Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-15
WOOD FAVORS j. S.
PAY FOR MILITIA
Saws National Guard Would Be
Country's Dependence in
Time of War.
ASKS ONLY TRAINING IN
RETURN FOR CASH OUTLAY

High Army Othcers Speak at Ban
quet of Company K. Cd D. c.
Infantry
How the National Guard would bt
TIE leaning post of the country in time
OF war was pointed out by speakers last
night at the ninth annual banquet OF
Company X "a Infantry, Nationa
Guard. District of Columbia. given al
the Ebbitt House More than sixty of
fisers and men of the company and
their guests gathered around the ban
ouet board and listened to the ideas
OF the War Department on the proposed
federal pay for the militia The prin-
cipai speech of the evening was deliv-
cred hv Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, chief
OF the general staff of the army. Others
vino spoke were Brig. Gen. Albert l..
Mills. chief of the division of militia
affairs OF the War Department the
division having direct supervision over
the National Guard; Col Richard ID.
SimmS. N c.. D. c.. retired. William
Knowles Cooper. general secretary of
the y NJ. 6. A.. and Capt l.. 3, Ernest,
commanding Company X.
Gen. Wood. in opening his address told
"f the great interest which the War De
partment now is taking in the militia
OF the country and explained how the
country must depend upon them in time
OF war.
Their Task Difficult.
III takes continued effort. lie said.
TO attain success with the militia You
gentlemen have a pretty difficult work
To- do. Your summer vacations are given
over 10 your summer camps and Your
evenings during the winter are given over
u work IN the armories. Ii is difficult
woro. and we at the War Department
reailze that as We'll as YOU do. We think
you Shptid nave compensation i'll the way
of federal pay.
There should be real. straightforward.
frank legislation on the subject that
WolId insure Your coming TO iii case
OF need We want TO find a method by
which we could muster you right into the
fefietai service when you are needed. At
ire same time We want to protect the
government and to make sure that il can
Itt the proper training for the money ex-
pended. 1t Is nothing short OF murder to
send unframed officers and men to war
g want training. We want to have
Wen instructed militia. Of course
We don't expect to have officers "a
COME up 10 those graduated at West
Point but We do want good work
sdaN officers. When a scheme has been
worked out whereby the best trained
men may be obtained for war then
You Will md the War Department in
favor Of the militia pay bill"
Garrison Militia's Friend.
zen. Wood declared that he knew OF
no Secretary of War who was more in
terested in militia affairs than Secre-
tary Garrison Gen. Wood told of a
plan which was being worked out
whereby the militia of the country
could be called into service as organi-
cations, and declared that only yester-
da1 Secretary Garrison had signed d
recommendation that when the militia
OF certain states was called into serv-
Ice ii would be by organizations up &c
divisions.
There ought TO be a law" he contin-
ned whereby the federal government
could call militia organizations into serv-
Ice as a unit whether they are needed in
the country or out of the country"
The CHIEF OF staff then told OF the vast
army which would be needed in time OF
war There is an enormous wastage in
war. he continued. .wastage through
sickness and disease" He told of the de
partment's plans for training men for an
army reserve. He traced the various
wars in which the armies of the United
States had been engaged. and reminded
the men that 'the United States had never
been engaged. lone handed. in d war with
q first-ciass power.
we want a good sound trained mill
tia. he concluded. We want TO get rid
~ takers and hunbugs. You can count
un the support of the War Department in
any move which means efficiency and
which means a sure return to the gov
eminent for the money spent
More Guardsmen Needed.
Ceu. Mills told the miliciamen that 1.-The
.uNutry needs all OF YOU and many more
h YOU. Nou have kept alive and spread
military knowledge and have shown your
fellow citizens what real citizenship
means. lie said the militia division was
appreeiative ef the difficulties facing ma
tloHal guardsmen. but that II would sup
port them in everything which would re-
suit IN eettering the militia.
Ne Americans he continued ARE
very cocky. We think We are the best
Too often our people believe that sol
dlef Is made whe1. a uniform is placed
upon his back and gun on his shoulder
You men know by your experience that
that is not the case"
col Simms praised COMPANY X and
told Of the honorable position which IL
holds ia the guard through having fur
nlShed 50 many officers TO the brigade.
William Knowles Cooper declared that
L.
Great military men, he said, have been
men of high morals.
Capt. Ernest closed the speaking bv ex-
pressing the appreciation of members of
the company at having such distinguish
al speakers TO address them.
Present at the Banquet
Those present We're: Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood, chief OF staff of the army; Brig.
Gen. Albert l.. Mills, chief of division OF
militia affairs; Col. Richard u. Simms.
y. q. u. g. retired. Maj. Alex Summers.
2d Infantry, \. g. u. c., William
Knowles Cooper. general secretary Y NJ.
{. A.. Herbert +. Statesir. secretary 10
Gen. Wood ". o. Hltabidle, y NJ c.
~, Albert IL Johnson, National Electric
supply Company; Harold r. Davis, Sec
oHd Lieut.. William II, RupertuS T. s
NJ -. g Gardner, Henry Bless C. s
Forbes, r. J. Hutchinson and the follow
ing ~ COMPANY X Capt J.. r. Ernest
FIRST Lieut.. Wilmarth Brown. Second
Lieut.. r =. Martin. First Sergt r. S
RoNd Ssrgts. W. X. Steltman, j. r. G!b-
son. r. +. befoe, a. w. Payne and A H.
Barnard. Corps. T.. Roberts Fl. f. Rich
ardsou +. Il. Lowell and G. T.. Holland
Musicians George II. Stilson and d NJ
Russell Prirates l.. &. Arthur jr. W r.
Men, David Becker. \. l. Birum, D. Ii
Hl3krloCk. A. Brown. J. C.. Breck j q
Ggrxe l.. !. Bureau. r T. Craig f. r.
G'ouegVS r D. Conner. T., = Tlutfon 4