Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-02-15
NATIONAL GUARD,
EXCEPTTEXANS.
WILL GO HOME
GENERAL FUNSTON ISSUES ORDER
WHICH P0RTEMDS A GENERAL
MUST OF STATE TROOPS.
ESTIMATED THAT ONE MONTH WILL
BE REQUIRED TO GET ALL
UNITS STARTED NORTH.


SAN ANTONIO. Tex, Feb. l5.-Actins
under Instructions from the war depart
mcnt. General Funston ha. just issued an
order 10 state troops IN the border service.
not already designated to go home. pro-
vidIn. that 'all Officers not accountable
for public property and all enlisted mel. On
leave OF iurlough or who may subsequent
~ be granted same, will be ordered to re-
port 10 their home department command
ers for muster out" This applies to the
troops OF al states except those Of Tex
u.
While no official Comment has been
made, the belief prevails in military circles
that the order plainly shows the intention
of The government To continue the sending
home of all national guard organizations
rs rapidly n possible until only the Tex
rs guardsmen are left To assist troops oi
the regular army in maintaining the Dor
der patrol. The order also provides that
hereafter leaves and furloughs Shall be
granted only under exceptional circum-
stances. This, il was pointed out. j. 4 log
zeal step il IL l. the plan OF the war depart
iHrHt % uINlFH-' Win di state troops III
the near future.
II j, estimated that the homeward move
ment or state troops, which i now IN
progress. will be- practically completed BY
February 20. This would leave the way
clear for additional units To be- designated
for release and sent home Ia be mustered
out of the federal service. When al troops
under orders nave left the border the
strength of the national buard force WILL
be decreased by about 5000 men, leaving
about 10000 still in the service.
Even III orders come from the war de-
rartmcnt shortly after February 20 for
General Funston to close out the border
service OF all state troops except those of
Texas, officers are Of the opinion that a
month or more would be required TO clear
the border territory of the guardsmen still
on duty. The speed with which troops can
be sent home l. governed 10 a large ex-
tent by the availability Of pests in %variou,
parts 81 the country ~ muster ont sta
tons.
How long the government intends re
tanning the services OF Texas regiments
after the troops of other state have been
released i a question that officers at Fort
sam Houston will not undertake 10 answer.
Ever since national guard forces have been
IN use along the border the war depart
mcnt has left no room for doubt that
troops of the border states, Texas, Ar
zone and New Mexico. were To h. held Ia
the last. One reason for this policy j. the
fact that il y the border of these three
states which j. being protected. Another
reason advanced for the governments de-
termination 10 hang on 10 the Texas
troops i the efficiency they have shown
since being mustered into the federal ser
vice last May. They have ranked well M
with the regular, in the task Of guarding
the border territory.
Several national guard organizations
will begin their homeward trips from Dor
der point, Wednesday, but no movements
are scheduled for Tuesday. The second
battalion of the First Minnesota field ar
tlllery ~ Llano Grande, slated 10 Get
away Monday. will not start until Feb
rnary 10. and the First battalion of the
same regiment will leave the next day.
The Sixth Pennsylvania infantry left III
Paso for home Monday.