Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
Second Line of Defense.

senger"
Second Line of Defense.
Gen. Charles Dick of Ohio, the father of
the Dick bill, among other things, has
the following to say regarding "our sec
ond line of defense:"
Officers will be examined as to physical
and mental qualifications, and the stand
ard will be uniform throughout the coun-
try. Those not fit to serve will not retain
their commissions, but they will be af-
forded opportunities for Improvement and
making themselves qualified 20 serve by
being permitted to go to regular army
schools for instruction, and while there
their expenses will be paid. Annual in
spectiOns by officers of the regular army
will test the efficiency of the guard, and
the pro rata allotment due each state from
the annual appropriations of Congress will
be given to those states whose National
Guard is sufficiently armed, uniformed and
equipped for active duty in the field.
1.-THE present National Guard of the
states and territories aggregates about
115,00C officers and men. With liberal APP
preparations by Congress, and a system
of federal control and instruction, the
states also will be induced to accord more
liberal treatment, and this force will in a
short time doubtless reach 5000 OF this
number it is believed at least 10000 would
respond to a call for duty. This would
be amply sufficient under all contingencies
which may reasonably be expected, for the
second line of defense, and would give the
country breathing time within which to
organize and equip its vast unorganized
military resources.
with a volunteer force of this size, so
equipped and disciplined that it could take
the field at once, 1t would be possible to
even further reduce the size of our regular
army. 1t would be a body which would
inspire the respect of other nations, and
make them hesitate to wantonly attack us.
The country would be far better prepared
for war, while at a minimum of expense
we would be able to secure to the country
a maximum of our military strength in
times of great emergency"
Notes.
Private Robert Fletcher, signal corps,
has been transferred to Company d, 9Th
Battalion.
Private Walter s. Cash, Company A, 9Th
Battalion, has been discharged in the in
terest of the service.
Ensign. William H Lantz, LIST Division.
has been commissioned as chief engineer,
Naval Battalion, with rank of lieutenant.
By reason of removal from the District
Corporal William H. Deal and Private
Samuel w. Forsythe both of Company
B, 9Th Battalion, have been honorably dis
charged.
Privates Clarence NJ Ashton, Earl G.
Jordan, Vernon E. Keiser and Joseph
Weeks have been dishonorably discharged
because of expulsion from Company b, Attn
Battalion.
On their own applications the following
have been honorably discharged: Private
Harry W. Keatley, ambulance corps; Pri-
waite Samuel d. Mackey, Company A, LIST
Private Charles A. Wells, Com
pany A, 1st Battalion; Private Claude c.
Baldwin, Company A, 9Th Battalion; Ser
geant. Fred A. Denison, Company c, 9Th
Private Raymond w. Stull, Com
pany c, 9th Battalion; Landsman Oscar
Noack, 1st Division, Naval Battalion;
Landsman William A Reinburg, I'd Di-
vision, Naval Battalion, and Landsman
Franz c. Waldecker. I'd Division, Naval
Battalion.