The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-09
STATE GUARD HEAD
FAVORS UNIVERSAL
TRAINING SYSTEM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE1

sihle for nucleus at least. upon
which to create a great land force.
There has been no material in
crease In the onlistments In the
regular army. and tho existing ma
tlonal guard Il the only source Of
strength In a military sense which
could be utilized AZ this time for
any purpose which the government
might suddenly find necessary.
The national guard OF the coun.
try has been subjected TO great
deal OF undeserycd criticism. II IL
irus that the army officers OF high
rank who have lately appeared be-
fore tho congressional military
committees. who have under con.
slderation the several bills proyid-
inE for universal training. have
plainly stated that the officers and
men OF the national guard are en-.
titled to the utmost credit for their
loyalty and patriotism. their vii.
lingncss TO serve their country and
for the supreme sacrifices that
they have made In connection with
tho Mexican border service.
These army officers have very
carefully differentiated between
the personnel OF tho national guard
and what they term the faults and
Weaknesses OF the national guard
system"
Never Was a System"
TLox. Hwa ,...r H... any Hu..
tional guard system" IN tho United
States. Until the passage OF the
act OF June 2. 1916. there were
some IS different systems gov
erncd by widely varying provisions
OF state laws and without any CO
ordination whatsoever. The act of
June 3 was an attempt to establish
uniformity In tho administration.
organization. training and discip-
line OF the national guard. and for
tho first time in the history OF this
country the constitutional power
OF congress TO provide for the de.
Tense OF the country in the manner
contemplated by the trainers OF the
constitution. WIS exercised
The mobilization of greater
portion Of the National Guard for
Mexican border service took place
before any provision Of this new
law could become operative, and
the fact that large percentage OF
the militia troops are still in the
federal service makes IL utterly i'm
possible for any one 10 reach any
conclusion as TO the results that
can be obtained under this act
Misunderstano Problem
The average regular army officer
Is disqualified by training and en-
\ Ironment from intelligently con
aidering the best methods of rails
ing an army OF citizen soldiery or
10 appreciate and solve the prob
lens that are met In civil life. Of
flcers Of the army who have been
on detail az Experimentation OF
the National Guard of the several
states and who have had an oppor-
tunity TO gain first hand informa-
ton are frank to admit that regu-
lar army ideas and methods are
suited only to the regular army and
cannot be made To apply to the av-
crage young American In civil life.
Officers Of the general staff of
tho army and the various bureaus
Of war department who have spent
the greater part OF their lives in
the army service cannot compre-
bend why every young man Is not
eager and willing TO enlist In the
regular army. or why the National
card caaao. Be subjected 20 the
same rigorous discipline and au-
hority In time of peace as the
ar-ry. and why army laws and reg
Nations are not applicable to ev.
cry phase of the National Guard or
volunteer service.
Explains Lasity
Their criticism of the National
Guard condition as have heretofore
existed is largely based upon the
fact that the National Guard meth
DDS of administration more resem-
bled the management OF n large
manufacturing or mercantile ostab-
iishment than the military govern
ment Of the army. They contend
that there Is laxity of military
courtesies and customs Of the serv-
Ice and many other radical points
of difference between the army
and the National Guard which
should not exist This is all prob