New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
Order Forecasts Early
Withdrawal of All
Militia from Line
PERSHING BEGINS
MOVING HIS FORCE
Twelfth and 69th, of New
York, Likely to Return
Home Soon
From The Thbun. Bureau

Washington, Jan. 20.-General Fun
ston was authorized to-day to release
one-fourth of the militia troops now on
the border and return them TO home
stations for muster out. From $4,000 TO
10000 troops are affected, Secretary
Baker said. The selection of the units
will be made by General Funston.
Among the New York State troops
that may be chosen are the 18th and
seth Infantry, of New York City. Ac.
cording to excellent information here,
the e9th is almost certain TO be in.
cluded.
Although Secretary Baker would not
say what further releases of Guard
troops were to be expected, the belief
in we'll advised quarters here is that
all will be mustered out within few
weeks, as it is understood that the
withdrawal of the Pershing expedition
is already under way.
Mr.. Baker merely said 81 can't COM
ment on that" when he was shown the
FL Paso reports that motor transport
train was already carting equipment
out Of Mexico. Officers at the depart
ment said Mr.. Baker had not taken
them into his confidence concerning the
withdrawal of Pershing's forces.
This is the first movement of militia
troops away from the border In more
than a month. When the last contingent
WAS ordered home it was said authori-
tatively that the next move would be
the rehabilitation of the whole Guard.
Withdrawal Long Urged
The withdrawal of the Pershing eI-
pedition and the rehabilitation OF the
Guard has been urged by General staff
officers and by General Funston him
self for months. Ever since the pursuit
of Villa ceased, in fact, early last sum-
mer, it has been declared repeatedly
that the expedition was serving no
military purpose.
With the withdrawal Of the Pershing
expedition the slogan sect Vills!"
which was adopted by the Administra-
tion as a rallying cry, takes its place
with the earlier demand, also backed
up by a military expedition, that
Huerta salute the flag. Just as Presi-
dent Wilson withdrew from Vera Cruz
without a salute he withdraws from
chihuahua without the bandit.
General Pershing pursued Villa more
than 400 miles into Mexico, and when
within half day of his quarry he was
halted by orders from Washington
based on some controversy with Car
rama about the propriety of passing
through cities. Pershing's flying col
umn about faced and retraced its way
to Colonia Dublan. where it has rested
ever since, while Villa recruited an
army hundreds of miles away.
wilson's Motive Doubtful
Why Pershing was kept in Mexico
after the pursuit of Villa was aban-
doned is something that President Will
son alone knows. It has been guessed
by his officials that it was his idea TO
use the troops presence as club to
beat Carranza into an agreement. II
so. that plan also has been a failure,
for the Mexican American commission
has dissolved without result and the
troops are to be withdrawn uncondi
tionally.
Military experts have said that as
long as Pershing remained in Mexico
it was necessary to have the National
Guard on the border in case of clash
with the Mexican government troops.
The withdrawal Of the Pershlng eX-
pedition, consisting of about 1900
men, and the consequent release Of
other regulars who have been held at
Columbus in case reinforcements were
needed makes it feasible now to police
the border soleiy with regular troops.
II is the policy of the department not
70 permit disintegration Of the Ma
tional Guard organizations, and the
Continued on page !, column