Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-26

TERRITORIAL
GUARD IS NOW
ON DEFENSIVE.
The National Guard has been put
on the defensive by the senate, aud
the guards defense is request for
full publicity of its affairs. That some
|ef the conditions existing in the Ha-
waiian militia are no what they
should be, the adjutaat general, Col
oncl ]. w. Jones. freely admits, but
Colonel Jones finds one door at which
to lay the blame for nearly every
shortening of the citizen soldiers
the armory, or rather lack of it.
The storm which has been lowering
over the guard broke yesterday. when
Senator Coke introduced a resolution
calling on the adjutant general to pro-
duce al field and inspection reports
iof United States army officers on the
condition of the guard, during the last
two years. This means that the upper
house intends to go through militia
affairs with fine-tooth comb, and
Colonel Jones says he stands ready
to give the legislators every as
sistance in their investigation. In
fact, he courts the fullest inquiry, and
will then leave it to the judgment Of
the investigators as to whether the
existing conditions could have been
otherwise under the circumstances.
Armed with q mass of documentary
evidence, Colonel Jones expects to go
before the senate either this after
noon or tomorrow.
Probably Senator Coke did not
know that most of the reports he has
asked for were to be incorporated in
my bienniaf report, which is now in
the hands of the printer" said Col.
onel Jones to Star-Bulletin reporter
this morning. IF he had waited a few
days he could have had all the infor-
nation he wants in printed form.
have had to take back some of the
copy from the printer, in oder to
comply with the requests of the SEN
ate, and this will delay the remainder
of my report"
Guard Sharply Criticised
The field inspection report made by
Captain E. A Shuttleworth, Second
Infantry, who was the regular army
officer with the guard at its annual
Iencampment, made September. 1911,
lis certainly straightforward
shoulder document. Captain Shuttle
worth doesn't mince words in some of
his comments, but he, as well as Cap
tain w. Fl. johnson, Major Dunning,
Major Van Vliet and Lieutenant Col
onel Bullard. who have inspected the
guard in different years, all point to
the lack of an armory in extenuation
of lack Of interest and efficiency.
The Shuttteworth report is the
severest criticism OF the guard, and
| If the legislature comes to the opinion
that more than an armory is needed
to make an up-to-date military or.
ganization out of the Hawaiian militia,
its conclusions Wilt probably be based
on this document. Captain Shuttle.
worth found that the enlisted men
had a fair knowledge of their bust.
ness. and that the non-coms were in
most cases efficient and alert, but his
report on the commissioned officers
can hardly be considered compli-
mentary.
| Here are a few excerpts from the
Shuttleworth report on the officers
Physical qualifications number
of the officers did not appear to be
liable to withstand much physical hard
ship and after some of the fled exer
cises were "all in" A careful physical
Examination would eliminate several
Mental dualifications-The officers
were generally of sufficient mentality
for their positions. In the case OF
some of the lieutenants this statement
may be questioned. and comparing
them with the senior and retired Off
GERS of this regiment one must con
clude that the standard has fallen.
professional qualifications - The
professional qualifications of these
officers are much below what they
should be. Officers were not as well
acquainted with the drill regulations
as should be expected, and quite ignor
ant of field service regulations and
OF all the recent technique of the
i service"
i Armory Arguments.
After Captain Shuttleworth hac
made his inspection, the militia here
was given a regularly detailed army
officer as Inspector-instructor. in The
person of CaGtain w. H Johnson, nor
of the Second Infantry Captain John
son was with the guard about fourteen
imonths, and was then ordered back Il
the line. The reports which he sen
to the division of militia affairs were
very optimistic at first, but as tim,
i went on they cooled down consider
ably althOuph throlIghott his offipja