Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — OFFICERS OF GUARD EXPECT CALL SOON [ARTICLE]

OFFICERS OF GUARD EXPECT CALL SOON

Believe Mobilization Order Will Come Soon After Congress Convenes— Expect Call By April 7th. High officials in the national guard and the heads of. the various militia organizations throughout the state are confident that their belief that they will soon be ordered to the state concentration camps will be carrier out shortly after the special session of congress convenes on April 2. One high guard officer stated that he be-

April 7. This officer believed that the plans of the general staff of the army, most likely to be used in the event of war with Germany, will be the sending of an expeditionary force of American regular guardsmen to the European battlefields - not later than next fall. General - Harry B. Smith, adjutant general, said that he has received no intimation as to when mobilization orders for the Indiana guard may be forthcoming. He said, however, that the Indiana guard is being brought rapidly into shape for eventualities. General Smith made nublic .the following telegram he received Wednesday evening from the chief of the militia bureau at Washington: “Reference Letter March 13, calling for list equipment national guard at maximum stemigth, secretary of war desires same to be expedited. Appropriate the quantities, if possible determine exactly. Of first importance is amount on hand in states. Exclude equipment in hands of troops not mustered out. —Mann, Chief Militia Bureau.” , , General Smith said the March 13th letter was that ordering him to send the war department immediate information relative to what equipment would be needed for Hoosier guardsmen, recruited to maximum strength of approximately 6,500 men. _ Martial activity such as the city has not seen since 1808 is stirring Indianapolis, and this activity and patriotism that engendered it are manifesting themselves in the formation of infantry, artillery and cavalry units which will ero far in restoring the Indiana national guard to the