Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1917 — 2ND INDIANA CALLED OUT BY PRESIDENT [ARTICLE]

2ND INDIANA CALLED OUT BY PRESIDENT

Over 32 Guard Regiments In U. S. Fdrffier OiderTo Be . Issued at Present.

Washington, March 26.—War preparations by the government today including calling into the federal service a score of additional guard regiments for police service in the western and middle western states, and an order for the immediate recruiting of the marine corps to full war strength of 17,400 men. With both the navy and the marine corps ordered up to full strength, the only remaining step i to increase the navy personel without action by congress., is the calling out of the naval militia. It has been understood thaCthe militia will be needed to fill out crews for the many vessels to be added, but no announcement on the subject had been made. Secretary Baker said tonight no further calf upon the national guard was in prospect. More than thirtytwo regiments have been summoned to federal duty to guard industries or other property which might be threatened by internal disorder growing out of the German situation. The address to be delivered to congress next week by the president probably will be discussed at the cabinet meeting tomorrow. The suggestion that a large sum in the -fcrmr of-money or credits to be furnished one or all of the entente allies is one of the important problems to be taken up. The order to increase the marine corps was announced by Secretary Daniels, in the following statement: “The president has signed an executive order directing that the authorized strength of the marine corps be increased to 17,400 men. He was authorized by congress, in case of emergency, to direct such increase in enlistment. The U. S. marine corps i& the soldier branch of our ‘first line of defense.’ Marines serve both ashore and afloat and ar trained as infanheavy and light artillery, and machine gun companies. They fqpm the landing parties from ships of the navy, are the first men detailed for expeditionary duty and. defend .#ll., naval bases. Each capital ship of the navy carries one company of marines. There has been a net increase of over 3,000 in the strength of the corps since congress recently authorized an increase, but over four thousand more are needed and needed now,” Indianapolis, March 26. —In response to a call from the president, issued through the secretary of war, today, the various company of the Second regiment, Indiana infantry, one of the twenty national guard regiments of the country called into federal service, are assembling in the armories at their home stations, awaiting orders, momentarily expected, designating their place of mobilization. Col. Thomas B. Coulter, enroute with other officers for New York, where they were to attend a conference of the National Guard Association, was intercepted at Albany, N. Y., and is returning to Indianapolis. Although it is assumed that Major General Barry, commanding the central department, U. S. A., at Chicago, will name Fort Harrison as the place of mobilization, it is problematical, where the Indiana guardsmen will be sent later to carry out the president's order “of affording a more perfect protection against possible interference with postal, commercial and mil-_ itary channels and instrumentalities of the United States in Indiana.” The order from the president came as a surprise today as, although it was believed in military circles that war is imminent and the national guard—highly efficient after months of training on the Mexican bordersoon would be called to the colors, it had been anticipated that the call would be deferred until after the convening of congress next week.