The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-03
Troops and Bombing AirpIanes
Now at Scene of Recent
Disorders.
UNION OFFICIALS JOINED
IN RECOMMENDING TROOPS
United Mine Workers Interna-
tiOnal Vice-President Urged
They Be Sent.
tBy The Associates Fressl

AAe(y LIZ OGAAAe
(By The Associates S7ress)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2-The war
department set in motion today ma
chinery to apply Irresistible force to
disorderly elements in the five mining
counties Of West Virginia where labor
disorders have smouldered into what
officials term insurrection. BY train
from four army camps, an expedition
airy troop force numbering 2,100 men
was route for separate destinations
on the edge OF the mountain country.
Brigadier-Genera1 II. H. Bandholtz,
the governments agent on the sceAe.
has been designated to command the
forces
Behind the force in motion, Secre-
tary Weeks said, were as reserves am
other 1000 men and bombing airplanes
which already have arrived IN the dis
turbed area. President Harding's proc
Iamation formally putting Fayette,
Mingo. Logan, Kanawha and Boone
counties under martial law, Is in the
hands Of General BandhoItz and win
BE issued at the discretion Of Secre-
tary Weeks.
The governments action in sending
troops into WNst Virginia Secretary
Weeks said today evidently had the
approval OF mine union officials as
well as OF the civil authorities of West
Virginia who had asked for them. He
called attention to General Bandholtz's s
report earlier IN the day that Philip
Murray, international vice president
Of the United Mine Workers had joined
in urging upon him the recommended
tion for troops.
when railroads are closed up and
armed bands OF men establish them
solves IN the country, marching to and
fro overpowering resistance" the sec
rotary said, you may call it what
you please. We call It insurrection."
The 18th infantry from Camp Sher-
man, Columbus, Ohio. and the Goth
from Camp Dix, New Jersey. which
were the first to move for the scene
OF the disorders are provided with
machine guns, howitzers, radio and
headquarters machinery. one-pound-
ers, specialists in gas warfare, as well
as rifles, riot guns, automatic rifles
and revolvers. The enlisted strength
OF the two organizations, according to
latest reports is 2,100, exclusive Of
the personnel OF the SSth Light Bomb
ing Squadron, estimated at l5O men.
The 18th infantry was brought to field
strength by requirements from the
10Th infantry at Camp Sherman Co
lumbus, the 40th infantry at Camp
Knox. Ky, and two companies from
Fort Thomas, Ky.
Officers OF the war department ia
miliar with martial law precedents
ana tho policy OF the administration
said the extent and duration Of its ex-.
istence in West Virginia, IL declared,
would depend largely upon the discre-
ton or General Bandholtz.
It's primary object. it was explained,
Is the auelling 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
disturbers OF the peace and that local
business and industry will be encour-
aged to continue. Exception to this
general policy, it was said, would only
Be occasioned by prolonged and viru-
lent disorders, which could be stamped
out only BY military operations. II
this should happen, It might be neces-
sary to remove even peaceable resi-
dents from territory where troop move
ments and encounters with armed
force were probable.
Even should prisoners be taken in
large numbers by the military or
ganizations, It was said, they prob
ably would only be detained until the
civil authorities were capable Of tax
ing them over for punishment or fur
ther detention under the civil law.
President Harding should summon
operators and miners in West Vir-
ginla to a conference as the best
means OF restoring order, James Lord.
president Of the mining department
OF the American Federation Of Labor
said today.
Il am convinced" he added that
II President Harding would request
the mine owners and the miners to
confer with the parties so invited
would consider the summons equal ;ol
an order and would come together.
''Once a conference was opened II
could not be closed without progress
toward agreement or without abate-
tcontinued on Page Two)