The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-11-23

var quotas.
In some instances units from two
states have been combined or are
about to be thrown together. These
are extreme cases, and they enc to
stir up wen keener resentment thar
the combining of units within a single
state.
Missouri Protests.
The Fourth Missouri and Third Kan
a furnish a striking illustration.
Both of these regiments were below the
strength required by the new ~organiza-
ton. Both contained a large number
of veterans.
When it was decided to combine
them, Missourians Immediately rose
n protested the ease in person to
Secretary Baker, pointing out the in
justice to both states and the damag-
ing effect Oh the morale of the officers
and men.
He said this was true, also, of the
Second Missouri, which was slated to
be carved up and transformed into ma
chine gun battalions.
Governor Gardner used all of the ar
guments he could muster, but wound
up by declaring emphatically that if
the government could not do other
wise Mr.. Baker could count on Mis-
souri, supporting him and doing it's
duty to a man. This case has not
yet been finally disposed of, but it is
entirely probable that Governor Gard
ner will lose.
Mr.. Baker personally regrets the
necessity for breaking up state units.
Ohio, his w state, has some crack
regiments, and the Buckeye state is
being treated exactly as every other
state. The first consideration is a
military one. The government wants
the best possible military machine and
only efficiency vas considered in per-
fecting the organization plans.
After the War.
If there are any definite after-the-
war plans for the National Guard
they have not beer revealed. Mill
tary experts who discussed the matter
declared that after the wal the Ma
tional Guard naturally will revert to
its status under the national defense
act, which was passed with a view
to federalizing the Guard and max
ing it more responsive to national au-
thority.
But what will be left of the Ma
tional Guard if the war lasts a long
time, it is asked? When the Guard
was shaken together after it's service
On the border 1t numbered approx
mately 10000. Since that time many
Guardsmen have been dis
charged on account of dependent rela-
ives. It's strength at the time the
United States entered the war may be
at $4,000 officers and men. {
Men who have enlisted since that
ime did so "for the period of the war,
nd will be automatically discharged !
vhen it ends. Meanwhile, it is fair to I
.ssume hat many of the veteran /
Suardsmen will appear on casualty S
lists. At best, therefore, the National I
proper at the close of the war
vill be nothing like as large as at
resent-378,0 900 men. OF course, many
f the men who go through the war
will re-enlist for peace time :
y
For "Period Of War" /.
What is true of the National Guard :.
this respect also is tru of the reg ,
lar army, two-thirds of which is COM
DSed of men who volunteered their l
'rvices for the period of the war, and
lnnot be held after peace is declared.
he terms of thousands of other men 7
ill have expired and they also must
: released. l.
1t will be recalled that the formal
lnouncement of the war department,
defining the new organization, spe-
stated that it was for "over- c
service" 1t is but fair to as g
that this organization is not now 81
to be permanent and that W
ere will be no disposition to main OF
in National Guard units as now or n,
nized after peace comes
In fact, Secretary Baker has re- Al
atedly informed the newspaper men
at all plans for the army are tenn "
rary, or "for the period of the war" 81
'ngress took particular paths to spe-
" that the selective draft law ap- "
ed only to the al period and was Tt
t to be considered as an approval Tt
the principle of universal military w
lining as a permanent policy. w w
It is freely predicted that the men
do the fighting in France will
/, to it that congress provides for a I'm
-manent system of universal mill w
y training. When the National tb,
ard troops returned from the bor- ha
they were almost a unit in de- oo
nding universal legislation as a
tier of common sense and element
justice.
Even with a system of universal
itary training in vogue, it was \
nted out, the National Guard would Il
necessarily be eliminated. wh
ha'