New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-27
STATUS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
1t Is Folly to Organize Volunteers,
Reader Asserts.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The varying statements OF the
public press regarding the status OF the
national guard and the manner In which
it will be made part Of the army have
caused much amusement among mill
tary men.
Since the Dick bill became a law the
national guard has been to all intents
and purposes part OF the regular army,
controlled in peace not only by the re-
spective states but by direct orders from
Washington as well. Each regiment
troop and battery is assigned TO corps
and division OF the army with which it
is 10 act In war.
When an emergency contemplated by
the constitution and militia law occurs
the President has the right TO call out
any part of the national guard. II Is
not at all necessary TO pass volunteer
act or enlist the men as volunteers.
From the moment they are assembled,
under the regulations. pay and allow
ances as for service in the army com
mence, and in the case of states which
prescribe the physical examination salts
factory TO the War Department no fur
Their physical examination is necessary.
The national guard now conforms TO
the drill discipline and organization of
tho army in all respects; carries the
same rifle and equipments and wears the
same service uniform. 1t cannot get a
cent Of the government allowances unless
It comes up to the government require
ments in every respect and performs tho
full duty the militia bill requires.
II is said that the Attorney General
has rendered an opinion that the guard
cannot be ordered out OF the United
States. There was such an opinion in
McKinley's time. and II was laughed at
by every soldier in America. There is
absolutely no law forbldding the organ
lied militia to be ordered out of the state
or country. That was the old English
law of the assize of arms. OF about 100
A. D.. which was never re-enacted In
this country, and ii never applied 10 the
organized militia, which we call the ma
tional guard.
To increase the force OF citizen soldiery
1t is only necessary TO recruit organiza-
tons OF the national guard to fun
OIL 'iiSNi' NhANh WI iSdNhs bs bNho ~
taking back veterans or time-explred
men. The national guard discharges
honorably. or drops from the rolls for
removal, etc. 5000 men every year; 49,
900 In Ave years: 10000 IN ten years. of
whom I'm ten years about iQ0.0 900 die. There
are In tho United States to-day fully
100 600 young and vigorous ex-guardsmen
and as many ex-regulars. Why
apply for United States voluntoers7 Why
not OFFER these a bounty to return 10 tho
colors? At least they know how to shoot.
march and take caro- of their health.
and It takes a green volunteer six months
to learn the rudiments OF those essentials.
II Is to be sincerely hoped that after
its lamcntable experiences In former
wars tho government Will not violate
Its express promise TO the national guard
(mado by President RoosevclO aud at
tempt to again organize any United
States volunteer army. which IL APP
pears about to do. There Ia absolutely
no need for II. and II will entail upon
the taxpayers tremendous expense and
swell the pension roll to It's old proper.
tions. for tho volunteer" gets sick as
soon AS he goes into camp.
Recruited TO It's FUN strength. tho ma