Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-12
KNOCKERS TALES OF
GUARDSMEN ALL FALSE,
SAYS OFFICER OF THIRD
"Stay-at-H Homes" Anger Leader
With Stories of Troops
Hardships - None
Would Desert
SERVICE BENEFITED MEN

Considerable resentment is being ex.
pressed by officers OF the First and Third
Regiments because of the frequent criticisms
which have been aimed at the efficiency OF
the National Guard by "stay-athomes' and
others who have Joined the various factions
IN the preparedness movement They arc
ahsered because Of statements that the ma
5ority of the national guardsrnen were dis
gtsted with their experience on the border.
and would desert or find other means OF
ssvering their connection with the guard as
soon as possible.
An officer OF the Third Regiment said to-
day; Certain persons have taken advan-
tage of every opportunity TO attack the efii-
cheney Of the National Guard and 10 other
wise belittle the organization In the eyes Of
'In 1898 sconditions.in the guard were
rather bad. and 'hundrcds of troopers died
from bad sanitation and from eating bad
food Thk guard IN ts9s was also badly
trained officers issued orders, and the men
did not lnow enough about military disc-
pine to obey those orders
But we have an entirely different situa-
tionfn the National Guhrd. today. Take the
Third Rsgment for instance; this regiment
when II went TO tho front was composed Of
. lot of pale, lanky boys. We have brought
them back In better condition than when
they went away. They are no longer boys,
but seasoned. hardened men, ready for any
smergency.
"And yet tho public as a whole seems
against us: seems TO have little confidence
IN the National Guard. on the way 10 the
border false tales were circulated concern
ing us. II was reported that we had In
sufficient camp and artillery equipment, and
that we were in a deplorable state of dis
organization. On the way back home the
false report was circulated that our food
supply was insufficient, and what there was
OF II wassbad.
a0fa
Euardsmen are In the pink OF condition.
We did not have one death from disease
all the time we were on the border. and
from a military standpoint we made a rec
ord OF which we are proud, These stories
about the guardsmen being discontented
and that they would desert IL they could
are absolutely false. We have not a dis
satisfied man In our regiment. and / have
yet TO hear Of one in any other regiment
that is dissatisfied.
I'm the matter OF preparedness the citi-
Gems of this country can have two things
large standing army. which means COM
puisory military service. or a citizen sol
diery. II strikes me that the National
Guard is the nearest thing to a citizen
soldiery we can have here. A large stand
ing army with compulsory military service
10 not 10 be thought Of because II would
entail too great burden upon the people.
''rhe National Guard has proved it's EN-
cheney by its record on the botder It's time
that the knockers threw away their ham,
mers and gave US q little appreciation. The
first real bit OF preparedness enthusiasm
have witnessed in Philadelphia since the
beginning OF the European War was ex-
pressed when the First and Third Regi-
ments came marching home from the
border this week. We need lot more OF
this spirit"
First and Third Regiments will be mus
tered out Of the United States service about
October 23.