Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1916 — CO. M TAKES FEDERAL OATH AND ALLEGIANCE [ARTICLE]

CO. M TAKES FEDERAL OATH AND ALLEGIANCE

900 Men With Officers of the National Guard Pass From Guardsmen to Regulars. 9 Men of Co. lof Plymouth, 1 of Four Companies'in Major Healey’s Battallion Refuse to Take Oath and are to Face Court Martial.

The boys that Rensselaer sent to Fort Harrison last Saturday morning are no longer members of the Indiana National Guard. They are now members of the regular United States army. Nine hundred men, with the officers of the four thousand members of the national guard of the state of Indiana, stood with bared heads at Camp Ralston in the blue grass fields Tuesday afternoon and with '■heir right hands uplifted took a solemn oath of allegiance to fight for their country as members of the United States army. Scenes inspiring and at the same time pathetic, attended the ceremony which marked the passing of the Indiana soldiers from guardsmen to regulars. A thrill of patriotism swept through the camp when Company A, of the third infantry, marched from its company street to the parade ground and took the oath to fight whenever and wherever needed. The men returned to their company street cheering wildly and throwing their hats high in the air.

A pathetic scene followed when nine members of Company I, of Plymouth, which is one of the four companies under the command of Major George H. Healey, of Rensselaer, refused to take the oath and in disgrace before their comrades were led away under heavy guard to face a court martial. Federalization of the Indiana troops will proceed as rapidly as possible because both officers and men are anx-ious-to be among the first to see actice service. No more definite word reached the camp Tuesday about the probable departure of the Indiana troops to the border, but preparations are going ahead rapidly. Drilling was in progress in many parts of the camp and among the other companies the work of preparing for muster was going on. The mustering of the companies, one at a time, continued from noon until dark. Seven companies of the

third regiment and four companies of the First regiment took the oath ,of allegiance before the close of the day. The third regiment companies to be mustered in were: A of Alibi on, B of Angola, E of Elkhart, H of Warsaw, M of Rensselaer, I of Plymouth and K of Auburn. The first regiment companies taking* the oath were G of Michigan City; B of Laporte, H of Knox and F of Gary. Two companies had been mustered in when Company I of Plymouth, third regiment, marched to a field at the north of its quarters prepared to receive the oath. The mustering officer noticed that some of the men had failed to respond to his order. He repeated the order to hold up the right hand, but no more men obeyed. “Don’t you men want to take the oath?” Lieut. Remington asked. Nine men hung their heads sheepishly but they did not answer. “Step from the ranks,” ordered the Lieutenant. Nine men walked out and stood aside before their comrades, while the remainder of the company cheerfully took the oath. With this ceremony over, Lieut. Remington gave his attention to the nine men. “Strip these men of their uniforms and government equipment and place them under heavy guard to be held for court martial,” he commanded. Asquaintances of the men said that they would probably change their minds tomorrow. Five members of E Company of Elkhart stepped out of the ranks when they lined up before the mustering officer. All gave various excuses for not desiring to take the oath. They were send to the guard house. W. L. Wood, of Parr, received word from Orphia Gant, a member of the local company, today, that shoes had been issued to all of the soldiers, and he also stated that it was the general belief of the soldiers that they would leave for the border Friday.