Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-20
FORT MCPHERSON To
BECOME DETENTION.
CAMP FOR SAILORS
Prisoners to Be Sent Here as
Soon as Soldiers Can Be
Returned From Border-TO
Have Liberties of Fort

For three years the parade ground al
Fort Mcpherson has stretched silent anc
deserted under winter ana summer suns
the long rows of barracks blinked shut
tered windows at a handful on sentinels
left to guard the posi-, and Atlanta MISS
ed the dress paradcs, the sunset guns
the College Park cars crowded win
soldiers, all the military activities tha'
marked life at Fort Mcpherson before
the Seventeenth infantry was sent TO
the Mexican border.
Now the Seventeenth is coming nome.
With that message flashed over the
wires Saturday. went an announcement
which means even q greater transforma-
ton for Fort Mcpherson than the re-
turn of the troops-the fort will be used
as a detention camp for interned Ger
man sailors.
Seven hundred and fifty of them, now
ouartered at Philadelphia, will be sent 10
Fort Mcpherson and to Fort Oglethorpe.
near Chattanooga. Atlanta will get be-
tween three and four hundred. They
will be the officers and the crews OF
the German raiders which have been
placed under heavy guard at the League
Island Navy yard. Philadelphia, since the
German crisis became acute.
The Germans are to be sent here be-
cause of several outbreaks aboard the
vessels and the difficulty experienced
by United States marines in guarding
them. The most recent of these out
breaks, according to a dispatch in the
New York World, was precipitated by
the attempt on the part of her crew 10
flash messages from the Kronprinz Will
helm and resulted in the shooting OF two
Germans and the arrest of SIX others.
Other clashes between Germans and
box ad
government has kept secret the details
in nearly every instance.
BASIER TO GUARD HERE.
In an interior camp such as Fort Nc
Pherson. away from their own ships,
with opportunities for communication
with the outside world well night cut
off, the difficulty of guarding the Ger
mans will be considerably lessened. At
the same time, the government will not
be violating international law by sending
them 10 the Atlanta federal peniten-
tiary, "A plan which was suggested some
time ago,
At Fort Mcpherson the sailors will
be confined to close quarters but will
bG allowed the liberty of the post, ac-
cordng to tentative plans outlined in
2 dispatch from The Journals Wash
ington correspondent. At first 1T was
thought that the prisoners would be
kept in a stockade of barbed wire, such
as are in use in prison camps in Eng
land. but II is evident that the authori-
ties believe a guard around the con-
fines of the post will be sufficient to
prevent any of them from escaping.
The Journal correspondent faceti-
ously observes that the detention of
the Germans in a state where not even
near-beer may be had is likely TO lead
to a vigorous protest from the kaiser;
but he appends the information that
the Germans are we'll provided with
money, are good spenders, and. though
they may not get to town, will doubt
less have Atlantis merchants delivering
wagon loads of goods to them at the
fort.
While the presence of German sailors
at Fort Mcpherson adds a picturesque
touch to the return Of the Seventeenth.
the main interest in the announcement OF
their homecoming yesterday was in the
itself. Hardly The Journal
hit the street with the news story from
it's Washington correspondent than tele-
phones began to ring and eager voices
asked for more details.
There was joy I'm many hearts when
the war department confirmed the or
ders. for while the Seventeenth is made
up of soldiers from ali parts Of the
some of them are Atlanta boys,
others have married Georgia girls and
nearly all have friends here by reason Of
their long stay in Atlanta Especially
was the news welcome at the fort, where
the families of number of the officers
have been living since the Seventeenth
was ordered away and where about
twenty-five members of the regiment.
left behind to guard the government
property. are now under command Of
Major Edward Winston, retired.
Atlanta has PLEASE mt memories OF dress
parades at Fort Mcpherson, of baseball
and football games between the troops
and outside teams. made the more pleas
ant to some because they could be play
ed on Sunday. the fort being government
ground. Society. too. will welcome the
return of the Seventeenth. for the Of
fcers and their wives werc charming
additions to the club dances and teas,
and in turn were hosts at many bril-
liant affair at the fort. The citizens
have ever maintained the most pleasant
relations with the soldiers and Atlanta
was proud TO claim the Seventeenth as
its own.
II was a sad day when the Seven
teenth left the fort That was i'm the
latter part of March, 1914, just three
years ago The regiment was ordered 20
rag ic dSSf SdiiAt lOSA lAAesA iidh iClu Luz
a time in 1911, when Mexico first began
it's eruptions When the Columbus mas
sacre occurred, the Seventeenth was
transferred from Eagle Pass to Column
bus During the last few months the
Seventeenth has seen servive I'm Mexico
with General Pershings column.
Not all the regiment will come back
20 Atlanta. 1t is understood that six OF the
will be AT Oglethorpe and six
a Mcpherson. guarding the German sail
Ors divided between the two posts in
the same ratio. Headquarters company.
however, which INCLUDES the band, the
machine gun company OF 81 men and the
supply company of 81 men, will be at
Fort Mcpherson. There are about 100
men I'm the other companies.
The exact date of departure from CO.
lumbus has not been set. 1t is probable
that a reception will be give the Sew
enteenth on it's arrival here.