El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-19

HE war department order to demobize the entire
tionaI guard the Mexican border and send it home
be mustered out the the national guards
men have heard many long day Realizing soon after
their arrival on the border they active
service thew awaiting mpatenty SINCE this
order They to the border to fight and tor no
Not being professional soldiers they could not
remain pacdly training much they realized the bene
fetal results Of such training. Nor did they relish hce
duty They were willingly under defend their
Try willingly under arms for three-quarers OF
year to perfect themselves in military training.
No could blame the guardsmen for their ATTITUDE
They answered what they considered call upon their
patriotism They ready to fight unframed as they
were hard strain many guardsman to re-
drilling the border and receive letters that his bust
going ruin for lack Of his attention and on many
another to word that his wife and children suffering
had been ecd because there no money to pay
the rent.
As an evidence spirit of the guard it is only
sary say that when the United States broke with Ger
appeared likely that might result and the
national guard called into service gumbng stopped
Officers and perfectly content to remain
under their country needed them to ght Germany
or 20 fight any Personal interests
secondary welfare of the country which they stood
ready TO defend
The rehabilitation appear the depart
ment does not apprehend the necessity for troops IN war
with Germany EitherNthat contemplate the
danger of war Otherwise the troops not
of the would of be possible to
muster ont the national guard allowing officers and men
time brief their families before again
being called to the coOTs but not likely the government
would such thing it believed the guard might
be needed almost Immediately.
So the national guard is going home train
equipment be provided for transportation and mastering
reach their state mobilization camps Incidentally the home
folks back north viii not be glad to welcome the return
of their guardmeu than viii the people of the border states
whose regiments have been with the colors longer than
those of the other states.
The department night in holding that the regular
army troops the border sufficient TO cope with all
ordinary emergencies II is not sufficient to provide eff
fecve patrol of every mile of the Mexican border All the
regulars all the national guard would be insufficient for
that the regulars viii be able furnish protection
where most needed And IS not right to hold the national
guard for that service that it possible to dispense
with them
The border states appreciate the service the national guard
has performed The moral effect Mexican bandits of
bringing the national guard border great The
oupourng of troops convinced every faction in Mexico that
the United States for the least
and had enough under overwhelm Mexico Raid
ing stopped has again within past
few days but indebted the national guard well
to the regulars for the fact that radng stopped
considerable time
And in going home, every militia organization will carry
with it the thanks and the best wishes of the border
We glad to have known their officers men,
should be glad to continue happier
cumstances It is hope that they will return
tarily to stay.
FL Paso especially desires have opportunity to
pass In review all the troops border At
the time Of the cattemen convention there be some
of the national guard remaining here regu-
lars who have been this station for time might fit
ngy form escort Of honOr for the whole Pershng army