Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-23


HIL0, T. H., Sept. 23.-The most
comprehensive summary OF National
Guard ambition End achievement In
Hawaii voiced in years was presented
TO the Civic Convention here today in
a paper by Brig. Gen. 8. J. Johnson
Gen. johnson, who came 10 Hflo
with the Naval Militia on the cruiser
st. Louis, had prepared a paper which
went to the very groundwork OF the
guard and dwelt also upon its moral
value 10 the territory The paper Is
as follows;
THE NATIONAL GUARD or HA.
WAL AND ITS ADVANTAGES
TO THE TERRITORY
The National Guard OF Hawaii. UNI
der fits present designation and with
support from the federal government,
dates back only 10 annexation. but be.
fore that came the troops OF the Re-
public of Hawaii, the provisional gov
eminent. and the regular army Of the
monarchy, In reverse of the order
named Hawaii, then, has had a mill
tary organization Of one kind or an
other for good many years past, so
military service, and the obligations
and responsibilities that 60 with IL, is
no novelty to kamaainas.
However. II is only within the past
year that the National Guard has
forged to the front as a vital issue
affecting the entire territory. Erior
to that the military 40rces Of the ter
ritory were confined to Oahu, with the
exception OF two companies on Maui.
and one at Hilo, The National Guard
A..1 - TT
and a small detachment Of sanitary
troops, and interest in matters mill
tary was by 10 means general.
Recent Legislation Explained
In order that the general conditions
affecting the National Guard OF Ha-
wall may be understood, q short
sketch OF recent federal legislation
should be inserted here. II Is neces-
sarY to understand past and present
relations between the federal govern
menf and the National Guard, before
the work Of the latter can be thor.
oughly understood.
Tln 10 1893 the different states and
territories maintained military or
eanixafiuns. varying greatly In size,
discipline. training and equipment
These state armies were called the
stare militia or athe National Guard, /"
or the volunteer militia" according
10 the wording of the various state
nws creating them. Enlistment con-
tracts were very lax. and in most
cases there was no obligation to serve
the United States. although even at
that time the National Guard was part
Of the military system of the nation
II should be understood that in this
connection / am referring to the Ma
fSdnaI Guard as 4 whole. and not to
Hawaii IN particular.
Dick am Il Passed
In 1908 the federal government de-
oided to give the state troops help
ing hand. with the hope OF increasing
efficiency and more unifsrm system
OF training. The result was the Dick
hin. which provided among other
things for the disbursement Of two
million dollars q year for arms and
eouibment Tor the militia. and another
two million dollars for promoting
small arms practise. Under the Dick
hin the official title of the various
National Cuards became s.Organized
4 ,litia
The Dick hill was a great step for
ward. and In the case OF some states
# accumulated many of the desired
results. Arms and equipment became
standardized. and with the assistance
Of and under the supervision of regu-
lar armv. officers and sergeants. de-
faiiad with the Organized Militia as
Instructors. training became more
fhoroueh and uniform. Joint maneuv-
ers m tne Oreanized Militia and the
regular army also helped TO train the
fornoer 70 field conditions. and to
create a better understanding between
The regulars and the militiamen.
Question 81 Paw Arises
But the Dick bin did not provide
for one feature that was considered
essanfial ~ uroper discipline and
training bv the heads OF the various
state National Guards. That feature
was nav For wears past the answer
az national enardsmen to criticism on
lacl ~ dlscinIIne. and irregular attend
ance on The mart of the men. has
haen that the service being purely