Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-01
AWAIT RESUL 7
Of OFPRES|DENT'S
RECENT DECREE
Two Regiments Federal
Troops Ready to Move
at Moment s Notice.
Officials Hope Action
by Government Will
Not Be Necessary.

Washington. Aug. 31-The fedora
government stood ready Wednesday I,
. , act IN West Virginia should Thursday
reports show lack of compliance witt
PRESIDENT Hardings proclamation call
ing on all persons engaged in unlaw
1ul ana lnsurrectionary proceedings t.
return to their homes.
Two regiments Of troops of a thou
sand men each, one at Camp Sherman
OHIO, and the other at Camp Dix, n
D., were in readiness to move into thu
state on moments notice, war de-
partment officials said
proclamation declaring MARTA
law in five West Virginia counties has
been drawn up and signed by the pres.
ldent, ready for PRONUNCIATION.
Officials Hopeful.
Officials, however. remained hope.
full that neither of these steps would
be necessary, though their spirit os
optimism had been lowered during the
day by dispatches from the disturbed
area telling of clashes between bands
OF armed men and state authorities
and containing no indications bf dis
position to comply with the president S
proclamation
Decision as to whether the federal
government will order troops into the
state and declare martial lava step
which has not been taken in any state
since the days Immediately following
the Civil war--will depend son con-
ditions as reported by Brigadier Gem
eral Bandholtz at noon Thursday, the
hour fixed as limit by President
Harding. General Bandholtz left
Washington late Wednesday and on
arriving in Charleston early Thursday
will begin survey of the situation.
Only Five Counties Included.
The declaration of military rule and
the use of troops to enforce it, if
found to be necessary by General
bandhoitz it was stated, will be con-
fined to kanawha, Fayette. Boone.
Logan and A1ingo counties, comprising
section in the southwestern part of
the state and embracing Charleston,
the state capitol.
Reports from several points in the
disturbed area were forwarded to Sec
retary Weeks by Governor Morgan
during the day. They said that the
armed men resented orders to dis
perse, declaring they would force the
government to declare martial law and
threatened to blow up troop trains in
the event soldiers were sent into the
state.
A telegram signed by members of
the West Virginia delegation which
with Secretary Weeks
reached the war department late
Wednesday from Charleston.
"The committee calling on you just
'eturned to Charleston" the message
said, land find miners from practically
very camp in the Kanawha Fayette
8oone section rushing to Logan Boone
inc. We personally saw several men
IN our return with high powered rifles
n automobiles rushing to the troubled
,one. The governor is just advised from
logan that firing i taking place at
he top of the mountain near the Lo-
.an-Boone line. State is rushing re-
to that point from every |
vailable station. Miners openly state,
according to reports to the governor,
hey win not obey the presidents proc
amation. Necessary that federal
roops be sent at once if loss of life |
5 to be avoided. More than five thou |
and men under arms close to the
line and more on their
I1y.