Evening star., 1921-09-02
President COnfers
3efore Taking
Drastic Step.
HOPING CONFLICT
WILL BE AVOIDED
Bandholtz's Reports to
Guide Action by
u. S. Officials.

by Mai Gen. Harbord, assistant chler
of staff.
Action was postponed, however. on
the question of declaring martial law,
pending conferences between Secre-
tary Weeks and other government Of
proclamation has been signed and re-
quires only issuance to become enec-
tive
Declaration of martial law was still
withheld awaiting the arrival OF
troops and Gen. Bandholtz's further
recommendations when Secretary
Weeks left the War Department for
the White House to attend the resu-
lar Friday cabinet meeting. On reacn-
ing the White House, he said the
west Virginia situation only would
be discussed by the cabinet II brought
up by the President.
Secretary Weeks Optimistic.
Secretary Weeks, after leaving the
Cabinet meeting, said he was optl-
mistic over the West Virginia s1tua- =
tion to the extent of believing that
there would be no conflict after the
arrival of the troops. Forces en- route
he considered are of sufhclent
strength to restore order probably
without a clash.
The orders for the troops to move
were issued as the result of a tele-
gram from Brig. Gen. H. II. Band
holtZ, who was sent by Secretary
Weeks to report on the situation. ana
particularly upon whether the strlk-
ers would accede to President Hard
ing's command that they disperse.
Gen. Bandholtz at midnight last night
recommended that troops be sent "at
once
Plenty of Troops Available.
The troops which move Immediately
are the 26th and 18th Infantry at
Camp Dix. N. j.. and the 18th Infantry,
at Camp Sherman, Ohio. Others can
be rushed to the scene. II necessary,
from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind,
and Camp Knox. near Louisville. KY:
Gen. Bandholtz will assume command
of the forces upon their arrival He
formerly commanded the Philippine
constabulary and was provost mar
shall general of the A. E. F. in France.
Delay in the entrainment OF the lSth
Infantry at Camp Sherman was ex-
planned by War Department mel, ON 6f1cials ar
ders with respect to that regiment
were sent to Brig. Gen. Read, com
mander of the sth Corps Area. at Fort
Benjamin Harrison. Ind, and that
Gen. Read was to transmit the orders
to the commander at Camp Sherman.
Orders for entrainment of the 26th and
18th Infantry regiments, stationed at
Camp Dix, were sent direct to the
camp.
Ready for Martial Law If Needed.
All War Department arrangements
were said to be complete for promul-
eating martial law as soon as troops
now on the way arrive in the disturbed
area. Secretary of War Weeks. arriv.
ing early at his office, asked that all
communications received during the
night be placed before him.
communication with the War Depart
ported to Secretary Weeks that
Philip Murray nttad IntsrnatGnai Mina worSe vice
ers, had Joined in urging upon him
the recommendation for the troop
movement.
Delayed Airplanes Resume Flight.
The general also notified the de-
partment that the second group OF
Army airplanes ordered from Langley
Field TO- Ct, the og disturbed hf stnrm dls11'eai At
Roanoke, Va, last night. had re-
sumed the. journey. Army officers
said the planes probably would De
used for scouting in the disturbed
Cen. Bandholtz's message sent at
2 am. today on which the troop
movement was ordered was gwen
out by the War Department as fol-
lows: ,,.ao
o'clock tonight. The invaders have
not obeyed Presidents proclamatlon On
do so. 1t is therefore recommended
that the troops now held in readiness
be sent to West Virginia without de-
lay"
Bandholtz said:
Constabulary Hinders Action.
TT is believed that the withdrawal
..naY & tns anS Mocney
president and vice president of the
district miners union) would have
been satisfactorily accomplished put
for the tardy sending OF trains, ana
and i'll timed advance movement OF
state constabulary on the night , OF
August 81, resulting in bloodshed."
Regarded as "Request."
Decision early today to send the
troops into West Virginia was made
after an Interpretation from a ml1tary
standpoint of Brig. Gen. Bandholtz.s re-
quest for federal aid had been made py
Adjt. Gen. Peter C. Harris. When the
message received at lao am. today
was construed as a request" ana not
a Recommendation" for troops, the de-
tailed work Of dispatching orders was
turned over to Brig. Gen. Harbord. as
sistant chief of staff. who Immediately
sent out instructions for the entrain-
ment and dispatch of three regiments
of infantry, stationed at Camp Sherman,
troops, the 26th Infantry at Camp Sher-
man and the 10Th and 18th Infantry at
Camp Dix, were held in readiness all day
yesterday, with the troop trains. steam
up and ready to move, on the sidings.
With the receipt of orders from the
War Department all that was necessary
was the actual entrainment and move
ment of the troop trains. While the
26tfi and 18th Infantry will be used as
front line troops, according to an under
standing yesterday, the 18th will con-
stitute the immediate reserve forces.
Additional reserves also are ready at
Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind, and
Camp Knox, near Louisville, KY, to
be moved If necessary.
The 8Sth Light Bombing Squadron
of airplanes from Langley Field, Va.
consisting of fifteen planes, reached
Charleston last night
Optimism Prevailed.
The universally optimistic attitude
in regard to the West Virginia situa-
ton, manifested all during yesterday
by officers at the War Department
was not abandoned until the formal
request for the dispatch of federal
CONTINUED on Fourth Page.)