The Washington herald., 1915-10-17
BY f.. b. JOHNS.

The liberalization of the National
| Guard instead of the creation of con-
tinental army as proposed by the Secre-
tarv of War. will be urged when army
legislation is under consideration by Con-
eress this session. This movement has
already been started by National Guards
men in the Middle West and 1t will have
some powerful supporters in Congress
next winter.
Under the secretary's plan, the Nation
al Guard would continue as essentially
state troops and must be reorsanized IN
the event of war. 1t would also be ex-
pected to do state police duty whlch Is
highly Objectionable to A great many
National Guardsmen. PENNSYLVANIA has
been able to recruit its National Guard
uu to a greater strength because 1t has
maintained state constabulary whicn
relieves the National Guard of police and
riot duty. II the National Guard was
fedora lized 1t would he necessary for the
states to organize a constahuiary as the
militia then would not be subject to call
from the governor and would he under
the same laws as the regular army
National Guardsmen fear that If a con-
tnental army is organized it would over
shadow the State Militia as troops OF
the second line of defense. Naturally
regular army officers would he assigned
10 the continental army and II would
be in condition to take the field lmme-
diately upon the declaration of war. IN
der the law by which the Militia is Gre
ated it would be necessary to transform
the state troops to federal volunteers
and this would take considerable time
while the continental troops would he
in the field the National Guard would
he in the process of reorganization ana
those who were anxious to get to the
front would join the continental army or
regular force
In the liberalization of the National
Guard il is proposed to change the
system of training the militia. Many
~ the National Guard officers favor
the extension of the time of National
Guard encampments. This proposition
would doubtlessly receive the approval
of the general staff of the army. as II
is eeneraIly believed that the National
Guard is devoting too much time TO
armory training and not enough 10
real field service. More progress can
no made in training soldiers in the
6eId in a week or two. than in year
nv the weekly drills at the armory
under the system now used in the Ma
tional Guard. Only the rudimentary
nrincinles of close order drill can be
taught in the armory
Aside from this it has been the ex-
n.r;ence of army officers who have
served with the militia as instructors
that the average National Guardsman
Is NOT in condition to take up his mill
tarv duties when he arrives at tho
armory for a weekly drill. If he Is a
business man his mind is too much
taken I'D with his affairs at the office
or etore to concentrate his attention
on the instruction that is being given
nv the Officers. If he is n laboring
man he is apt to be too tired to go
through vigorous drill.
At an encampment the National
throws aside his thoughts
of business and private AFFAIRS. He
IL fhen in better mental and physical |
condition to receive instruction and he
makes more progress in week than
throuphout the year. But IL Is urged !
that a week is not long enough as
he inst begins to get into a physical
condition for training at the end of !
that time. II the time could be ex-
tended to a month and militiamen |
could receive pay under the terms of
the Chamberlain bill. 1t is urged a |
E.deralized National Guard would be- |
come excellent second line troops.
In the liberalization of the National
Guard IL is proposed to exchange officers /!
With the regular army. The suggestionl
,s made that the law should provide that |
/. certain percentage OF the National
Guard ,oficers should be graduates of |
West Point or have three or four years
service in the regular army. Provision 1
should also be made by which National
Guard officers should nave Temporary!
commissions In the regular army. Rec