Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-10
LIMITATIONS OF
TROOPS POWERS
SHOWN IN ORDE RS
Capt, EdmundS Issues lnstruC-
lions to Men Under His
Charge at Gallup, PreSCrib-
ing What Their Duties Are,

| HIS FVildl IlICll OullCo NJ u
The following field order from Cap
| tain Edmunds, at field headquarters
OF provisional squadron Eighth cav
airy, Gallup, is interesting as showing
the limitations OF troops placed there
during the coal strike:
! !. Information on hand is contained
! in copies of March order, extracts
! from army regulations and verbal in
struCtons given,
2. In enforcing the provisions of
| the instructions mentioned, all arrests
| OF civilians made by troops will be
| turned over to the civil authorities
| for disposition Later if it is found
that civil officers are not cooperating
4 for The enforcement az law and or
| der violators will be held. under
guard by the military
g. IN guard duty, patrols and tactl-
cal maneuVers and marches, military
courtesies ana department. toward the
civil population, the greatest eXactness
and compliance with the regulations
and orders viii be required. All Off
GERS and non-commissioned officers
are enjoined TO make a prompt cor
reetion Of any Violation under the
headings mentioned and to report de-
linquencies for disciplinary action.
4, The provisions of paragraph 2,
this order are interpreted to extend to
all assaults reproachful or abusive
language, actions or gestures toward
troops Of the United States or individ-
ual membe Of this command or to-
wards any posters or proclamations
which may be issued and any member
OF this command is directed to arrest
any male or female over the age OF IL
years violating these provisions. Per-
sons arrested 10 be proceeded against
as indicated in paragraph . of this
order
s. The attention OF all concerned is
particularly directed to the fact that
the use Of troops is limited under our
present instructions to the preserva-
ton of law and order and the protec-
ton of life and properly. Members of
the command are enjoined TO preserve
strict neutrality between the parties
of the ciVil population who may be at
ODDS on any subject to hold them
selves aloof and 10 have no inter-
course with such parties except as re-
Quired by the carrying out of their or
ders.
G. All members of the civil popula-
ton are requested to cooperate for
the enforcement Of the provisions of
the orders of the PRESIDENT of the
United States the army regulations,
the provisions of this order and the
preservation Of law and order The
sale Of firearms ammunition and eX-
plosives of any kind is strictly pro-
hibited
Then follow extracts from army
! m
! certain emergencies.
In case of sudden and unexpected
Instruction, or riot endangering the
public property Of the United States,
or in case of attempted or threatened
robbery or interruption OF the United
| States mails, or equivalent emergency
so imminent as to render it dangerous
! to await Instructions requested
| through the speediest means of COM
muncation, an officer of the army
may take such action before the re-
T, ceipt of instructions as the circum-
stances of the case and the law under
which he is acting may justify, and
| viii report promptly his action and the
circumstances requiring it to the ad-
jutant general OF the army, by tele-
graph if possible, for the information
| OF the president"
! Paragraph 4SS:
I'm the enforcement of law, troops
(, are employed as part of the military
power of the United States and, act
| under orders of the president as com
mander in chief, They cannot be d.
| rected to act under the orders Of the
| civil officer. The commanding Off
! GERS of troops so employed are direct
| ly responsible to their military supe-
! 10 wi lt1 n n
| act on their part would not be eXcusa-
BILE on the grounds of an order or re-
quest received by them from a mar
! shall or other civil officer"
/ Paragraph AS:
Troops called into action against
a mob forcibly resisting or cbstructing
| the execution of the laws of the Unit
ed states or attempting to destroy
| property belonging TO or under the
protection of the United States are
| governed by the general regulations
! of the army and apply military tao
tics in respect to the manner in which
| they shall act to accomplish the de-
| sired end. 1t is purely tactical ques-
ton in what manner othey shall use
the weapons with which they are
| armed--whether by fire of musketry
and artillery or by the use of the bay
onet and saber, or by both, and AT
what stage Of the operations each or
/ either mode of attack shall be en-
/, ployed. This tactical question will be
decided by the immediate commander
of the troops, according to his judy
ment of the situation. The fire of
troops would be withheld until timely
warning has been given to the limo
cent who may be mingled with the
mob. Troops must never fire into a
crowd unless ordered by their com
handing officer, except that single Sc
| iected sharpshooters may shoot down
individual rioters who have fired upon
or thrown missiles at the troops. AS
general rule the bayonet alone
should be used against mixed crowds
in the first stages of revolt But as
soon as sufficient warning has been
| given to enable the innocent to sep
| arate themselves from the guilty, the
| action OF the troops should be gov
erned solely by the tactical considera-
| tions involved in the duty they are or.
| dered to perform. They SHOULD make
their blows so effective as TO promptly
| suppress all resistance to lawful au.
| thority, and should stop the destruc'
ton of life the moment lawless resist
| ance has ceased. punishment belongs