noon
The army will break up , too , because this is really only a concentration camp , where the army will be mobilized . '' `` When does the war begin ? '' asked Dick Crawford . `` War is supposed to be declared at noon to-morrow , '' said Durland . `` It is regarded as inevitable already , however , and General Harkness can begin throwing out his troops as soon as he has them ready , though not a shot can be fired before noon . Neither can a single Red or Blue soldier cross the State line before that time . However , I suspect that the line will be pretty well patrolled before the actual declaration , so as to prevent General Bliss from throwing any considerable force across the line before we are ready to meet it .