Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1916 — CO. M. SOLDIERS ARE COMING HOME [ARTICLE]

CO. M. SOLDIERS ARE COMING HOME

War Department Issued Order Thursday Which Releases 6,000 Men From Further Border Duty.

The members of Co. M of Rensselaer will be home for their Thanksgiving dinner in all probabilities. This was the surprising statement that was issued by the morning papers. 'Hie order was wholly unexpected as it was fully believed that they would be there for the rest of the winter and the fact that war maneuvers lasting three weeks were to start next month substantiated the general belief. The order came after the recommendation of General Pershing to the war department, who sent instructions to headquarters late Thursday evening ordering that 6,000 soldier boys be released in time that they might be home for Thanksgiving. Besides the Third Regiment of Indiana, the others to be released are as follows: The First South Carolina; Seventh New York; Third Wisconsin; Third Minnesota. The companies of the Third Indiana Regiment are is follows: Angola, Portland, Monticello, Valparaiso, Albion, South Bend, Kendallville, Auburn, Plymouth, Rensselaer, Elkhart and Warsaw. The first intimation that the Third Indiana would be home came from Lieut. Jerry B. Garland a few days a g°. Approximately 100,000 sbldiers will remain on the border when the five regiments released, with a total strength of 6,000, have been withdrawn. The regiments will start home as soon as transportation facilities will permit and will probably be at their state muster points on Thanksgiving.

Preparations have been made at Fort Benjamin Harrison to house the regiment in the barracks, cold weather making the use of tents impracticable, while it is held there before being mustered out. The checking of property counts, which is no little task, must be completed to the satisfaction of army authorities before the regiment is formally released from federal service. Two or three weeks time, or possibly longer, will be required for the mustering out process after the regiment reaches Indianapolis. The regiment will be returned to its original state in the national guard. The falling home of the Third Indiana, together with four infantry regiments of other states, is in continuation of the war “ department’s policy announced some time ago to gradually withdraw national guard regiments from the border as conditions permit. It was thought,by many that as soon as election was over that President Wilson would take some immediate action concerning the troops. In ail probability Jthe remaining troops on tjae border will be ordered home soon. iSince Company M left Rensselaer about five months ago they have had a great many adventures and learned a lot about soldiering. They left Rensselaer a bunch of misfits and when they return to their home town some time in December the contrast will be surprising. They are a rugged lot according to Captain Tuteur, and present a very soldierly appearance. Possibly one of the reasons that the Third Indiana is included in the list that is ordered home is the fact that they are among the best trained of all national guard troops on the border and this regiment has been praised time and again by the “higher ups.” Every man in Co. M has done his part in bringing this regiment close to perfection and they have withstood the hardships without a grumble and have gone to their tasks cheerfully. A tropical rainstorm greeted them when they arrived at Llano Grande and they were forced to clear away brush and mesquite in a lava of mud. The torrential rain continued for three days. Some of the companies, including M, were forced to live in shelter tents for some time, the state having failed to provide proper tentage. The tents, big enough for only two, gave but little protection against the elements and -it was surprising that more sickness was not reported among the troops. Since Fort Harrison can accommodate but a regiment at a time in.the limited number of barracks, and it would be impracticable to house thpm in tents in cold- weather, it is most certain to be later than Christmas before all of the Hoosier guardsmen are home. - '