Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-18

OF men who have volunteered for serv-
ice. They are armed, uniformed and
being prepared to serve their country
in time Of need. This training is car
ried out without undue interference
with their everyday pursuits. There
are armory drills at night. for which
the men are paid. There is a summer
encampment Of from two to three
weeks. when men are taken into the
field. live under canvas and go through
a practical course Of field training
This tour of duty is in itself Of great
benefit to the men who take part in 1t.
THE National Guard of the District
Of Columbia offers great advantages
for service. There is, q fine infantry
regiment here commanded by a very
able officer; there are two batteries of
field artillery, mounted signal COM
pany, troop Of cavalry. a company of
coast artillery and hospital corps.
THE National Guard of the District
blooded young men to join the ranks
and help swell this fine Organization.
With view to giving men who would
be acceptable as recruits an opportunity
to see the varied work Of the guard.
there has been opened, at 1925 Pennsyl-
vania avenue, a military exhibit. in
which some of the features of the pres
ent-day equipment of troops Is shown.
The man who does not know what
machine gun, that fires 400 shots
minute. looks like might well go in
and look at the exhibit Of the machine
gun company. Much is seen in the
papers nowadays about the effective
ness of the French field gun. their cele-
brated "75." There is on exhibition In
front of the building one of Uncle Sans
three-inch field pieces, similar in type
to the celebrated French gun.
This National Guard organization Of
ism extends beyond the matter of pa
rading to strains of martial music can
do work of real practical patriotism.
for the men in 1t are preparing them
selves to serve their country in time OF
war.
There also is a naval battalion in the
National Guard. which has for training
purposes the u. s. 8. Sylvia. This Or
ganization makes weekend cruises on
the Potomac, and in summer engages
in battle practice as part of the North
Atlantic feet.
The coast artillery offers a won
derful opportunity to men who have
mechanical turn of mind. A person
pressed with the idea that there is
offered much of very great interest in
the present-day military service and
they must realize that a man cannot
learn to use these instruments of war
fare without training and familiarity
with them. a.,
Go down and look the exhibit over"
Gen. Harvey urged, land If you are an
dDle-OOuleQ, Cledn-CuC young fellow
who wants to serve his country, talk
to some Of the men on duty there with
a view to enlisting. Then, If you can
make good, enlist Actions speak louder
than words. The men who have en-
listed show that they have the willing
ness to serve. and not only the willing
ness. but they have the intelligence
to know that they have got to be pre-
pared to serve effectively. The only
way to get that effective preparation
is to engage in military training.
There is another class of people in
the community who should believe in
intelligent preparedness. They are the
business men, the people whose BUSH
ness prospects would he ruined by a
disastrous war. The National Guard
needs their assistance 'ieir moral sup
port, their willingness to promote the
efficiency of the organization by max
ing some contribution toward it, If
employers of young men will make it
plain to their employees that National
Guard service is regarded as desirable;
If they are credited with the perform
ance of public duty and not made to
suffer for 1t by losing their jobs: if
they are allowed to go to camp willing
" and are urged to do their duty fully
and bring the organization up to a
proper standard, it will be a great step
forward in the cause of preparedness.
There is still another class, a great
body of men who have served their
country in time Of war. These people
guard still needs their support and
help in its up-building and maintenance
on a high plane. Let the people of
Washington realize that the National
and the guard can be expanded
as 1t must be expanded in order to meet
the military requirements of the coun- ,
try"
much interested in the military law re-
Gently passed by Congress, said. in con- |
nection with the preparedness parade:
Every patriotic citizen who is will
ing to be available for immediate de- |
fensive purposes, and who can pass the !
examination, should join the
National Guard, unless he is so situated
that he can afford to leave home and
enlist in the United States Army for |
education.
Amy able bodied citizen of the Unit |
ed States between the ages of eighteen |
and forty-five, interested in the public |
demonstration of today and willing TO |
give his services for real preparedness,
can now receive a good military train
ing in the National Guard, as federal !
lied under the provisions of the new
bill.
Under this law, the organizing, arm
ing and disctplining of the National
Guard will be similar to that for the
United States Army. and viii be under
the supervision of the War Department
and the regular army. and the guard
Will De subject 10 the VI INC
President. Arms, equipment. uniforms.
facilities and ammunition for rife prac-
tice, transportation and food and medf-
cal attendance while on duty are fur
nished.
1.-The pay is not large. but will partly
the citizen for the time de-
voted to the public service. Forty
eight assemblies for drill are required
annually. for which each private is to
receive S42.50 per year. each corporal
500 per year. and each sergeant $50 per
year. Additional pay is to be given
from national, state and territorial
sources for time allowed for outdoor
rife practice, maneuvers and instruc
ton camps which period by law cannot
be less than fifteen days per year. The
total average yearly pay for a private
would be about SIS per year. with pro-
portionate increases for non-commis-
stoned officers and up to $500 per year
for captains and higher commissioned
officers.
Under section so of the new military
BILL leave of absence is granted to all
officers and employees Of the United
states and the District OF Columbia,
without loss of pay. time or efficiency
rating. for all duties incident to their
lnrryfNoa nth $1.a National 4uards