The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

pie use for recreation and personal
pleasures. and to say that all of this
effort is a disgrace" and a shame
full waste Of money" is not accepted
with very good grace by the men who
are doing this work.
The statement in the article that
you were formerly lieutenant in the
National Guard lends additional
weight to your assertions. An exam
ination of the records of this Office
discIoses the fact that Clair X. Turner
was a brevet first lieutenant from
Dec. 5, 1904, to April &c, 1905, a Pc
Rod of five months, ten years ago. and
while the article refers to you as
Clair Turner, I presume that this is
your record as an officer. The Ma
tional Guard of today. in equipment.
training. and, in, fact, every respect,
is very different than. it was then and
1t is certainly not fair to the National
Guard of today for you to make such
statements based on Information OBJ
tanned ten years ago without first hav-
ing investigated the condition in the
Guard of today.
Why National Guard Efficient.
The National Guard of all of the
states is under the direct supervision
Of brigadier general Of the army on
duty with the war department desig
mated as the chief of the division of
militia affairs who is assisted by a
number of the most able officers in
the United States army. This division,
or bureau, of the war department de-
votes its entire time to seeing to it
| that the National Guard is properly
equipped in conformity to the regular
army of the United States; that it's
organization is the same as that of
the regular servise and that the train
ing Of the National Guard is the same
| as that Of the regular service so far
| as it is possible for citizen soldiery,
OF oil tn hot 1ov n
give of their time to such training. In
addition to this division, or bureau,
OF the war department there is de-
| tailed with the National guard OF each
state officers specially selected be-
cause Of their skill and ability to give
instruction. 1t is made the duty of
these officers to assist the state Off
| Gals in every way they can in main
tanning the equipment. organization
and training of the National Guard
the same as that of the regular serv-
ice. There is on duty with the Ma
| ttOnal Guard of this state from the
regular service one major of cavalry,
one captain of infantry. one lieutenant
| OF artillery, two SergeantS OF infantry
and one sergeant Of artillery, and I
| have recently been advised that there
will be another officer detailed from
the medical corps of the United States
army to assist in training and instruc-
ing the sanitary troops Of this state.
| I feel, Mr.. Turner, that it is only
fair to the National Guard of the state
Of Kansas that give you this in
formation in view Of the assertions
credited to you and, in view Of the
fact that your article has been made
public, that this Information be given
to the public. through the newspapers,
SO that the people Of Kansas may be
rightly advised as to what the Nation
al Guard of their state is and what it
is doing in order that they may fully
appreciate the efforts Of the young
men of the state who are giving up,
voluntarily, of their time and means
to maintain a force ready to uphold
the peace and dignity of the state and
to respond to the call of the president
| in case of a need Of their services to
defend and maintain the dignity and
| honor of this nation. Most respect
fully, C. I. MARTIN, .
The Adjutant General of Kansas.
Topeka, Kan, Dec. Is, 1914.