The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-13
HOME GUARD
AT MOORHEAD
Is ASSURED
Will Not Be Called to Guard
Private Property or
r. Away From Home
A. NJ. HOPEMAN
NAMED CAPTAIN
Company Will Be Mustered
Into Service In About
r. Two Weeks

A. NJ. Hopeman will be commission
ed captain of the Moorhead company
of the home guard that will be mus
tered into the service of the state in
about two weeks by Major Oscar See
bach.
A meeting of members of the home
guard was held this morning and
Major Seebach explained the plan OF
organization and answered many
questions asked by the men. He eTn-
phasized the fact that the guard will
not be sent away from home unless
there is an armed invasion Of the
state. Neither will it be used for
guarding bridges, elevators or other
private property.
THE home guard will be an insur-
ance policy for the state against riots
and disorders" said Major Seebach.
There is no probability of the guard
being called to other parts of the
state as there will be companies or
ganized in all of the larger cities.
For instance. in the northwestern
companies instead of the single COM
pany of the national guard at Crook
ston. as in time of peace. In other
sections this is equally true and on
the Missabe iron range there will be
at least seven companies of the home
guard where there were two COM
panies of the national guard.
While the age limits for member
ship are 81 to 50. men under, who are
probably exempt from CONSUMPTION
will be eligible. Major Seebach also
advised the formation OF auxiliaries Of
younger men and said that the drill
ing Of those who might later be called
into the service would be an advan-
tage to the government and the bene-
Mt to the men would be that they
might be selected as sergeants or
corporals. The organization of the
home guard will terminate with the
war and If the company in Moorhead
does good work the city will be in a
position to secure a permanent unit
of the national guard.
: The question of uniforms and equip
ment was explained by Major Seebach.
Rifles and all ordinance equipment
will be furnished by the state. While
there is a possibility that the Mime
sofa Public Safety commission may
furnish uniforms, the present require
ment is for each member to purchase
his own. The uniforms will be olive
drab, cotton, and may be purchased
for from $40 to IL. This includes
blouse, trousers, shirt, leggins and hat.
One reason for the probable in
ability of the state to provide uni
forms is that 100000 was spent in
guarding railroad, elevator and other
private property by the national
guard. While this is now being done
at the expense of the owners by their
own employees, the amount of the fund
used was enough to pay for the uni
forms Of the home guard three times.
Major Seebach left this afternoon
for Crookston to complete arrange
ments for the organization of COM
pany there. Other cities in the north
western part of the state where COM
panies have been or will be formed
ar: Morris, Breckenridge, East Grand
Forks, Thief River Falls and Bemidji.
Each company organization will
adopt a constitution and bylaws but
whatever else, discipline must be
If there is dissension in
q company it will be disbanded at
once. AS soon as the recruits sign the
roll, they become soldiers and must
live up to the regulations Of drill The
captain may excuse a member for alb
sence if the excuse is sufficient; other
wise he will impose a fine. At the next
in about two weeks, Major
Sebach will muster the company in
and appoint the lieutenants.