The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-05-27
A FOR
PREPAREDNESS.

The agreement by the senate and
house conferees and the ultimate pas
sage by congress of their bill for the
increase of the Army and the National
Guard will not constitute immediate
preparedness against war by any
means, although a great many people
thoughtlessly assume that it will do
so.
1t is merely the taking of the initial
step toward preparing for prepared
ness.
The bill agreed upon by the confer
ees increases the standing army to
206, 900 in time of peace, with authori-
ty given the president to expand this
force to approximately 275,O00 at his
discretion in the event of the immi-
nence of war.
The National Guard is to be federal
lied and increased to $4,000 officers
and men. 1t will remain under the
Immediate control of the several
states in time of peace, with the ex-
ception that each officer and man must
sign an agreement to serve the gov
eminent whenever called upon by the
president. This will give the presi-
dent power to order the National
Guard out at any time for service
either within or without the borders
of the United States. 1t therefore
dignifes the guard and makes it a
federal force instead of merely a
state militia. 1t will be armed and
equipped in precisely the same man.
ner as the regular army.
Majors and all officers above that
grade, according to the bill, will re-
ceive $500 a year from the govern
ment in time of peace. Captains of
companies win receive the same, while
captains of the staff corps and depart
ments and lieutenants receive from
$3.50 to $500 a year, according to
grade. They are also paid for camp
duty each year.
In all probability the government
will have difficulty in recruiting the
regular army up to the required stan
edard, but it is more than probable
that the National Guard will be raised
Ito the $4,000 mark in short order.
ANY town of a population of 1000 or
more can recruit a company of the
finest kind of young men for service
in the guard. 1t would be worth $48
a year and more to a young man to
join such a company, as they receive
ON dollar for each attendance at drill,
the number in any one year not to
exceed forty-eight. They are also
paid for camp duty. In addition to
the financial consideration, each man
would receive a fine military educa-
ton and training which would be of
incalculable value to him in his flu
ture business career. The benefits
of the physical training would also be
great.
But as we stated before, the re-
cruiting of this great force will by no
means constitute immediate prepared
ness against war. 1t is only the be-
ginning. These companies and regi-
ments and ,brigades must be armed
and equipped and trained for a long
period of time before they will be in
shape to take the field in the event of
war. With drills but once a week
and their annual camp duty it will be
several years before this new force
can be actually depended upon for i'm
mediate service in the face of an enc
my. Should they be called out prior
Ito that time, it would become neces-
sary to send them to a concentration
camp for six months or so of steady
drill and instruction before sending
them to the front.
And yet it is a good beginning. 1t
is serving notice upon other and more
aggressive nations that while the