The Delta independent., 1917-06-01
ONE. ARMY PROBLEM
HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD Is
TO BE MADE PART OF THE
NATIONAL ARMY.
1T MUST MEET REQUIREMENTS
No Political, Religious or Racial
ciiques Wanted-Many Of the Cav
airy Regiments May Be Converted
Into Field Artillery.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.


Washingtoh.-Everybody in Wash
ington knows that the National Guard
problem has been a vexing one for
the war department to solve. Some or
the regiments in few Of the states
never have been efficient and probably
never could be made efficient under
state control so long as indifference TO
the service continued in some places
to prevail. The government Is going
to take over at first only such of those
National Guard regiments, not already
federalized, as have met with all the
requirements of the law In equipment,
numbers and efficiency.
The National Guard regiments un-
der the present plan-under the law,
in fact-will continue to wear the
badge of state service when they be-
come a part of Uncle Sans troops,
but otherwise TO all effects, purposes
and appearances they will be part
of the regular army.
Unless the Guard by volunteer en-
listments is recruited to Its full
strength prior to the time that the
federal government takes over such
in its service, the provisions of the
Hay bill for recruiting the Guard or
ganizations will be foregone, and the
men needed to complete the quotas
Will be chosen under the selective con-
-scription rule This means that when
the United States takes hold of the
task of filling the regiments no man
over thirty-one years of nge Will be
added To the forces.
The regular army authorities have
been disturbed by reports from here,
there and elsewhere that ambitious po-
liticians and others were raising com
panies. regiments and even brigades
with the Idea of offering their services
en- masse. 1t was the intention of
some OF these organizations, If means
could be found to do II. to enter the
National Guard. The desire of Wash
ington has been that the National
Guard should be recruited in way to
prevent the entering into 1t of cliques
or sets of men whose binding tie was
political, racial. (other than American)
or even religious.
Cavalry to Become Artillery.
1t has been said that some Of the
National Guard cavalry regiments. per-
haps all of them. may be turned into
field artillery regiments. There is not
much use for cavalry on the west
front In the present war. although OF
course there must be some cavalry for
emergencies. Mounted troops when
they are needed will be needed badly.
Artillery. however. is a prime neces-
sity. and as the troopers of the Ma
tional Guard know horses and know
how to ride them. they will be espe-
cially useful in artillery outfits which
use horse power for changes Of base
and coming into battery"
The officers of the army watched
the various National Guard regiments
on the border closely. One Pennsyi-
vania infantry regiment, the Second.
was by the direction Of the federal
authorities turned into n field artillery
outfit overnight. II is far advanced
now In its drill and 1t probably will
go to France with one Of the early ex-
petitions which the government sends
to the fighting line.
II such cavalry regiments of the
Guard are given change of service
and of weapons. they need not worry
much about delay in sending them to
the scene of action. All they will have
to do is to learn their new duties
quickly, and then they can rest as
sured that with their field guns they
will be put on ships and sent over
seas.
Sure Of Early Participation.
Within the next few weeks the
regular army is to be raised, II the
volunteer method can compass 1t.
to Its full war strength of nearly
30O.0 men. II the volunteering shall
fail, conscriptive methods will be used.
but the end will be the same and the
regular force will have thousands
upon thousands of men greener than
any Guardsman who has had the state
soldiers training.
Regiments of the National Guard,
therefore. with the regulars and on
equal terms with them, probably will
find themselves on the first line of the
nations offense. The one qualification
necessary Is to say that application is
only to those Guard organizations that
nrc fully recruited that have met with
the approval of the federal authorities
and that saw service on the border.
Almost unQuestionably the federalized
Guard will find itself Mt the front as
quickly rs the regulars except for
those few seasoned regiments of the
standing army which probably will be
sent into the fight quickly.
What is II that has made the
Guards opportunity? Two things
have worked to the end of quick serv-