Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18
War Department Directs En-
tire Militia Force on Border
to Be Demobilized.
D. C. BOYS DUE MARCH |

out as soon as he can complete ar
rangements for the movement.
All the troops of the District of Co
lumbia now on the Mexican border are
expected to be in this city in ample
time to take part in the inaugural
parade, in the opinion of army officers
familiar with the procedure in such
cases. All the details attending tire
order of the departure of the various
organizations on the border are in the
hands of Gen. Funston. and the dates
of their departure will be governed
mainly by the availability of trans
portation facilities, which are some
what limited in that section of the
country.
Officials Expect Little Delay.
At the War Department, however. it
is said that there will be no delay in
the movement and that the various
organizations will be dispatched to
their home stations as rapidly as
transportation facilities will permit.
Trains of Pullman cars will be pro-
vided for all troops who will be on
the road more than thirty-SiX hours.
while day coaches will be provided for
those making short Journeys.
1t is estimated that the entire move
ment will be fully accomplished and
all the troops mustered out by March
& That estimate is based on the ex-
pectation that the last of the troops
will have been entrained by February
30 and will reach their destinations
and be mustered out within two weeks
time.
The District troops affected by the
order are the Sd Regiment of Infantry
and Troop A of Cavalry, both Of which
organizations are at Camp Wilson, San
Antonio, Tex, and Battery A, Field
Artillery, which is at Ell Paso. Because
of their favorable location from a
transportation standpoint and the gen.
eral desire to have them home in time
to participate in the inaugural cere-
monies, it is believed that Gen. Funston
will designate them among the first
Of the national guardsmen for entrain-
ment.
D. c. Boys Expected Home March 1.
Under ordinary circumstances the
trip from San Antonio to this city can
be made IN three or four days and the
trip from Ef Paso IN abort one day
more. Consequently. unless there should
be unexpected delays in the departure
of the District troops. they should
reach this city by March 1. Secretary
Baker said yesterday afternoon that no
special luSlTucI1OnS naQ Deen issued
regarding the early return of the Dis
trict troops. The request of Chairman
Harper of the inaugural committee to
have the District boys here in time to
join in the parade March 5. the Secre-
tary said, had been referred to Gen.
Funston. who was in charge of all the
arrangements on the border and natur-
ally would receive his consideration
in the execution of the general move
ment.
Cacratorv paLar if,,rfbar oxpJo;pod
that all the returning troops would go
to posts to be designated by the vari-
Gus department commanders in order
that they might have the benefit of
proper shelter and subsistence during
the short period necessary for their
muster out.
That is taken to mean that the home
coming District boys will be ordered
TO Fort Myer, Va, for muster out, as
was done in the case of Battery Is of
the Field Artillery.
The only Maryland troops affected by
the homecoming order are Companies
T., +, G. and II, which are distributed
along the Mexican border.
The militia organizations of Virginia
ordered home are the~1st Squadron of
Cavalry, Battery u, Field Artillery;
Company A. Engineers; Company A
Signal Corps, and Field Artillery No.
Coincident With Opening of Embassy
The big army of national guardsmen
that was concentrated on the border on
account of bandit activities will be in
process OF dissolution coincident with
the reopening of the American en-
Dassy in Mexico.
Gen. Funston, however, still will have
on the border nearly $4,000 troops, all
oe the regular army, disposed along the
line Nom Brownsville to Yuma, AriZ.
on plans worked out by the general
staff. The command includes all of the
troops who were in Mexico under Gen
Pershing. and their distribution was
carried out under the direction of Gen
Eben Swift. who was with the Pershing
expedition Gen. PershinE will remain
at Iii Paso, where he is commanding a
division including the largest cavalry
uni. the line.
Secretary Baker emphasized that the
withdrawal of the state troops is in nc
way connected with the crisis with
Germany, but carries out a policy de-
termined on long ago by the admins
tration. The order was issued afte,
Gen. Funston had reported that with
The new disposition of regulars he felt
that he had enough men to meet any
border exigencies that might arise
Many guard units already had been or.
dered home during the past few weeks
and the number of guardsmen remain.
ing and to be demobiiized under yes.
terday's order is about $4,000.
See Little Chance for Raids.
Administration officials place entir,
confidence in Gen. Funston's opinior
that the force of regulars will be suf.
ficient. They are understood to hay,
been convinced by the reports of spe
cial observers for the State Department
and the army that while il NAV be nos.
sible for Villa and Zapata followers
10 commit minor depredations In
the sparsely settled region west Of r.
Paso. there is little possibility of a re-
currence of raids in the lower ri,
! Grande country.
] IL also is desired that the Carrepza
government be embarrassed as LITTLE as
possible in its efforts to control Mey.
leo. and the maintenance of large
army at the border has been a constan nj
cause of complaint from Mexicans. The
reduction is expected by officials here
TO have a beneficial effect on relation,
between the two countries, especiaII,
Just now when diplomatic intercourse
is being resumed
Ambassador Fletcher took with hin
TO Mexico a mass of memoranda or
subjects that the United States ha,
instructed him to take up with the
. Mexican government. 1t is expected ht
will call at the Mexican foreign office
tomorrow to present his credentials.
n memorandum on the killing of tn,
three Americans south of Hachita N
N., is being prepared here and will bt
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