Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-17
REQUEST MADE.
TO GIVE STATES
GUARD OF 400
Governor Formally Asks
That Idaho Be Allowed
Battalion and the Request
Will Be Granted.
Department Reverses Form
er Attitude and Will Per
nit National Guard in
Place of Home Guard-To
Protect Life and Property

Protect Life and Property.
This state will have a national guard
to succeed the old Second Idaho. COM
prising a battalion of 400 men and
four companies, and it may be made up
of men either through volunteer SER
vice or draft including men OF MILL
tary age under the draft. A formal
request for permission to organize such
a militia was made to the adjutant
general Of the army by Governor Alex
ander following receipt of information
from Brigadier General Carter. Inc
guard organized will be given federai
recognition. Governor Alexander wired
Brigadier General Carter as follows:
In accordance with your suggestion
contained in your letter to the adjutant
general of Idaho under date of Dec. 8,
request authorization for the organiza-
ton Of four companies or one battalion,
national guard, within the state OF
Idaho
Adjutant General C. S. Moody has
maintained that under the laws and
regulations a national guard could be
organized in this state for the purpose
of protecting life and property at home
At one time the Washington depart
ment held that this was not possible
as it would interfere with the draft
and that only a home guard could be
organized 1t has reversed that stand
as the following communication to the
adjutant general indicates:
GOVERNOR HAS COMMAND.
General Charles s. Moody, Adjutant
General of Idaho, Boise, Idaho. Deal
General: Your letter of the 1st instant
has been received, and l wish to eX-
press to you the qualification of the
war department with the patriotic at
titude of the officials of the state OF
Idaho in not wishing to draw upon fed
eral forces to maintain internal peace
preferring to do so upon their own re-
sponsibility.
The character Of the forces to b.
raised must be left entirely to thu
judgment of the governor. If it is de-
sired to raise national guard units. bat
TALON or regiment of infantry will b'
authorized, and all possible encourage
n1ent and assistance will be extended
Dy the war sum univ
must meet all federal requirements, ant
after inspection and recognition as ma
tional guard, would probably be fur
nished sufficient clothing, equipmen
and arms for their immediate needs
1t is not the present policy of the wa
department to draft into federal ser
vice units of the national guard create'
since Aug 8, 1917, as forces for tn
prosecution of the war are provided TO
by other means in the act of congress
approved May IS, 1917.
No instructions have been formu
lated by the war department concern
ing state troops or home guards, othe
than are contained in special regula
tions No. 81, war department, 1911
copy of which is sent you herewith.
will be noted that these guards are sub
ject to the command of the governo
OF the state and receive no federal al
other than rifles and ammunition.
l shall be glad to furnish you an
further information that will assist 20
in the organization Of new units.
Very truly yours,
J. Mel. CARTER,
Brigadier General, National Army,
Chief, Militia Burea,