The Washington times., 1915-11-08
NATIONAL GUARDS FUTURE

President Wilson and Secretary
Garrison have striven to alay the
fears of those National Guard off,
GERS and leaders who see in the pro-
posed Continental Army the death
knell of the present State forces.
Reports have it that those National
Guard officers have been reassured
of the continued standing of their
organizations. If they will only read
the signs, however, how can they
doubt that the Continental Army
will wax strong on nourishment
which is now the mainstay Of the
State commands, and that eventually
the proposed army, needless
fledgling, will push its weakling
brother from the nest Of American
defense plans?
Time and time again Congress
has tried to remedy the inherent de-
feet Of the State system, yet the
wisest military leaders Of our coun-
try today shake their heads in re-
gret over the National Guard. Even
the recent liberality of the Federal
Government toward the citizen SOL
der organizations has failed to de-
velop the anticipated increase in
strength.
The military laws of the nation
say that no volunteers are to be
called into service until the National
Guard has enlisted, or at least until
National Guardsmen of one or more
branches Of the service have been
taken into the Federal army. The
hands Of the Commander in Chief
thus are tied until the State militia.
man voluntarily sees fit to enlist
when the nations fight is beyond
the nations domain. That situation
eliminates the desire on the part OF
the Government to pay State troops
for their weekly drill, irrespective OF
its momentous effect in war.
The Continental Army affords a
means of side-stepping. the Nationa
Guard problem. The Continenta
Army's service will not be dependent
upon National Guard enlistment
Neither will its organization ant
training thus be held up. It is sig
nificant that the War Department
already is making overtures t.
National Guard officers and men t.
join the Continental Army.
The National Guard can expec
only to lose in this way great vol
ume Of it's strength and the best o
it's backbone. The Continental Arm
will offer chances of promotion t
partially trained men far in exces
of present militia prospects. tn
promised increase in the appropria
tion for the National Guard will b
needed by that body to keep it
strength to its present minimum
once the steady flow into the Cont
mental Army begins.
There are many reasons, howeveI
why the Continental Army ca
supersede the National Guard with
out endangering the community.
is proposed to organize the ne
troops along geographic lines. Ths
in itself should make for success. A
though the time has passed whe
men join their State organization
because their State actually neet
!, their services, yet the love Of Stat
or locality will ever make a ma
! seek his own, especially when there
fighting to be done.
Secretary Garrison could do notl
ing better than to divide his pr
posed Continental Army into Sta
c units. As true "home guard" ar
as military outlet for the man wi
G can give up one night a week #
y partial training, but who cannot gi'
: up two months of the year for i
tensive training, the present N
j tional Guard organization th'
c would occupy vital place in Anne
ica's defense system.