New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Unequal Burden of Border
Duty an Argument for
Compulsory Service
CRITICISM FURTHER
WEAKENS MILITIA
EnlistmentS Rare, and Re-
enlistmentS Soon Will Be
Unknown, Says Officer

Washington. Dec. Proponents OF
universal military training who per
ceive that the first step toward an ade-
nuetc defence system il 90 defederalize
the National Guard have run against
serious obstacle in the fact that at the
present moment the National GUARDS,
man is the peoples hero. His splendld
sacrifice on the Mexican border, where
he has been kept al police duty Tor SIX
months. though he did not enlist WIN
the thought OF such service IN MIND
makes an exposure of the inadaptsol-
ity OF the National Guard resented as
a reflection on the individual GUARDS
man.
But IL is apparent TO those who have
studied the question-to none morc
than the guardsmen themselves tha1
tho unfairness Of a military system
that demands such individual sacrihce
is the strongest argument for UNIVERSAL
and compulsory training. 1t WIZ al
ygavs mean sacrifice for citizen soldlers
20 desert their work for the protection
of the nation, and, as General scout
report argued. II is important IN
democracy that sacrifice, so far as pos
sible should be exscted equally from
All the harsh things said about the
National Guard are based on the sp-
psrent fact that the militia Of the vari-
Gus states is entirely unsuitod TO the
work which for the last five months II
has been called upon 70 perform on the
border. Criticism of the Guard, now
ever. is not only unjust to the lndiVld-
nal members Of the state regiments
bu. eldom takes account OF the eneets
OF the hard service which 1t is no" 40
ing. ...otoror,is.
take about those effects. New enlist
mcnts are becoming more ana more
rare. Refreshments soon viii be IN
known. Not only, under present eohII-
tions. is ii increasingly dlmculI 10 90,
tain recruits for the regular army out
also by keeping body OF men serving
a. border policemen, VINO ouenI 70
called upon only In the emergency OF
roal war the government IS rapidly
making toward even greater weakness
I'm the Guard.
These brief sentences summarize
conversation which the Tribune cor
resDonden, had to-day with New YORK
member Of the Guard, major from the
western part of the state. who was on
his wav back TO Texas. He is a soldier
before he is a citizen. therefore, Ig
cannot talk under his name as he "ould
wish. But his conversation, even nan
dicapped by anonymity, IS suinciehtiy
Interesting for republication. Listen
"Pcrsonally am proud Of the Guard.
| am talking especially OF the felloWs
from New York State. Everybody IN the
country who is doing any talking ABOUT
our perilous military situation Is tax
mo kick now at the National Guard.
We are no good. they say; don't belong
in anv first line Of defence; ought TO be
defederalized as quickly as possible
that something real in military way
may take our places.
As matter Of fact, under the con
ditions that beset W We have done. IN
nv humble opinion, very well indeed.
or course. we were not recruited up To
full strength. We are voluntary organ
nations. OF course, We were III
equipped. or not equipped al all. But
whose fault was that? Nobody's, eN.
cept an uuinteiligent government and
a penurious Congress interested more
in pork than In the country's welfare.
"What is the answer? Of course,
there is only one answer. Compulsory
service. Let every young man take his
share Of the burden. The people and
/ Congress and the President haven't
walked up 20 the need or an army sde-
quatc for defence. hope 1t won't take
] n war 10 wake them up"