100 years ago in The Saratogian
Friday, June 29, 1917
New York State’s National Guard troops may be deployed out of state as soon as next month, making it imperative for Saratoga County to organize a home guard unit.
General George R. Dyer tells representatives of thirty New York counties at the United States Hotel in Saratoga Springs that “on or about July 15 all National Guard troops in the state will be mustered into the Federal service and be subject to immediate service.”
The Second New York Infantry regiment, including Saratoga County’s Company L, was mustered into federal service shortly before the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6. The regiment is currently performing guard duty on strategic bridges, canals and railroads, but may be sent out of state or out of the country to fight in Europe.
Local defense will be left to National Guard depot companies and Home Guard units. Depot companies are subject to deployment in any part of the state at the governor’s discretion, while Home Guards will serve exclusively in their home counties except during emergencies declared by the governor.
Saratoga County will pay for the Home Guards’ uniforms and equipment, while the state government will provide for the depot companies. Depot companies will consist of 65 men, including officers. The Saratogian reports that Home Guard units will be limited to company strength “owing to the difficulty in arranging examinations for the men to fill the commissions higher than captain.”
PRUSSIA A MENACE
After giving the commencement address at Saratoga Springs High School earlier this week, Colgate University professor Robert Webber Moore lectures on “Germany and the War and America’s Mission” at Ballston Spa Baptist Church tonight.
Perhaps surprisingly, Moore “spoke feelingly of his great love and respect for the German people from many years associating with them in Germany, expressing the hope that when the war is over he will again be able to resume the same pleasant relations with his friends in Germany.”
The problem with Germany, Moore claims, is the dominance of Prussia, the northeastern region where Kaiser Wilhelm’s dynasty comes from. He contrasts “the character of the South German people with those of Prussia, showing that all that is best in education, in science, in music and humanitarianism has been of South Germany while the military spirit has come from Prussia.”
Prussia spearheaded the unification of Germany’s many principalities into a single nation in 1871. Moore portrays the Prussians as enemies of democracy dating back to an aborted revolution in 1848.
“In conclusion he said it was America’s mission to bring Democracy to the German people,” The Saratogian reports.