The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-12
MILITIA OF COAST
WON'T BE LOANED
TO UNITED STATES
Adjutant Generals Re-
fuse to Train Men for
Artillery.

Administration officials are puzzled
over the attitude of the Pacific Coast
States, in the latest phases of the jap
anese situation. Representative Kahn
and the entire California delegation.
with members from the other two coast
States, called on the President yester-
day, for consultation on the japanese
question and again TO set forth their
decisive views on the question, and to
emphasize the necessity for coast de-
lenses on the Pacific.
AT the same hour and for the third
time during the week. the adjutant
generals of all three of the coast
States called upon Acting Secretary
Oliver at the War Department and
made clear their position with respect
TO the invitation from the department
that the militia of the three States
train some of their men as coast ar
tillerymen and participate in the coast
defense drills.
Refuse to Man Defenses.
Adjutant General Finer. of oregon.
AdJutant General Hamilton. OF Wash
irgton, and AdJutapt General Lauck, Of
California. gave final answer 70 the
Secretary, that the organized militia Of
the States represented by them would
not man the coast defenses and no part
OF It would be trained as sea coast ar
Iillery for the manning OF fortihcations
It is not believed in well-informed
quarters that this is an inconsistency.
but rather that the people Of the Pa
oil II
Administration that it must either ex-
clude the japanese, or they will let
them overrun the States and stream
TO the Eastward, and the United States
Government must provide its own de-
Tense against any yellow peril" that
may exist.
Their action leaves the two alterna-
tives open, il would seem, and 10
strengthen this view 1t was stated by
the three Stale representatives that
they would organize additional coast
defense companies if tae United States
Government bore the expense and man
ned and equipped them. This is up TO
Congress ana not the department, as
there is no money available.
On Way to Boston.
In accordance with an announced
policy, the War Department, through
the Artillery Corps. invited all the Pa
Cfiic coast States to detail militia COM
panies to take part in the summer
drills and maneuvers, such companies
10 be regularly organized as coast ar
tillery companies to man the coast de-
lenses. 1t was in response to this in
vitation that Generals Hamilton, Lauck
and Finer came TO this city on their
way 10 Boston TO participate in the an
nual convention of the National Guarc
Associations of the various States.
They have unanimously declined TIT
invitation, expressing the view that tht
militia of the States they represent
would be benefited TO a greater extern
by participating IN the big mobile camp.
for joint maneuvers and drills between
the National Guard and the United
States Infantry held annually
Practically all the States on the Eas
coast have signihed their willingness
to have a portion of their militia drille,
in coast defense, and last summer tn
Second regiment of the District Of Co
lumbia National Guard put in a week a
Forts Washington and Hunt on the Pc
tomac, manning the guns IN joint ma
neuvers with the regular coast artiller.
stationed there. repelling imaginary at
tacks. and making theoretical attack
on the forces stationed on the Opposit
shore.
Coast Artillery Depleted.
It is well to note that the coast ar
tiIlery arm of the service is deplete
10 50 per cent Of its authorized strengt
and their are not half enough men {
man the coast defenses in war time
and not near enough TO take care OF a.
the Notifications and keep them in triT
in peace. This has been laid befOr
Congress repeatedly by army official
and others. but has been met with tn
usual cry of ''militarism," and turne
down.
It will be interesting to note the de
velopments Of the present situation wit
regard 10 the Pacific coast.