Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-28
SALE ASKED TO SPEAK
ON NATIONAL DEFENSE
Acknowledgement of Virginia Invited
to Attend Conference ut WASH
ingtOn Next Month.
HOLDS PRONOUNCED VIEWS
In Advocating Preparedness for u.
-, He Says First Step Should Be
to Pass Militia Pay BiIl-Favors
Practice Camps.

Adjutant-Gcncral w. w. Sale. who
was Yesterday Invited to speak ut tho
conference of the National Defense
League. which will be held next month
IN Washington. holds pronounced
views on the subject OF national pre-
paredness.
There are four important things to
be done to enlarge and make efficient
the National Guard organizations"
General Sale said. First. the so-callcd
militia pay bill should be passed by
Congress. Second. adequate provision
Tor armament should be made by State
anu national governments. Third. the
enlargement of the fund now rppropri-
atcd under Section 1861 so as to give
sufficient money to hold schools of in
struction for officers, AMI to put all
troops I'm camps for instruction and
rlnc practice at least once n year.
FOURTH the establishment e local rifle
ranges convenient for tho use of each
organization of tho National Guard"
Tho conference which General Sale
has been invited to address will be
'held in Washington on October 4. 5. 6
ana Z, Immediately following tho en-
campmcnt Of the Grand Army OF tho
Republic. Ii will he largely attended
ny Confederate and Union veterans as
well as citizens from all sections of
tho country. The invitation TO V!r-
ginias Acknowledgement was extended
by the executive committee and board
Of directors OF the Defense League
through Secretary Winfield Jones. OF
Washington
HE ADVOCATES PAY
FOR ALI. NILITIAME1N
The passage Of The militia pay bill
or military reimbursement bill. which
has been introduced In Congress sew
eral times by Congressman Hay, chair
man of the House Committee or MIL
tary Affairs. is the first step which
should be taken looking toward ma
tional preparedness" declared General
sale. 1T provides pay OF about % per
cent of that paid to rcgu,r army prI-
Yates for the enlisted men OF the Ma
tional Guard. 1t would give about 30
per cent TO company officers. and those
OF higher rank in militia would receive
pay graduated down 20 AS low as : per
cent.
Not only should this bill be passed"
General sale continued. but sufficient
money should be given to conduct on
GERS schools, and to put all troops In
camp every year Camp service is nee
cssary.
1t is encouraging to soc business
men going into citizens camps. as they
did ut Plat burCh, and arc now doing
nj Fort Sheridan. If nothing else, this
shows an added interest in the ques-
ton Of national defense. But under
present conditions and the arms used
and training necessary TO mako SOL
dicrs efficient. * would take n great
many tours of duty to make real SOL
diers by this method. TO men who
really desire to become soldiers
splendid opportunity Is offered by
joining the National Guard. where they
can not only train a week or n month
in year but have the chance Of train
ing and instruction every week in the
year, as we'll as going into camps Of
instruction once every twelve months
CREATE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT
TOWARD MILITARY SERVICE
While there is statute in Vir-
ginia. ~ inGcnt one passed in 1912
which events Interference by en-
ploycrs with employees in the National
Guard service, there is still great
deal OF trouble experienced in getting
enlisted men, as we'll as officers. off
from their business for military in
struction. It has also been found diff
ficult to enforce this law. ] have n
number Of reports each year when men
lose their positions on account of hav-
ing to attend camp. In most cases
these men have apparently given sat
isfactory service to their employers.
but the latter always assign Some
other reason than that OF military duty
for their discharge. The only cure for
this evil would be Ia cultivtc n favor
able public sentiment toward the mill
tia and to he performance OF military
duties.
Provide Virginia with funds for the
purposes which 7 have mentioned and
the National Guard Of this State can be
enlarged to the extent required and
Virginia will give her quota when
called upon to do go for national de-
tense"