El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-21
7. \. c. BILLED
FOR TRENCHES
Col. Stevenson Tells Com
merce Chamber Ell Paso
Units Must Be Raised.

within a few weeks was the state
ment made Wednesday evening by
Lieut.. Col. II. E. Stevenson, of Ell Paso.
in an address made at the meeting
of the directors Of the chamber Of
commerce. Col. Stevenson said that
Texas now has 5000 guardsmen in the
field and needs Il. 900 more TO COM
plete its quota of 1s. 900 men. He made
plea for enlistments. saying that
while FL Paso has contributed Iiber-
ally to the purchase Of Liberty bonds
and in subscriptions to the Red Cross
il has been lax in furnishing men to
the national guard.
President John NJ Wyatt told the
national guard officer that the cham
Der of commerce stood behind the
guard and was willing to do any
thing to aid its officers in recruit
ing. Mr.. Wyatt called a meeting Of
the military committee to meet with
Col. Stevenson this afternoon to as
certain what steps to take to con
duct a patriotic campaign to secure
enlistments. which will be addressed
by prominent speakers of the state,
military men and business men OF
FL PaSo.
Ambitious To Get Into Fight.
Col Stevenson said it was his am
bition to see the state of Texas rep
resented on the firing line against
the German foe. He told the direc-
tors that the Texas national guard
although not mustered to full strength
was one of the best guard organiza-
ton in the United States. When
tne Iexas lighters are put IN the flrSt
trenches. the speaker said. the people
of Texas will feel proud Of their
deeds of valor.
Two More Companies Forming.
The officer said that there were
two more companies in prospect for
FL Paso and that this city was eX-
pected to furnish a battalion The
University club will form a company
and one will be organized among the
Mexicans and Pueblo Indians The
speaker said that the latter com
pany would undoubtedly prove one
of the best fighting units on the
French front; that the Indians were
experts in craftiness and were good
hand grenade thrOwers. The COM
panies. he said, should be recruited to
200 men each.
COnscriptS VIII Remain Priyates.
Col. Stevenson said he was sorry
to see the time come when any Of
the young men of Ell PasO would be
conscripted. He said that the regu- !
lars and the volunteers had a con-
tempt for censcripts and that the
men who entered the army as con-
scripts would go in as private and
come out as such. He said there was
no opportunity for them to be pro-
NOTED because of the lack Of esteem I
the enlisted regular and volunteer
had for the conscript.
Suggests Little Meetings
Director J. W Kirkpatrick inter- /
rupted the speaker to inform him that /
he was employing about so skilled I
mechanics and that fully 20 of them
were ready to enlist, but they did /
not understand what steps to take. I
Mr. Kirkpatrick said that there was /
much discussion among his men as
to whether il was better for them
to volunteer or to await and be con-
scripted- He said that If Col Steven
son or some other army officer would
hold little meetings and explain this
10 the men they could obtain scores
II enlistments. Other members Of the
board of directors agreed with Mr.
says FL Paso Is Lax.
Col Stevenson said that the larger
cities Of east Texas were doing their
part, but that FL PasO was lax and
that company b had always been the
'runt" of the Texas national guard
he said some of the best young men
Of east Texas were members of the
national guard.
The speaker said that there are to
be two field hospital companies in
the state, one of which has been fur
nished and that the other has been
given to FL Paso. He said that DR..
W r Jameson was raising the hos
pital corps here when stricken with
illness and that he is now in a hos
pital. The speaker said he would
like TO see the chamber OF commerce T.
aid in recruiting this company or T.
that il would be taken from Ell Paso
and given some other city; that many
0f the cities of east Texas we're try
ing TO secure the company.
Mr. Wyatt suggested calling a
meeting of physicians and surgeons
Of the city to discuss plans for raising
the company to full strength during
The time DR.. Jameson is confined in 4
the hospital Il
Offer Cooperation on CantOnment-
Mr.. Wyatt said that he had talked n
with Gen George Bell about canton
ments and that the military com
mander had been Informed that the
government officials did not believe
a cantonment would be constructed
here in proper time. Mr.. Wyatt said
that he told Cen Bell every one IN
FL Paso was willing to cooperate to
build a cantonment Mr.. Wyatt said
that the contractors Of Fl Paso had
announced that they were willing to
abandon present work and to work
night and day to erect buildings Tor
the cantonment il the government de-
cided to establish one here.
Mr. kirkpatrick said that the lum-
Der dealers of the city were wiling
10 turn over their yards to the gov
eminent and supply lumber for the
cantonment and be paid at whatever
price the government sets Ii
Notify Government Of Action
On motion of director q. A. Martin
a telegram was ordered written by
the secretary and sent to the war
department. informing the govern
ment that the contractors were ready
to abandon their work and work day
and night to build the cantonment
and that the lumbermen were Wiling
to turn over their yards and furnish
lumber to the government at any 7
price they designated. Ia
Mr.. Wyatt said that the officers OF
guard needed $500 to pay debts IN
CURED in organizing the company.
This caused much discussion MI
Wyatt finally appointed a committee
consisting of Maurice Schwartz,
Otis C Coles and II. Y. Ellis to can
upon the city council and ask TINS
BODY to make an appropriation OF
SzVO Tor the company.
Condemn University Veto.
On motion of Mr.. Martin resolu- {
ton was drawn to be sent to former :
governor Joseph ID. Sayers, condemn
ing Gov, Ferguson for his action IN
Vetoing the appropriation for the uni
serslIy and indorsing the university {
Mr. Wyatt said that at the meeting
he attended at Austin the people were {
loud in condemning the action OF :
IoV- ferguson and were willing 10
raise money by subscription II neces-
sary 10 conduct the university. when
ne said was one Of the finest lnsti- '
.utlons of learning in the country {
~. wyatt said he read the resoiu '
IONS OF the FL Paso Rotary cluo
II the meeting The directors voted