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Show nationalgUard to start home Troops Ordered to the Border to Relieve Men First on the Ground. Washington, August 31. Orders for the return to their state mobilization camps of 15,000 national guardsmen now on the Mexican border were issued is-sued by the war department -tonight. General Funston was directed to return re-turn three regiments from New York, two from New Jersey, two from Illinois, Illi-nois, two from Missouri and one each from California, Oregon, Washington and Louisiana. Secretary Baker announced tho order or-der after a conference with President Wilson at the White House. Earlier in the day the department had ordered or-dered to the home stations 6,000 regular regu-lar coast artillerymen who have been serving as Infantry on the border. -The secretary's statement tonight said: "In view of the fact that substantially substan-tially this number of troops who have not done patrol duty on the border are now on their way there, it is felt that this number can be spared. "In a few days, If transportation facilities fa-cilities remain undisturbed, the department de-partment intends to order some more regiments home and possibly to replace re-place them with troops now in their mobilization camps in the several states." Regiments to be sent home were not designated by number, and it Is understood that their selection is left to General Funston. Department officials think there is ample force on the. border now to Insure In-sure proper protection. The policy now is to give all of the state troops called Into the federal service opportunity oppor-tunity to see service on war footing along the international line. Withdrawal of General Pershing's expedition in Mexico, which is expected expect-ed to follow soon after the meeting of the Mexican-American join commission commis-sion at Portsmouth, N. H., probably will lead to the early return home of all the guardsmen. |
