The sun., 1916-12-04
DOOM OF GUARD
SEEN In HAY ACT
Recruiting Virtually Has
Ceased and Veterans Will
Not Reenlist.
OBJECT TO DUAL OATH
Men Returning From Texas
Border See Only Hope in
Compulsory Service.

What IL the national defence act go
Ing to do. cure or kill the National
Guard? That is the question which has
presented itself to every guardsman as
soon AS he has returned from the Texas
border and has had time to look into
the workings OF the bill which President
Wilson signed last June. In the first
place, the new law has killed recruiting
in the National Guard. In the second
place, 1t has caused many a man, who
served faithfully in the cactus all sum-
mer and autumn. to avoid reenlistment
Rather than sign up for three more
years Of active service" n pledge
himself to 20 anywhere In the United
States, the man In the ranks 10 joining
the reserve for three years or else he Is
dropping out. This applies to a great
many men whose terms were UP while
they were on the border or after they
returned home.
At the request Of THE SUN, National
Guard officers discussed yesterday the
evil effects Of the Hay law Inc frankly
admitted that the guard In up against
n, They wouldn't admit h guard Is
In the dying condition described by the
regulars. but they could not get around
the lack Of recruiting and the failure Of
veterans to reenter the ranks.
same In Other states.
n Is not only In this State that the
National Guard Is beginning to crpmble.
Outside OF New York regimenO have
refused TO subscribe to the dua oaths
called for by the Federal Government.
The office OF the Acknowledgement.
L. s. A.. makes the estimate that 2i.600
men now mustered into Federal service
are still classed as organized militia"
The Wal Department served notice that
unless these men. enough to make
twenty-four peace strength regiments,
look the Federal oath by November 80
they would be ~disbanded.
The pronounced reluctance OF these
9i,eO0 men 10 enter the Federal National
Guard has led the War Department 10
. extend the time for taking the oath. :
Not only can the War Department
dissolve a regiment for failure to be-
come a Federal unit, but also for Its
neglect TO live up to the standard. The
National Guard Of New York city will
stand little chance Of being passed by
the Wal Department M being placed
on the payrolls II the statement made
yesterday by Lieut.-Col. Merritt II
Smith. acting commander of the First
flelu ATlllltTN, Is u LhlT summary vi
present conditions.
Little Interest In Drills.
~ have heard mat other organiza,
tons which came home ahead OF us are
taking very little interest in their drills
But that is natural. They are letting
down after the strenuous work on tn,
border.
81 have had no opportunity to judx,
as yet regarding the effect Of the new
aw. I. like all other National Guart
officers. am awaiting developments. My
regiment went to Texas and came bach
in good shape. 1t would go again Il
called upon. They did mighty goot
work and l heard no grumbling."
But what about the number Of re
crafts since mobilization"
We took down a lot with us, an
hfty were sent down after we left.
don't know how many We have picked
up since we returned"
Col. Willard C. Fisk OF the Seventh
Infantry was more specific about re
oruitlng. He admitted that nothing hal
been done In that line. The fact Is. a!
pointed out by the service journals. tn,
Federal authorities have ceased to spen,
money trying to get new guardsmen
Tho national defence act provided 70
an Increase In the National Guard I,
i'n.ooo. Not only did tho additiona
100000 recruits fail to show up. bu
he number of those enrolled before tn,
mobilization began 10 shrink.
His Optimism Not shared.
Cot Fisk naturally refuses to admi
-Lat there is n prospect OF the Ma