The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-04
DEATH OF GUARD
SEEN IN HAY ACT
Recruiting Virtually Has Ceas-
ed and Veterans will Not
Re-enIist.
OBJECT TO DUAL OATH
Men Returning From Texas
Border See Only Hope In
Compulsory Service.
OBJECT TO DUAL OATH

NEW YORK. Dec. 4.-what In the
national defense act going to do. cure
or kill the national guard7
That Ia the question which has pre-
scented itself to every guardsman as
soon as he has returned from the
Texas border and has had time to
which President Wilson signed last
June.
In the first place. the new law has
killed recruiting In the national
guard: In the second place, it has
fully In the cactus all summer and
autumn, to avoid re-enlistment.
Rather than sign up for three more
years OF active service" and pledge
himself to go anywhere in the United
Ing the re6erve for three years or
else he u dropping out. This applies
TO q great many men whose terms
were up. while they were on the bor-
der or after they returned home.
Guard Up Against IT,
National guard officers discussed
the evil effects OF the Hay law and
frankly admitted that the guard 10
up against Il. They wouldn't admit
the guard Is in the dying condition
deserieed by the regular, a but they
cruiting and the failure OF veterans
to re-enter the ranks.
II IL not only In this State that the
national guard Is beginning to crum'
have refused to subscribe to the dual
oaths called for by the Federal Gov
The ofiice OF the Adjutsnt General,
y. s. A., makes the estimate that ~,
service are still classed as organized
militia" The War Department served
notice that unless these men, enough
TO make twenty.four peace strength
regiments. took the Federal oath by
November 80 they would be disbanded.
Oath Time Limit Extended.
The pronounced reluctance OF these
1900 men TO enter the Federal Ma.
tional Guard has led the War Depart
ment TO extend the time for taking
the oath.
Not only can the War Department
dissolve a regiment for failure TO be
come a Federal unit. but also for It's
T rsf Sa, 90 I've suS arp OF New SorR city
will stand little chance OF being pass
ed by the war Department. and being
placed on the pay rolls " the stat.
meni made by Lieut.; Col M err rr -,
Field Artillery, IL a fair summary OF
present cond.,ions.
Compulsory service Urged.
In the seventh and In other New
York regiments which have returned
from Texas ono hears lot about
compulsory service as n substitute for
the national guard. One OF the high
est officers In the State expressed his
approval OF enforced training, but
he said this system would not DO
away with the guard.
Word came from Albany thst ma.
tionaI guard officers In the capital
consider the DECENTRALIZATION" OF their
organization as a eerious error. IL
will be necessary to amend the ma
tIonal defense act, said these ofncers,
so as TO give the State entire control
OF Its troops or else TO let the Fed
erai Government take up the burden
OF drilling and equipping the men and
maintaining the armories,
AS Captain Farrell OF Manhattan
heAdqusrters pointed out. the state
used 10 pay the guardamen si.2o a day
for attendance at the annual en-
campment, Tho Government Will pay
a private only 50 cents a day for the
nfteen days he 10 required TO remain
in camp. and tho State must make up
the difference OF 70 cents a day.