From The Indianapolis News, Friday, November 3, 1916: All National Guardsmen not now in the service of the United States are required to take a new oath, prescribed by the Hay National Defense Act, by November 30, 1916 according to a War Department order from the acting chief of the militia bureau to all state adjutant generals. The new oath and contract calls for a six year enlistment — three years in federal service and three years in the reserve. This order applies to Guardsmen returning from the Mexican border who have been mustered out and about 25,000 others who were not sent to the border. Thousands of National Guardsmen have refused to take the new oath and cannot be forced to comply. However, federal funds will be withheld and companies falling short of strength will be mustered out.