Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-06
MILITARY RULES
TOO DRASTIC, SAY
GUARD OFFICERS
Retirement of Battery A Lieu
tenant May Be Followed
by Others.

Frederick A. Reimer, county en-
gineer, today sent to Governor James
F. Fielder a request that he be re-
lieved of further duty in connection
with Battery A, First Artillery. New
Jersey National Guard, of which he
Is now first lieutenant, and that he be
placed on the retired list, to take eff
feet at the expiration of his twenty
years of service on April 27 next
This request for retirement Is be-
lleyed to be but one of many that will
be forwarded to the Governor within
the next few weeks by officers who
are eligible to retirement. Others
who have not served the necessary
time to come under the retirement
law will, 1t is understood, resign from
the National Guard service.
The reason for the wholesale re-
quests for retirement and resignation
lies In the fact that the new rules
laid down. by the United States wal
department officials In regard to the
working of the National Guard of the
different States are so drastic that
officers serving in. the militia bodies
whether they be infantry, cavalry or
artillery, flfd they have no time to
devote to anything else but military
duties IL they want TO be competent
officers.
Lieutenant Reimer today refused to
comment on his request for retire.
ment, except to say that he believed
his letter to the military officials OF
the state spoke for itself.
"Under the present ARRANGEMENT a
man to be a competent officer must
spend at least half his time In the
armory or in study" said the lieu
tenant, "I find / cannot do that and
attend to my other duties. The posi-
aR eff tx "a -
tional Guard Is an unpaid one and
the new requirements are such that
I would have to devote so much time
to National Guard duties that |
would have to neglect my regular
business That is the only reason
for my request for retirement. l
have been National Guardsman for
almost twenty years, ana am heart
and soul In interest with the or
ganization, but find cannot de-
vote the time necessary, and there
fore am taking the only step open
to me and that is to ask for my re-
tirement at the expiration OF my
twenty years service"
-"Will other designations or re-
quests for retirement follow yours -
Mr.. Reimer was asked.
"That is something cannot an
swer," was his reply, but the tone OF
the answer left no doubt that others
were going to follow in his foot
steps.
From other sources 1t was learned
that a number of men In connection
with the National Guard in Newark
and the Oranges were ready to tender
their designations, In every instance
the reason given being that the ex-
actments of the position of an officer
in the National Guard Of the State
have been made such by the war de-
partment that to hold an office a
person would have to be of inde-
pendent means and be able to devote
practically his entire time to his po-
sition as an officer in the National
Guard.
Lieutenant Reimer's request for re-
tirement will go through the regu-
lar channe.s, first going to Captain
&c, e. Lanterman, of Battery A, and
by him forwarded to Adjutant-G Cen
eral Wilbur F. Sadler. who will in
turn hand 1t to Governor Fielder.
Lieutenant Reimer's letter fol-
lows:
"I have the honor to request that
T be relieved from further duty in
the National Guard of New Jersey
with Battery A, Field artillery, and
be placed on the retired list, to take
effect subsequent to the expiration
of my twenty years, service, which
will be completed on the 9th of next
April.
II find my professional and other
duties are so exacting that it is i'm
possible for me to devote the neces-
eary time to give efficient services
to the duties demanded under the
new requirements, and I believe the
interests of the battery will be bet
ter conserved by my taking this ac-
tionn