The Washington herald., 1916-01-21
By e. h. JOHNS.

Secretary of the Navy Daniels yester-
day afternoon frankly told the House
Committee on Naval Affairs that he did
not propose to restore the officers who
have been retired by the plucking board
to the active list as provided for in an
amendment of the last naval appropria-
ton bill. This information was not i'm
parted to the committee in an offensive
manner, but nevertheless the Secretary
made it plain that he intended to abide
by the report of the plucking board. al
though it was a hardship on some of the
officers who were retired.
In response to question as to why,
when there is shortage of officers, he
did not take advantage of the law passed
last session which authorizes him to
restore to the active list thirty or forty
officers. the Secretary said: II do not
intend to ask the President to review
the action Of the plucking board, al
though hardships may have resulted
from its reports"
1t is understood that the Secretary
would have been willing to restore a
number Of the officers to the active list
but he reaffzed that If he had ever opened
any OF the cases he would have been
subject to pressure from all Of the Of
ficers who would have come under the
law and as result quite a number
would have been restored to the active
list only a short time before they would
be due for retirement on account of
age. The government would have had
! very little service from them and the net
results would have been promotion for
officers on the retired list.
That the Federal government should
either take over the National Guard or
drop 1t entirely was the view expressed
by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood before the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs
He expressed the highest opinion of the
personnel of the National Guard, but de-
clared that the fatal weakness was In
the laws under which the militia was
organized.
In response to questions from the
members of the committee Gen. Wood
declared that it was his opinion tina,
the National Guard as a whole could
be Federalized and made nucleus for
the organization of body of trained
officers as Gen. O'Ryan, of New York
would be invaluable to any force oi
troops. Gen. Organ is a graduate o.
the Army War College, and a grea,
many of the National Guard officers had
Spanish-American war service.
The creation of a continental army as
third Federal force. Gen. Wood argued
.WOul0 .CTedte COuluSlOH III lne T1l1IdTy
policy of the country. There would be
constant friction between the National
Guard and the continental army, which
he feared would have a demoralizing
effect on both forces. In interviewing
National Guard officers in every section
! OF the country Gen. Wood said he found
sentiment for liberalization. Many OF
the National Guard officers complain
and Justly SO. that there was a constant
uncertainty as to their status. They did
not know whether they would be called
out in the event of war. with their pres
ent organizations or would be called
upon to volunteer as individuals. This
condition, Gen. wood declared, was in
terfering seriously with the efficiency OF
the guard and keeping many young men
out Of 1t.
Second Lieut.. George K. Shuler, with
Sergeants Lowell A. Willis and Cash c.
Williams and Corporal Otho wigxs, who
have been on duty at the Marine Corps