United labor bulletin., 1914-06-27
BATTERY B LOSES
FEDERAL SUPPORT
War Department Withdraws
100000 Equipment
Hiring Of Barfly Dummies Fails to Save
the Braves, Who Are Scored by
U.S.. War Inspectors Report

lished an exclusive story of how Bat
tery B OF the Colorado National Guard
had hired forty barflies at 50 each to
act ss dummies while United States
army inspector was making an official
visit. This taking of soldiers was done
by order of Adjutant General John
-Huerta- Chase in order that the bat
terry might retain its valuable govern
ment equipment and receive the usual
appropriation undere tn Dick law But
the scheme failed. An order was issued
by the United States War Department
this week withdrawing artillery equip
ment worth 100000 from the Colorado
National Guard and further notifying
the state guard that ION and after July
I. 1914. Battery b will no longer be rec
ogiized by the War Department
part OF the organized militia Of the state
OF Colorado
Equipment Was Highly Pnzed.
The equipment il of the most modern.
II IL the equipment which the guard ac-
claimed A. prized accession when it
was granted by the War Department
about year ago. The equipment con-
sist. OF four field guns of the most mod
ern and powerful makes with the neees-
sary ammunition, caissons and other
equipment. Now il il lost and the guard
j. practically put out of business Use
OF thi. artillery in the Rockefeller war
on union miners was one of the chief
reasons for its withdrawal by the gov
ernment.
The weekly National Guard bulletin
OF the guard says OF the Withdrawals:
The action is based on the report OF
inspection on May 81. 1914. and seemed
to be based largely on that portion of
the report which stated that the drill.
was from fair TO poor; non-comnis-
stoned officers not properly in
structed.'-
Officers at the National Guard head
quarters in the Capitol building give as
the general reason: The battery was
not up TO standard
Privately Officers saw the withdrawal
Of the prize and valuable equipment may
have been based upon other reasons
They feel that the action resulted be
cause the War Department is not in
accord with the leadership ami policy
OF the Colorado National Guard.
Chase Not Held in Favor.
IL has been declared that the War
Department j. not favorable towards
the Colorado Guard because of opposi-
ton to the War Departments plans and
methods made by Adjutant General John
Chase.
At the last National Guard convention
held in Chicago about a year ago Gen
eral Chase is said TO have opposed plans
of the War Department in regard 10 the
militia of the various states. He was
practically alone in his opposition. ac-
cordirg to officers who are subon,linates
of General Chase.
Since then actions of the War De
partment that might be construed as
unfavorablc to the Colorado Guard have
generally been ascribed as the result of
General Chase's opposition.
Since the federal soldiers have entered
the coal strike field upon order of Pres.
idcnt Wilson other actions OF General
Chase are held to have increased opposi-
tion OF the War Department TO the state
militia
One such action that might be cited
WAS the public statement of General
Chase at Greeley on May 2s in which he
declared he was glad to see the strikers
make monkeys of the federal soldiers =
Ii l. no secret that since the federal
troops have been stationed in Colorado
on strike duty, the L. :. army Officers
have repeatedly snubbcd Chase and other
officers of the state militia. evidently
feeling they We're reflection upon the
national military.