Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-01
Members Of local Rapid Fire
and Infantry Companies
Balk at Dual Allegiance
ADVANTAGE GOES
TO VOLUNTEERS
Machine Gun Organization
Enlists More Men-Close
to Full Peace Strength.

Three well known men enlisted to-
day In the Machine Gun company.
bringing the present membership Of
the Grand Forks organization up to
three officers and AZ men.
They were Michael Cooper. man
ager Of the Grand theater: Leroy J.
Spriggs and Arno c. Lawrence. lino-
type operator at the Page Printerie.
Both Of Lawrence's parents were born
in Germany, and many of his relatives
are now fighting with the kaiser's
army.
Lawrence . German.
Gas long al we are able bodied citi-
zens and subject to draft, we thought
that it would be a good plan to Join
the rapid fire boys from Grand Forks
who made such a good reputation on
the border" said Mr.. Lawrence to-
day. II may be of German descent"
he added. "but feel a great deal in
the same. way as my father. He'd
the Prussians out Of the country"
Other recruits who have enlisted
in the Machine Gun company since
April are: Paul A. Goodman, Les
ter 8. Chidlaw. j. Myron Bacon,
Floyd Kearns. Harry Stricken, Frank
Hicks. chef at the Hotel Dacotah, and
Thomas Tollefson.
Only eight moro men are required
to bring the Machine Gun company
up to the required peace strength Of
SO officers and men. War strength
would be a membership OF SO men
and officers. and authority to recruit
10 that limit Is expected in the near
future.
Infantry Company Grown 80
With a total Of II enlisttnents yes
terday In Company M, the Grand
Forks infantry organization. the men,
to 81. leaving but nine men required
to fill out the full peace strength Of
100 men. War strength In the infan-
try company would be $50 men.
The dual oath Of allegiance to the
country. which was taken by II men,
bers Of Company NJ last evening at
drill, has also been administered to
some of the rapid fire boys.
In view Of the fact that volunteers
may enlist in either the national
guard or the regular army for the
oath has not been very popularity re-
ceived by Grand Forks members of
the national guard, who believe that
it is unfair that more should be asked
of men who have already been in
service than of those who have not
been in service or had any previous
training.
The oath which was taken by some
Of the national guardsmen last even
ing is as follows:
II do hereby acknowledge to have
voluntarily enlisted this 30th day OF
April. 1917, as soldier in the ma
tional guard Of the United States and
of the state of North Dakota for the
period of three years in service and
three years in the reserve, under the
cor ditions prescribed by law, unless
sooner discharged by proper author
ity. And l do solemnly swear tha,
will bear true faith and allegiance
to the United States Of America and
to the state Of North Dakota, and that
I will serve them honestly and faith
fully against all their enemies whom
soever, and that will obey the or
ders of the president Of the United
States and Of the governor Of the
state Of North Dakota and Of the on
GERS appointed over me according to
law and the rules and articles of war
This oath is subscribed to with the
understanding that credit will be given
| in the execution Of this contract for
the period which I have already
served under my current enlistment
| in the organized militia Of the state
| of North Dakota"