The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-29
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Gen. Cole Discusses Proposed
Z. Militia Pay Bill.

pay bill, providing Federal compensa-
ton for officers and men of the Ma
tiona1 Guard. Brigadier-G General
George M. Cole, Acknowledgement of
Connecticut, in speaking of it, says
that its, passage, with the accompany
ing Federal supervision and examfna-
lions, will be the next step in advance
for the National Guard to take.
/ General Cole in an Interview given to
the Hartford Courant, discussed the
measure as follows:
| "At the present time, I consider the
militia pay bill absolutely neces-
| sary step in advance and consider that
without a higher state of efficiency in
| the Connecticut National Guard can
hardly be obtained. The National
/ Guard of this state is composed of the
finest material of which soldiers are
made. Officers and men alike are do
| ing all that can be done under the
present conditions If the United
States requires a greater degree of eff
/ f1ctency, it must provide the means
for that advance. This, in my opinion,
must be done by providing Federal
pay.
THE objections raised by the war
college to Federal pay are not, in my
opinion, proper objections. The war
college holds that no money should be
spent on troops that are not available
when war comes. Their reason for
saying this is based on the opinion of
the judge advocate general of the
United States, that the section of the
statutes providing that the President
may order the organized militia of the
country for duty within or without
| the territorial limits of the United
States, is not constitutional. This sec
ton of the statutes was written by a
former judge acknowledgement of the
United States and was unanimously
I93yf a Nat 10 nd
lizations of the several states. officers
and enlisted men of the Connecticut
National Guard entered the service
understanding that they were eligible
to serve within or without the terri
tQria1 limits of the nation. It is their
wish to do SO, should their services
be required, 1t is what they have
been training themselves for-to be
of the fullest service to their country
in time. of need-and it seems to me
that if this section of the law is un-
constitutional, it is up to the war de-
partment to propose such legislation
as will make this splendid force a
President in time of need.
1T seems to me that this should be
done in any event. We have noticed
recently some advocacy of raising a
force for defensive purposes only. This
is proper and as it should be. But
IIl1lLary SIuQenLS RW11l understand me
when I say that very often, if not al
ways, the offensive is the best defense.
Therefore, it may be necessary for
us, in the defense Of our country, to
assume the offensive, which might
mean the sending of troops outside
of the territorial limits of the United
States Along with the military pay.
bill, therefore, should be enacted leg
is1ation enabling the President to send
the National Guard outside the limits
of the nation. In the passing of such
Legislation there will be no opposition
from the National Guard. In fact, its
members will welcome some legisla-
ton which is constitutional and which
will, once for ALL settle the trouble
some Question of the legality of the
services which they desire to render
their country.
t"To those critics of the National
Guard who complain that it is in no
manner equal to the regular army, I
will say only, that if it were as eff
cient. we would need no regular army,
and that as it now is constituted, the.
National Guard is certainly more eff
cient than any volunteer army that
could be raised.
I'm the advocacy. of the pay bill
and the Federal control which neces-l
sarily will accompany it, do not wish
to be rnisund erstood. This matter Of
time of war, will not and should not
deprive the several states of any adj
vantages which they now may have.
In time of national peace the National
Guard organizations of the> several
states can be entirely under the CON
troll of the governor, for any uses
which the state might require of them,
and if, as / believe itishou1ds the war
department should require the train
ing of those troops along certain lines,
looking to their greater efficiency, and
the United States is willing to pay for
it, the state will certainly lose nothing
but is q, great gamer thereby.
''The National Guard Of Connect
cut has, in my opinion, reached as
high a degree of efficiency as can be
obtained under present conditions.
Officers have been giving much
some of them more than they should
have done--of their time to the ser
vice, and it has reached that point
where they ought not to be asked to
give any more unless some recon-
pense is given them for their SER
vices. This is also true of the enlisted
man, who should feel that, while he
may be doing great deal of work.
he is receiving, something in return
for his labor which is appreciated by
the United States. It will also give
him that recognition by the war de-
partrnent which stamps him as a SOL
der and a defender of his country.
stAs a matter of fact the so-cal1ed
pay bill is not at all a pay ,bill=ft
would much better be called a bill to
reimburse soldiers of the National
Guard for money spent in the service
of the state. 1t is in this phase that
it, is regarded by the state authorities
and by the division of militia. affairs
in the war department. In addition
to the time that they give freely, both
the officers and soldiers of the Ma
tiona1 Guard spend. first and last, a
good many dollars each year. There is
a car fare to and from the armory
company and regimental dues which
run from 25 cents a month to several
dollars in some cases.. There are as
sessments of various kinds for little