Middletown transcript., 1917-11-17

MAY RESORT TO THE DRAFT.

| With rifles and ammunition in the
Fifth Regiment Armory for the Sec.
ond Infantry, Maryland State Guard.
the uniforms to arrive this week, and
other regimental equipment, including
tentage and cots on the way, the new
regiment lacks many hundred men to
fill it's ranks. With more than 600
needed from Baltimore, less than 200
have enlisted so far, despite the ap-
peals that have been made, and Major
David w. Jenkins declared that unless
the men of Baltimore come forward
at once, other measures to fill the
ranks may be resorted to. Recruiting
has stopped, and no new members
have come forth for more than 10
days.
Unless the recruiting picks up and
the men of Baltimore, exempted from
the selective draft law for physical or
dependency. reasons show spirit OF
willingness to serve in the state guard,
Governor Harrington may resort to
the state draft to fill the ranks. He
has this power, it having been con-
ferred upon him by the war session
of the legislature that created the
Second Maryland Infantry for state
duty, and while it is understood that
he is reluctant to resort to this, it is
now coming to a showdown, and the
ranks of the Second Maryland are 60
ing to be filled, either through volun-
tary enlistments or conscription.
The filling of the ranks is necessary
because of the plans to order a couple
of companies on active duty within
the next few weeks to protect Balti-
more's water supply. This should
stimulate recruiting, for there are
hundreds of Baltimoreans who are
anxious to serve their country, yet
have been rejected or exempted from
the national army and other branches
of the service for various reasons.
The Second Infantry State Guard, will
be strict military organization, and
will serve within the borders of Mary
land. Major Jenkins in appealing for
recruits, asks particularly for those
men who are married or have been
exempted for other reasons, as well
as men of consciption age, whose liza
bility number is far down the list.
1t was hoped that the recent dis
astrous fire at Locust Point, from all
indications the work of alien enemies,
would stimulate recruiting, but so far
such has not been the case. 1t is pos
sible that the State Guard may be
called upon to guard the big shipping
terminals from which supplies are for
warded to the United States forces
in France and their allies, for it is
believed that this would have a great
er moral effect upon enemy agents
than the private guards now on duty.
It is believed that such request will
soon be made to Governor Harring-
ton.
Adjutant General Warfield commits
stoned Major Jenkins to go to Hagers-
town and there organize company
of the regiment. Recruiting in the
counties also has fallen off and from
indications they will not be in posi-
ton to furnish their quotas because
most of the men of military age have
been called for the National Army,
while others are needed on the farms.
Baltimore may be called upon to make
I'D this deficiency.
The company organized at Arling-
ton will be sworn in this week by
Major Jenkins and will begin drilling
in the Fifth Regiment Armory, which
is headquarters of the new regiment.
The men who are enlisted in the
regiment are hard at work fitting
themselves for service. They are put
ting. in six hours each week drilling
in the Armory on Monday and
Thursday nights and as many of
these are former National Guardsmen
with the arrival of their equipment,
they will be ready for any emergency
that might arise within the state.