Evening journal., 1917-03-26
FIRST BATTALION
answers CALL
OF President
lContInued from rIraL parnl

in rapidly. Signs OF great activity arc
apparent at the armory. Major Weller
e. Stover was present carly this
morning ready to check over equip
ment and other belongings of the
/ troops
II Is expected regular army re-
oruiting officer VIII arrive today and
that formal enrolment IN the United
States service will begin Immediately.
Medical examinations OF the members
or the guard will commence imme.
diately upon arrival OF the United
states Army surgeon. The men. who
are reporting for duty at the armory.
Will be held there or required TO re-
port regularly until they have been
examined aud formally enrolled.
Just what service the men will be
quired TO perform is not known here.
General Wickersham said today. as
no orders have yet been received from
the War Department regarding the
disposition OF the troops. Rumors
that they would be used to guard mu-
milton plants about the city and rail
road bridges could not be confirmed
1t being declared no steps had been
take so far as know 10 place the
men.
No attempt will he made for the
present 70 organize a Third battalion
t is declared. until the First and Sec
ond Battalions have been recruited TO
iull war strength. Complete mobili-
zatiou Will take some time, il is point
ed out as many OF the men live out OF
the city and many also will have TO
arrange with employers to get away.
but it is expected all Will have re-
ported and will be ready for duty by
tomorrow at the latest.
Ohicials OF the DUPONT Company to-
day said they knew Of no arrange
ment to assign troops to protect their
plants. They had asked for no troops.
they said, and had no knowledge that
any would be assigned to them.
Inc War Department issued orders
yesterday for tho modifying of the four
companies of the First Battalion. Della.
ware National Guard Members of the
Police Commission last night had AhtailsI
OF patrolmen stationed on guard ~ Y all
the power plants Of tho Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company and all
the state Armory, Twelfth and OranpoI
streets. The orders for the guarding ofl
these places were issued shortly after lOl
O'Clock, following a conference between
Folico Commissioner William b. Mepear
and Thomas w. Wilson. vice president
OF the Wilmington and PHILADELPHIA
Traction Company.
AS result OF this conference. Pa
trolman DiMare was hastened to tho
plant OF the company at Fifth and
NlFNnWn srah T.a
duty throughout the night At the
power plant along the Brandywlne
creek three patrolmen were stationed
curing the night Sergeant Crczier
and Patrolmen Payne and Burns we're
also hurried to the State Arsenal.
where they remained on duty until
daybreak this morning
While the city authorities were Co
operating with the Federal Govern
ment. the d. a o. Railroad Company
officials co'operated with tho govern.
mont and armed guards we're placed
at either approach 10 the railroad
bridge across tho Brandywine Creek
at Augustine.
Il was int.mated this morning that
these guards would remain on duty
until the four companies Of tSate sol
diers are modified, when they will
be stationed al the power plants. the |
Porter reservoir, the city pumping sta |
tions the railroad bridges near here. !
and also about the public and Federal
Citizens who chanced to pass the
oil works az Claymont and Marcus
Hook yesterday reported that armed
sentinels patrolled the roadways near
ho plants