The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-21

Washington. June 20.-Pork bar
rel politics by certain Southern con-
gFessmeu has tied un the entire army
,rFogranh ami threatened 10 delay the
movement Of troops TO France until
long after the general staff had plan
YsYm. IL became known today, When
TIE general STAFF decided upon thirty
two cantonmerts-~sixte for the mas
tsonal guard and sixteen for the DRAFT
nrnly--orders we're sent TO the COM
n,aaders of all army departments to
select sites in their departm euts.
Twelve camps were TO be established
in the Southeastern department. OF
which AatoT- General Leonard Wood
is. comma nder. OWING to favorable
. weather conditions for winter t~a!n4
inr. The plans called for nine ma
tional guard and three draft army
camps under General Wood.
The camps for the conscrip; army
were rapidly seIected-Atlanta. Co.
fumhia and Augusta. Atlanta and
Augusta are IN Georgia
sAbout ten days ago the war depart
ment announced the selection OF SAX
sites for national guard cantonments.
Three are in Texas, IN the Southern
aepartmeut--Ho Fort Worth
and Waco The other three were at
Linda Vista. California, Fort Still,
txokiahonla and Deminr, New Mexico,
A seventh YVES tentatively determined
for American lake, Washington, Then
announcements stopped.
No further word was heard concern
ing the nine camps 70 lee esta blishe
in General Woods department. II e
now less thar a month before the First
national guard regiments as scheduled
To 20 into concentration camps The
Grst increments are supposed to move
Eo,,th on July 10. In the few inter
yening weeks Ali transportation ar
ranrements and tentage would have
20 be made.
Reason Now Plain.
The reason for the delay became
p1ibiic today 1t was declared thas
I;eneral Wood Immediately upon being
ordered to select camp sites, sent staff
nfficers to locate sites. They made their
rAports and he Immediately checked
mn their recommendations and APP
nroved them. Then he sent the
Recommendations to Washington with
fhe opinion that these were the best
sites in the Southeastern part of the
F-nited States for the nine camps. II
lnese recommendations were approved
eleven OF the twelve camps In the
Southeastern department would nave
been in Georgia
wind of General Woods recon-
mendations reached the ears OF con-
/ rressmsn from other states In the de-
.naxtment, which extended as far West
'rIT ouis,ana and as far North as the
Virginia border. A boInbardment OF
'nrotests shook the war department
rhc general staff was set upon from
and rear by congressman whose states
were hungry for the campsi;e plums
Had to Do Work Over.
c,,ch storm Of protests reached
Adtutant- General Hoy P, Mccain and
Mstor- General rasker H. Bliss. acting
rh,sf of staff. that they wired to GEN
araI wood pointing out that all his
.aIact,ons had been for Georgia sites,
srd urging him to reconsider them,
rereral Wood wired back that he
gEtHod nv his original recommenda-
4 ftors. that the sites offered the best
4 facilities and met the preliminary re-
h ,,,;remeuts of pure and slf1cient
/ water. easy transportation and short
ha,,l to points of en- barkation on the
seahcard.
rhen under pressure here II was
.tatrd today tho department. ordered
General Wood to recommend new
80 ~ sites. He was forced to do his
worry all over and Is still at 1t. 1t was
nyderstoed at the war department
shts , fternoon that General Wood had
tentatively collected six OF the nine
camps, two each to be located In
f5eorg,a. Alabama and South Carolina
The Alabama locations will entail a
f0nc extra railroad haul.
Meanwhile the militia bureau a.
n cs,,,, pietelv at r. standsttll
I 49, GAY OCEAN VIEW.
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