The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-08-09
NO HOME GUARD
IS YET FORMED.
REGULATIONS BADLY SKATERS
ORGANIZATION PLANS.
EQUIPMENT IS HARD TO GET
Governor Harding and Adjutant Gen.
eraI Logan Have at Present no
Plans for the immediate Or
ganization of Home Guard.

Des Moines, Aug. 6.-Iowa "home
guard" organization plans have been
knocked into cooked hat for the
present at least by the discovery that
government regulations are so stric!
that it will prove almost impossible
to obtain equipment without strict
er organization of the home guard
than that of the present militia.
Both Governor Harding and Ad-
jutant General Logan have been
studying the home guard situation.
and have at present no plan for the
immediate organization of any ex-
tended home guard.
1t had been believed that under
law passed by congress it would be
possible to organize a home guard
and obtain federal equipment. Copies
of this law, received here, have great
ly discouraged this idea because of the
unexpected strictness of requirements.
Federal Law Strict.
The law reads in part as follows:
only such home guards as have
the character of state police or con-
stabulary, or such other home guards
as are organized under the direction
of the governors of the several states
that are rendering actual service Of
the following character may receive
equipment to the extent that avail
able supplies will permit; &c.,
THE services to be performed will
be the protection of the property OF
the United States, or he protection OF
supplies in the course of manufacture
of the United States, or the protection
of transportation lines where neces-
sar; including rights Of way OF
bridges, railways, etc. These guards
must be subject to command OF the
governors of the several states, they
must receive regular military in.
struction and such portion as may be
necessary shall be available at all
times for duty"
The law also makes stringent re-
quirements for insuring the govern
ment against any loss of property.
Neither Governor Harding nor AID.
jutant General Logan believes that it
will be practicable to organize home
guard which would, meet the govern
ment requirements.
State Might Form Guard.
1t would be possible for the state
itself to organize and equip home
guard from state funds, but it is
doubtful whether this could be done
without a special session of the legis-
iature.
The cost would be great, and
equipment is difficult to obtain under
any circumstances.
An effort will be made, however,
to keep a sufficient force available to
meet emergencies. The state has
about $50 guardsmen who were either
rejected by the federal government
because of physical imperfections or
who refused to take the federal oath.
These men are subject to call until
their term of enlistment in the guard
expire.
In addition the state has a large
number of volunteer rifle companies,
some of which are recognized by the
federal government and have military
rifles. These also could be pressed
into service.
Troops Now Withdrawn.
In any event the state does not
plan to guard private property. The
First regiment, which has been do
ing guard duty in various parts of
the state, has been ordered into fed
eral service. A battalion may be de-
tailed at Camp Dodge, which the fed
eral government has announced will
be protected by federal troops. With
this exception there are now no
troops on gueard in Iowa, save a few
assigned to protect government prop
erty. d.
Governor Harding does not believe
that any extensive home guard Is
necessary. He would like to have q
regiment, or possibly 1000 men, avail.
able for duty, but at present does not
favor any extensive civilian guard or
| 6obi6otiOhs
Home guard companies have been
organized in several cities and Des
Moines has a battalion. There is no
! likelihood that these organizations
will get immediate state recognition
of equipment.
The governor has fund of $4,000
available for state constabulary and
secret service, but this sum would not
keep any large number of men on
duty.
The federal government nor the
state has made no provision for a
paid home guard, and any organize
ton would have to be purely vol.
untary until funds were appropriated.
i Lots Of Work In Siqht.