New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-03
Weeks Holds Reserve of
1000 Soldiers Ready
for Duty; Martial Law
Left Up 10 Bandholtz
Gas Chief Weapon
LII Persuasion Fails
No Military Court To Be
Established, and Busi-
ness VIII Be ENCOURAGED

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-The War
Department set in motion to-day ma
chinery to apply irresistible force to
disorderly elements in the five mining
counties of West Virginia where labor
disorders have smoldered into what
officials term insurre4tion BY train
from four army camps an expeditionary
troop force. numbering 2,100 men was
routed for separate destinations on the
edge of the mountain country Briga-
der General H. H. Bandholtz, the gov
ernment's agent on the scene, has been
designated to command the troops.
Behind the force in motion, Secretary
Weeks said, were as reserves another
1000 men, and bombing airplanes
which already have arrived in the dis
turbed area. President Harding's
proclamation formally putting Fayette,
Mingo, Logan, Kanawha and Boone
counties under martial law is in the
hands of General 3andholtz and will
be issued at the discretion of Secretary
Weeks
Miners Union Approves Move
The governments action in sending
troops into West Virginia, Secretary
Weeks said to-day, evidently had the
approval of miners union officials. as
we'll as the civil authorities of West
Virginia, who had asked for soldiers
He called attention to General Band
holtz's report earlier in the day that
Philip Murray, international vice.
president of tae United Mine Workers,
had joined in urging upon him the rec
ommendation for troops.
"WEen railroads are closed up, and
4 armed bands of men establish them
selves in the country, marching to and
fro, overpowering resistance" the
Secretary continued, you may call it
what you please. We call lit insurrec-
ton"
The 10th Infantry, from Camp Sher-
man, Ohio, and the 26th, from Camp,
Dix, New Jersey, which were the first
to move for the scene of the disorders,
are provided with machine guns, how
tiers, radio and headquarters machin-
cry, one-pounders, specialists in gas
warfare, as we'll as rifles, riot guns, au-
tomato rifles and revolvers. The en-
listed strength of the two organiza-
tions, according to latest reports, is
2,i00, exclusive of the personnel of the
8sth Light Bombing Squadron, esti-
mated at $50 men. The 18th Infantry
was brought to field strength by re-
placements from she 10th Infantry at
Camp Sherman and Columbus, the AOth
Infantry at Camp Knox Kentucky, and
two companies from Fort Thomas, Ken
tucky.
Preparations by the army General
Staff provide for employment of sew
eral units of the chemical warfare with
equipment for using tear-producing
gas. While officials refused TO com
ment, it was learned that orders had
been given BrigAdier General Fries,
chief of the chemical warfare service,
to have detachments of his forces
ready for service in West Virginia.
Peaceful Measures First
Use of tear gas has been found
highly effective in experiments recent
ly held by the army and police depart
morts of Philadelphia and New York.
gas would not be used in West Vr-
gina except in case of emergency, and
after more peaceful measures of per-
suasion had failed to move the armed
bands to disperse and return to their
homes.
Officers of the War Department
familiar with martial law precedents
and the policy of the Administration
said the extent and duration of its
existence in West Virginia, if declared,
you'd depend largely upon General
Bandh oltz.
It's primary object, it was explained,
is the quelling Of disturbance and the
reinstatement of proper and consti-
tuted civil authority in the disturbed
area.
Consequently it is expected that
military forces will cooperate with
state police and local police officers,
that no military courts will be set UP
for trial and punishment of captured