Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-17

Bismarck; N. D.. Sept; 1.-THE
Guard regiment. with the several full
ly-organized home guard companies
as a nucleus. is presaged in a letter
from Governor Lynn j.. Frazier to Of
ficers of the Rugby home guard, who
recently made application for uni
forms and equipment and for national
recognition.
Under Senate Bill 325, introduced
at the last session by Senator Allen,
Governor Frazier has full authority to
organize as many guard regiments as
he may see fit, Or as many az the
state may be able to finance. The last
legislature materially increased the
appropriation for the national guard,
in anticipation Of the organization of
la second regiment, and the amount
available for the current biennium is
$4,000. With the wo regiments al
ready organized now in the national
service, the bulk of this appropriation
could be utilized to finance q new
been generally expected that the gov
ernpr will avail himself by the pre-
negatives vested in him by state and
federal law.
Would Mean Protection.
Will IilS 1.-TWO udIlOHdl SudEu ICSi-
ments out Of the state, North Dakota
will be left withou protection, except
such as may be afforded by home
guard companies or emergency com
m1ttees. The federal regulations sur
rounding the Organization of the for
mer are SO involved that 1t is very
difficult to secure recognition. In fact
a strict interpretation Of the rules
would indicate that they can be rec
| orp{vaIN ar,{DroI or1 ,o{forypo a n Nn1J
when organized for and engaged in 8
specific work.
National guard companies are
treated more literally n r bound
with less red tape. Home guard
companies already formed in Fargo
Devils Lake, Eessenden, Rugby, Cava
1ier, Grafton and a number of Other
good-sized towns, could be transform
ed into national guard companies, un
der the usual conditions, 1t is said
and 1t is believed there are enough
eligibles in these units now to suppl.
half a regiment. 4
Senate Bill sS5 provides: 1.-THE Ma
tional Guard of he state Of North Da
kota shall consist IF such regiments
corps or other units as the governo
of the state may. from time to tim
authorize to be formed. All such or
ganizations to be organized in accord
ance with the laws governing tn
regular army and the regulations Is
sued by the secretary of war"
THE governor" said Adjutapt Gen
ment Of state militia at any time, blu
under the present federal statutes h
would be unable to obtain federal aid
equipment and ordnance for sucl
troops. Eastern states are attempt
ing to put through congress legisla
ton which will enable the governo
OF, any state to- form the home guar
units into regiments which will hav
federal assistance. Our appropriatio
period, and it would not be sufffcien
to equip and arm a new regiment
stateGmf1itia."
The governor doubtless referred
this proposed federal Legislation
when he wrote his Rugby letter.
Reserve Held Up.
The original select service law pro
vided for the organization of a reserv
battalion for each select service regi
ment sent out of the state and de
creed that such battalion should b
held in training at the state mobiliza
ton camp to fill vacancies in tn
fighting forces and keep them con
stantly at war strength.
This provision would mean tn
concentration at Fort Lincoln Of tw
b~attalions of 900 enlisted men eacf
which, with commissioned officer
would make a total force Of about /,
800 men. The a department ha
temporarily waived this regulation
and it is probable that it willSnot b
!. enforced until the period Of trainin
for the first draft is well under wa!
and possibly not until the first nation
al army is called out of the country.
At local military headquarters tn
belief is now general that the Firs
and Second North Dae:ota will trail
at Camp Green, Charlotte, N. {
This, they are convinced, will mea
early action for the Flickertail fight
ers on the French battlefronts. Som
Of the officers of the North Dakot
infantry already have negotiated fo
quarters at Charlotte, and their wive
are planning to accompany them.