Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-23
PREPARE TO LEAVE
FOR WISE COUNTY
MINING DISTRICT
Detachments From Five
Cities Are Called to
Headquarters.
STATE OFFICIALS SILENT
ON MEANING OF MOVE
National Guard Officers Also
Refuse to Discuss Orders
Received. :.
STRICT SECRECY PREVAILS
Governor Davis Refuses to Answer
Telephone CaIIs-Richmond
Blues Ready to Move.
STRICT SECRECY PREVAILS
Governor Davis Refuses to Answer
Telephone CalIs-Richmond
Blues Ready to Move.

Associated Press dispatches earlv 70.
day from Roanoke state that five viz
sinia companies OF National Guards.
men are being held in readiness for en- i
trainment within twenty-four honrs RI
destination not made public, confirm
ing carrier reports in Richmond that tho
troops had been ordered to prepare to
leave some time today forth coal min
ins district In Wise County.
Strictest secrecy prevailed In Of
nciai CIRCLES here regarding tho orders
to the guardemen. Governor Davis
refused to answer telephone calls ut !.
me Executive Mansion and at late y
hour AdjutantGcneral 10 Lane Stern
stated no orders had been issued for
troop movement. f>'-ts3
armory that twenty five men were on
active duty and automobiles we're he.
q Quantity of ammunition to WISE
during the night. This intorma tfei
waS gwen out by man close to Con-
According to tho Associated Press
dispatches, guard compa MES from Roa-9
noke; Petersburg, Charlottesvilie.
Lynchburg and Richmond had Been insS
GUIDED In the order to prepare for en-
trainment. AT Roanoke the comnany.
under command of Captain G. r. Tur-
ner. was ordered to report for duty &c
O'Clock this morning, following GS
long distance call received earlier In
The afternoon from Adjutant-Generatr
stern The company at Petersburg
last night was also prcDaring to en-
train today under command of Captein
Percy =. Lanicr, it was reported from
there. -
AT an early hour this morning moth
Ing official would he given out by OFF,
GERS in command OF the National Guard
companies here.
Stern Refuses to Talk.
Adjutant-Gcneral Stern refused to
possible trouble in Wise County or
elsewhere in the state. answering all
questions by the statement that troops
We're OFTEN held in readiness to meet \
possible emergencies
Mrs, Mrs; Davis, in reply. to telephone
that the Governor had left orders not
to be disturbed under any circum-
stances. and that orders must bes
was awake or in a position to answer
the telephone was not stated. Insist
ent requests brought no further infor-a
nation. s
In face of the Governors recent re-
fusal to send troops to the Virginia
mining district at the request of United
order for mobilization last night came
rs surprise. Several days ago the
Goyernor was requested by the Fed
County, but refused to do SO. n
HirschberS AIso Silent. y
state Labor Commissioner Hirsch-
berg stated last night that he had
nothing to say of the reported troubles
there. He but recently returned from
u tour of investigation OF the mining
camps in Wise County When asked
whether he went there as representa-
tive of the Labor Department or to Sc
rure a report for Governor Davis, he
replied:
You had better ask the Governor"
In the meantime, it is known that
the companies at Petersburg, Roanoke
and Lynchburs and Charlottesville (
were prepared TO leave this morn
ing.
Troops Under Orders.
Troops affected by the order Issued
last night include company of ninety
men at Lynchburg. another of los men
at Roanoke, more than seventy at
charlottesville. and companies OF equal
strength in Petersburg and Richmond.
There are eleven mining camps with
in short distance of Big Stone Gap,
Wise County These are controlled
Company and the Wise Coal and Coke
Company. There have been reports OF
trouble brewing in these districts for
several weeks; and following the in
vestisation or Federal agents Attorneys
General Palmer requested action by
Men Told to Keen Quiet.
Every officer and suardsman re-
ceived explicit orders to maintain Sc
crecy regarding the instructions TO
prepare for entrainment last night.
Captains commanding the companies
in Petersburg. Roanoke and elsewhere,
would not be quoted.
That such orders had been actually
issued was Indicated by replies to all
messages to those officials in touch
with the situation.
Major Joseph LeMasurier when ques- 3
toned urged that his interviewer get
in touch with General Stern before
publication hour. When interviewed 2
[ = q n - f..nl< lln IL ha
no unusual situation existed and Y
cvaded direct questions regarding
the troop movement. n
Telephone lines to Big Stone Can +
were reported out OF order early this a
morning by exchange operators.
------------------- ssss'gS