South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-07
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE INDIANA
NATIONAL GUARD.

Gen. Franklin l.. Bridges and other OF
fcers and men OF the Indiana national
guard by the republican press OF the
state, during the past eighteen months,
is the action OF the worthwhile bust
ness men OF Indianapolis, proposing
an armory building to cost between
100000 and 100000. all from pri-
vate subscription. So violent is the
contrast between this vote OF conf
dence from the business community
and the newspaper villihcauon, that
the people of Indiana must be inter-
ested to know the facts.
Oficers of the regular army. thor
oughly acquainted with the facts OF
which they speak. have told the bust
ness men OF Indianapolis that the In
diana guard is considered by Washing
ton as one OF the best in the United
States The enlistment is not so large
as some. but it is larger today than it
has ever been before and the present
growth is remarkable both for rapid
ity and the high standard of the men
enlisted.
l. is proper here TO explain, If this
is at all necessary. that the abuse and
vilHhcation of officers and men which
has continued for nearly two years,
based upon certain false hdavits, has
been repudiated by the .niants since
Secy OF state Homer l.. Cook COM
planned TO the federal authorities with
request that they prosecute for per
jury.
When Gov Ralston appointed
Franklin l.. Bridges adjutant general
in 1914 there were 2,351 officers aPd
men in the guard The record of 1918
shows that under the militia" stand
ard which is not the most severe test,
there were % companies rated as
poor" and six of these were refused
federal aid and ordered mustered out.
There were only five companies rated
as good" when turned over to Gen.
Bridges
The 1911 IScord shows that under
the management of Gen. Bridges the
efficiency of the guard has risen so
much that within a few months the
poor" companies. by the same mi
litia" standard. had been reduced to
eight This must mean something N
increased efficiency.
In 1915 the regular army" stand
ard was applied. This means that the
standard applied 10 men who spend all
their time in army work was set as
the measure of efficiency for men who
drill at their inadequate armories once
al cr,1t In, Z hal
ffty-two for camp experience. Under
this test seven Indiana companies fell
below the standard and were refused
federal aid and were mustered out.
This was taken as an excuse for abuse
of the whole guard But the facts
were not stated.
Critics have not told that in 1914
three batteries Of field artillery could
muster but 113 men and had TO so into
camp as a composite battery to quail
~. That two of these batteries were
since mustered out and the Indianap-
oils battery reorganized, Gavin l..
Payne. banker, becoming captain of
the reorganization That a new bat
terry has been organized at Purdue and
another at Lafayette. That each Of
these batteries came 10 camp in 1915
with as many men as all three had in
1914. That the three batteries in
camp in 1915 had $40 men, all efficient
and earnest
Critics. who say nothing unless UNI
fair. have not told that the first order
issued by Gen Bridges when he took
Office was TO weed out all companies
and enlist good and earnest men only.
That while this has been going on,
and while seven full companies were
mustered out. since January. 1914.
there have been organized eight new
infantry companies, two new batteries
and a new regimental band. That there
have been reorganized with new Off
GERS one field hospital, one signal COM
pany. four infantry companies and
one battery. n other words there
have been eleven new organizations
and seven recommendations.
For the hrst time in three years
Evansville was in camp in 1915 with
40 men and three officers. under Capt.
a NJ. Osborn. Jacksonville was on
hand for the rirst time since 1912 with
~ men and three officers, Capt. l.. H..
Douglass. The enlistment OF the
guard on July 81. 1915. showed 2.SO4
men. which is a net increase OF ass
over that OF January, 1914. when Gen.
Bridges took command under appoint
men: by Gov Ralston. and became the
target OF the republican press for pO-
litical and selfish reasons.
The enrolment AT the annual camp
is a pretty fair test OF the interest and
spirit OF the men In 1914 the COM
bined batteries had l13 men. In 1915
they had $40 men. The second regi-
ment in 1914 had sos men. In 1915
they numbered s52. TIE third regi-
ment I'm 1914 had 525 men. In 1915
there were SIS present The camp
OF 1915 is hard worked Ii is a busy
camp. The men are doing and learn
rrrn.