be done
in fact, it will be done, but the primary
consideration must be the safety of our
border and the preservation and pro-
lection of the lives of our citizens
there.
at will be a source of great happi-
ness to me when full relief can be given
to these men who have placed them
selves subject to this call of duty, and
in the meantime 1 am filled with adj
miration for the spirit with which the
militia has met the call, and with which
they are performing an important and
necessary service to their country at this
time"