Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-30
Members Look for Call to Fed
eral Service Any Time Un-
der Latest Order

uSI IdtSSt vi uCt
On July 1, 1917. the National
Guard Of Hawaii will enter another
era OF its already eyentful history.
During the stirring years Of the Mon
archy. the Provisional Government.
and the Republic. the Guard played
leading part In Hawaiian affairs,
Then, after annexation. the National
Guard. as part Of the Organised
Militia Of the United States, logged
along for many years with few
changes In organizations or personnel
Two years ago, under q new Guard
administration. there came a general
"shake-up" which resulted in large
increases, not only in numbers Of
troops enrolled, but in the distribu-
ton Of these troops.
During the biennial period just
closing the Militia reached out and
became firmly established on every
island Of the Hawaiian group, Where
formerly only Honolulu, Hilo, Wal
luku and Lahaina knew the soldiers
Of the territory, now nearly every
village and plantation of any size on
the four main islands maintains its
quota of National Guard.
From a single regiment Of infan
try, and attached sanitary troops,
the Guard grew to proportions never
before dreamed possible, and on June
30, 1917, consisted Of four regiments
and one separate company Of infan-
try, one troop Of cavalry, one COM
pany Of engineers, one company Of
signal corps, and two companies Of
coast artillery, with the required num-
Der OF men Of the medical, ordnance
and quartermaster departments.
Put On War Basis
But with the country at war, and
the National Guard subject to call into
the Federal service at any time, 1t
has been decided that the organiZa-
tons named above, at full war
strength, together with the necessary
reserve and depot battalions, would
prove too much of drain on the
available population Of the territory.
Therefore, on the recommendation Of
the governor, the commanding gen.
eral Of the Hawaiian Department, and
the adjutant general of Hawaii, the
War Department authorized con-
solidation Of existing infantry organi
cations, by which the four regiments
and one separate company will be re-
duced to two regiments. The reduc-
tion is in organizations rather than
In numbers, for almost every man
now enlisted will continue to serve
with the colors.
Instead Of four regiments at mini
- Iuf1l
two regiments at full war strength,
existing regiments becoming battali.
ons, and companies becoming platoons.
1t is figured by the military authori..
ties of the National Guard and the
regular army that this change in or
ganization will result in a more COM
pact and economic unit, and that
mobilization under the new con-
ditions will work no hardship on In
dustrial conditions throughout the
Territory, as was feared might be the
case If the full four regiments and
auxiliary troops had been recruited
to war strength, taking some $50 Off
GERS and 5000 men away from their
regular avocations.
Troops Well Supplied
The fiscal year 1855 proved a
trying one for the Guard, owing to
the impossibility Of securing equip
ment for newly organized units. How
ever, the fiscal year just closing
found the Hawaii Guard with almost
1886, 900 OF federal funds to its credit,
and before the end Of 1915 equip
ment and military stores of every
description poured into the territorial
supply depots, and troops which in
some cases had been drilling for
months without even auniform, could
be property provided for. The en-
thusiasm and patriotism OF officers
and men had been severely tried,
and had admirably stood the test.
Governor Pinkham, during whose
administration the National. Guard
has been a vital and live issue, and
Brig. Gen. Samuel I. Johnson, the
Eadjutant general. to whose unflagging
energy and ability as an organizer
the present size and popularity OF
the Guard is due, believe that the
new organization viii work out we'll.
and that as soon as the usual and |
ito. be. expected Inconvenience due to |
the REORGANIZATION are overcome. the |
Guard will become smooth.running |
military machine. f.
1900 Men Forced Out
The National Guard Of Hawaii re-
gcefyedsa severe blow soon after the |
outbreak of the war with Germany, |
when the discharge of all married
men and others with dependent fam
lilies was ordered by the war depart
ment. Over 1900 Of the most ex-
perienced soldiers, many of them
non commissioned officers, were swept
out of the ranks by a single order,
leaving gaps which 1t has not yet
been possible to fill.
While the National Guard Of Ha-J