Milford chronicle., 1917-04-13
STATE ASKS FOR HOME
GUARD men BETWEEN
Ages 45-55. Who Are Unable To
Enter The Federal Service By
Reason OF Being Past The
Enlistment Age Limit.

Men unable to enter the Federal
service by reason of being past the
enlistment age of As years. will be
given an opportunity to enlist in the
State service as Home Guards in the
present national emergency. relieving
effective men of military age for Fed
eral service. Men between As and 55
years of age are eligible for State
service as Home Guards.
The inauguration of a movement
for tire organization of companies of
Organized Militia of Delaware. for
strictly State purposes, was launched
by Adjutant General l. p. Wicker
sham, by a general order. The ord
er was issued in pursuance of plans
prepared by Governor Townsend and
General Wickersham sometime previ-
Gus to the announcement from Wash
ington that a state of war existed be-
tween this country and Germany. Ev-
en- the most minute detail of arms,
shipment, drill and instruction were
included and provided in these plans, /
which have been held in abeyance un- (
til il was considered that the time /
AeAA al AfOu AuA dCLAuL dluuE AllS line. I
Each accepted applicant for enlist [
ment in these companies will be re-
luired to enlist for three years. sign
a declaration in which he agrees to
report for drill and instruction three
evenings week, and the order speci-
6cally provides that no man eligible
for Federal service will be accepted
in these companies to be raised under
this order.
The organization of these compan-
les will be made in pursuance with
1he authority granted by the General
Assembly to the Governor to increase
the State forces, in time of national
emergency, to such strength as is ne
cessary, which additional strength {
shall be mustered out when such /
ceases to exist. Z
The order issued gives in detail the
plan of organization, as follows: S
State of Delaware, 1
Office of the Adjutant General, a
Wilmington, April z, 1917.
General Orders No. 10. a
!. Under the provisions of para b
graph 294, Section 2, Revised Code. 4
1915, and the Senate joint resolution. 4
approved April End, 1917, and in order L
10 meet the existing emergency that a
may require use Of troops for state s
purposes in excess of the National C
Guard, there will be organized com a
Danies of infantry, Organized Militia s.
1f Delaware, and in order to carry II
his into effect there will be establish it
ID in the State armOries at Whining
on, New Castle, Newark, Dover and Il
Milford, this state, offices for the en- r,
'ollment of applicants who may de- m
ire to enlist in the Organized Militia hi
# Delaware for State purposes. W
2. In view of the fact that the Ma vC
iOnal Guard of Delaware affords an o
for service for able bod ri
ed citizens between the ages of Is be
nd As years. applications will only OF
e considered from citizens between lii
he ages of As and 55 years, or those er
rho have had previous service in the in
rmy. navy, Marine Corps, National dc
iuard or Organized Militia, and who ia
re not now eligible for Federal ser
Ice. wi
3. The enlistment period will be su
lr three 90 years, unless discharged vi,
y proper authority. If the present its
onditions cease to exist these troops be
I'D be mustered out, as required by gr
ie laws of Delaware. 15
BY command of Governor Town Sc
and. P. WICKERSHAM.
he Adjutant General, Chief of Staff
The home guard is to replace the
resent state troops, who are in the
ederal establishment, and who are
kelly TO be ordered out of the State
n other service. They are now do
8 guard duty in the State.
Should the reported plans of the at
lvernment to raise an army of l. o4t
(, 1000 men be carried out, Delaware wh
ID be required to furnish at least da'
81 soldiers. This estimate is bas- Tor
on the population of the State on Joi
aich lines the proposed army bill MI
Divides that the compulsory military I'M
aining is to be carried out. Della cla
lre is now short about 900 men to OF
ing the two battalions up to their FRA
y strength of $50 men to the COM
ny. Should another battalion be
guired, it would take about 1900 U
p to organize it and put it on a war am
SIS of $50 men to a company and OF
I $50 men in each of the two exist nan
y Mrs