Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-15
STATES MAY FORM NEW
NATIONAL GUARD UNITS
War Department Compelled TO Re.
verse Previous Ruling Which
Prevented Acceptance.
RAISES LIMIT TO ooo,ooo MEN
Effort Made, However, to Prevent
Immediate Organization OF Other
Regiments-Senate Committee to
Take Up Army Bills Monday.
IRy Associated Prsss.l


WASHINGTON. April l4-Acainst
the Judgment of military experts as to
inc wise course In the present
emergency, the War Department was
compelled TO reverse a previous ruling
to-day and announce that under exist
ing law States have the right to or
GaniZe new units of the National Guard.
This opens the door TO expansion of
the existing guard force OF about l95,-
OV0 men to 100000 at peace streneth.
or more than 600,010 on. war footing.
The department has planned to dra IT
into Federal service only existing units
OF the guard. plus such auxiliary troous
as might be needed. Twenty States
have applied for permission TO raise
new regiments. and Secretary Bak ker
ordered new study of the national de
tense act to determine whether the ne
ceptancc of new units up to the limits
in the act was mandatory Judge
Advocate-C;cncral Crowder took this
view. and his ruling was approved by
the secretary.
An effort to prevent Immediate or
ganiHation Of new regiments was made
simultaneously. however The Cover
nors were asked to see to it that exist
ing units were filled up to peace
strength before any new ones were
organized. shortage of euuip,ncnt pre-
vents the immediate acceptance of such
new regiments. as the dcpa rtment has
not had approximations for reserve sup
plies. and it will take from two to three
months to provide for the forces which
may be organized under TO days ruling
There arc not enough supplies on hand
to provide even for existing units at
war strength.
WILL NOT RECOGNIZE
SKELETON ORGANIZATIONS
Secretary Baker made IL plain. in
communications to Governor Cox. of
Ohio. aud others. that the department
would in no circumstances recognize
skeleton organizations. hut would re-
uuire "A reasonably full complement of
officers and men for each new unit
lf the state forces were raised to
full strength tho present total Of more
than 10000 National Guard officers
would have to nc expanded to more
than 10000 to provide the officer per
souno for the full twelve National
Guard divisions contemplated hv the
national defense act. The War Depart.
mcnt has fclt dsinclincd to add in this,
way to its already heavy burdens in
finding and training officers for the
war-timc armies that are to be raised
The Senate Military Committee to-
day cleared the way for taking up tho
wur army legislation on Monday by
completing consideration OF War De
partmcnt amendments 10 the present
national dcfcnsc act to pcrfcct the
regular army reorganization
Aftcr IL plea today by Senator
Hughes To double tho pay OF enlist cd
men. the committee decided to ask the
War Department for suggestions, rec
concentrations and cost estimates. re-
gardinS Increase of tho culisted per-
sonnel from $i5 Il month to SEQ, s25
and $50.
ACCEPTS CHANGES SUGGESTTD
ny ARMY GENERAL. S'rAEIr
Virtually all changes in the national
defense law suggested by tho army
general star were accepted by the COM
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