The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-05
NATIONAL GUARDS POSITION.
LOOMS UP IN PREPAREDNESS
QUESTION.
Militiamen Will Have Chance to Pre-.
sent Claims to Consideration Be-
fore Committees.


Washington, Jan. 31.-The status
Of the National Guard in any pre-
paredness plan worked out by con-
gress was discussed by witnesses to-
day before the senate and house mill
itary committee. Brig. Gen. Mills,
chief Of the militia division Of the war
department, declared a federalized
militia would be the best foundation
on which to build the proposed conti-
mental army, and Brig. Gen. Crowder,
judge advocate general Of the army,
examined on legal aspects of federali-
zation, said it involved questions on
which the courts never had passed.
National Guardsmen themselves will
be given hearing tomorrow by both
committees, the executive committee
OF the National Guard association and
numerous other State officers having
been invited to present their views.
Other witnesses today included
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. who told
the senate committee the country
should have a standing army Of 15O,-
600 in peace times. SO organized as to
form the skeleton Of an army that
could be recruited to q total of 1884,
600 in war. Senator Knute Nelson of
Minnesota. a War Of Secession vet
eran, appeared before the senate COM
mittee in advocacy of a standing army
|of 100000.
Gen. Mills examination seemed to
indicate that a majority of the COM
|mitteeinen preferred liberalization of
the militia to the continental army
scheme. The witness insisted that the
war department had not antipathy to
the National Guard as such and glad.
ly would begin building on that basis
II the legal obstacles in the way could
Ibe removed.
| During Gen. Crowder's examination
before the senate committee it was
suggested by committeeman that the
president might take every step to-
wards liberalization within it's legal
power. fixing training. discipline. or
ganization and numbers by condition
ling participation in any federal ap-
preparation upon the fulfilling of re-
tQuirements set by the war depart
ifnent. .;.t.., Nd.
AT the same time steps might be
taken toward amending the constitu-
ton to give the federal government
complete power over the militia. Gen.
Mills declared enactment or the conti-
mental army scheme would not neces-
sarily destroy the National Guard. He
said several States were opposed to
any federal control over the National
Guard. citing Colorado. Arizona. Tex.
as and Montana as conspicuous exam
pies. His statement. brought a Yigor-
GUS protest from Adjt. Gen. Chase OF
the Colorado National Guard, who
was promised hearing tomorrow.
Gen. Miles skeleton army proposal
contemplated sufficient recruiting in
war time to bring up the force to
$4,000 without adding any officers
or new regiments. There would be 81
regiments Of infantry at q peace
strength Of 1000 men each. 20 regi-
ments Of field artillery on q peace
footing of four guns to battery, 20
regiments of coast artillery, also on
peace footing, and 18 regiments of
cavalry. The recruiting would bring
each infantry regiment to 5000 and
each light battery to eight guns
There is nothing to indicate" said
the general, that larger military
force will be required in the near fu-
ture, If ever"
Gen. Miles added that he was not
alarmed by the reported ability of
any European belligerent to land &
force of 100000 men and sweep the
coast line. Such a force would be
III precarious position on the coast,
he said. while it was awaiting ade-
quate reinforcement. He disapproved
OF any proposal for universal mill
tary service, adding "You can't Ger
manize the American people," The
witness said that should greater need
arise an army of 100000 could be
quickly produced by converting regi-
ments of the regular establishment
into brigades Of three regiments each,
oattalions into regiments, companies
into battalions and platoons into
companies.
Senator Nelson. in proposing q