The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-14
AN ILL-TIMED PROTEST
Against Sending Northern Troops to
Southern Camps.


ment against the assignment of the Mas
sachusetts National Guard for training a
the cantonment now under construction
at Fayetteville, N. G. They and othe
members of the Massachusetts delegation
are credited with the belief that to sta
ton the New England division at tina
place will endanger the health of III
personnel, and one prominent member o.
the delegation is thus quoted "All thi:
means is that the war department want;
to spend money in the South. 1t should
be made the subject of unanimous pro.
test from the New England states"
For the war department we hold no
brief, having criticised its shortcomings
on many scores as duty imposed by
every consideration of practical patriot
ism. In the case complained of by the
Massachusetts, senators, however, we be-
lieve the facts will acquit the department
of blame and reveal the protestants as
assuming an attitude that is not only
our National Guard, but demonstrably
unwise, unfair and far from being I'M
sectional or unselfish. The site in ques-
tion lies in part of North Carolina well
known for its salubrious climate. 1t was
selected after thorough examination by
experts of the regular army who know
their business. 1t was personally in
spected by the commander OF the south
eastern department, the ranking officer
on the active list of the regular army
to-day, New Highlander by birth and
education, none other than Major General
Leonard Wood, who calls Massachusetts,
home regardless of whether his station
be Charleston or "the more important
command of Honolulu or Manila 1t is
impossible to believe that General Wood
was Indifferent to the welfare OF the
troops from his home state and section in
recommending for them a place of train
ing. 1t has not been his habit in the
past to trim the sail of his opinions in
military matters to prevailing political
breezes. If there is an officer in the
army to-day to whose care the fathers
and mothers of Massachusetts, would be
more willing to commit their sons who
are joining the colors for training, we
do not know his name.
Equally far atield is the charge that
the sending of New England troops to |
train in the South is due to the desire of |
the war department to placate southern |
politicians by spending in that section
the money for the construction of the
and the maintenance of the /
troops in training. Massachusetts, has
not Jared badly in the matter OF appro
priations for war purposes. The quar-
of the northeastern depart
ment will, we are informed. spend more
than $4,000, 900 in New England in the
month of July alone. In addition, our
factories are filled up with contracts for
clothing, shoes, arms and ammunition
md munitions of war of all sorts, We
ire manufacturing section. Some OF
he New England troops will be sent
,verseas before snow flies if the ships
or their transportation can be secured.
others may continue their training until
alter in the winter. The autumn is long
md the winter is mild in and about Fay
tteville. There is nothing in the eli !
nate or the surroundings to brighten the
antilles or the friends of New England
roops who are sent thither for training.
We do not believe that the rank and file c
f the New England militia are afraid of !
he southern climate. We do not believe t
hat they are appealing for special treat :
nent in the matter We do not believe
hat they deserve the criticism that will
ONE to them from all over the country
S a result of protest which may serve e
ONE political purpose, but will not COM t
lend itself to military men.
Thousands of Massachusetts men have !,
nlisted in the army. navy and marine i,
,rps. in the railway regiments, in the
ngineering units, in the quartermaster's ,
apartment, and in other branches of the
ational service since war was declared.
Massachusetts, soldiers are distributed all
re way from San Francisco to the
rench volunteers who have gone .
, the colors in prompt response to the
II. Candidates for the aviation corps
I'VE been scattered to the four corners
the country and to France by orders
signing them to training. Soldiers en-
,ted by Captain Pearson on Boston
mmon within the last two months are
day training in the fields OF France, :
thin the sound OF the guns, and in
a. weeks will be under fire in the
pnches. Now the fathers and mothers .
hose sons make up the militiamen of (
assachusetts are entitled TO the same
nsideration and the same treatment as
e fathers and mothers Of Msssachu
its whose sons have enlisted in the
my. navy, marine corps. or other arms n
the service, but they are not entitled G
any more. =
When tho National Guard Of Massa =
lsetts Is drafted into the federal serv n
next month. its officers and men viii b
no longer the troops OF the common 6
alth. They will be the soldiers Of the 6
ton. subject to the orders not Of the y
rernor but Of their new commander =
chief. the president. They can be sent r.
7where in the wide world that be sees n
10 send them. They can Be- trained g
rWhere in the wide world that he or Z
: them to b. trained Surely when a,
orders them 70 North Carolina for m