Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-28
new GUARD UNITS
NOT REQUIRED OF
STATES JUST NOW
Gen. Mann's Explanation of
War Department Plan Said
to Affect Hawaii
BY C. 8. ALBERT
Snacial Star Rnllatin Corrasnondan

NopoC1A4 obA1 D u44ot40 SOGGoSpOo0ooC0.D
WASHINGTON, D. c., May ia
letter has been addressed to the adju-
tants general of all states, Hawaii
and the District Of Columbia, by
Brigadier-General William A. Mann,
head Of the Militia Bureau Of the War
Department, EXPLAINING how new Ma.
tiOnal guard units can be raised. 1t
is stated that considerable time must
elapse before they are received into
the federal service and that there
must be suitable proof Of the perma-
nency Of the new organizations. The
letters follows in part:
Under the provisions Of the act Of
congress approved June 3, 1916, fed
eral recognition will be extended to
national guard units of various states
as set forth in the accompanying table
This table provides for organizations
TO the extent Of 800 men, including
the naval militia, per senator and
representative In congress. The table
should not be understood as express
ing a maximum war strength as the
number specified Is a minimum peace
limit which, under the law, was to
have been reached by 1921 This re-
cognition of new units will be extend
ed to those units with a view toward
bringing the members thereof into
federal service when they shall have,
been sufficlently eqeipted 70 warrants
such service.
ut must be clearly understood by
all concerned that the states are not
called upon by the war department to-
organize these rev units. In many
states the organization Of additional
units will mean an increase Of several
hundred per cent OF the present
strength of the national guard In these
states; the expense Of recruiting and
organizing the new units and proyid-
ing them with srmory facilities viii
be considerable and will be q heavy
burden for some states with small APP
preparations for militia purposes; the
selection Of officers is matter which
should be treated with care and dis
elimination commensurate with the
serious responsibility those officers
win have to bear and the important
duties they win have to perform. In
the present emergency the war depart
ment does not desire to press the un-
dertaking Of these burdens upon the
states. and believes that troops can
be organized as purely federal forces
more expedft iously and with greater
efficiency, in accordance with the
plan proposed by the president The
law calls upon the states and makes
It their duty to organize the number
of national guard troops by q gradua,
process, giving them until 1921 to com
plete the task, and while the states |
are not requested to Immediately orr
ganize these units of the national
guard, the condltions under which |
they may be organized and may bel
extended federal recognition, and |
what may reasonably be expected as |
to entry into federal service, are pub
lished Tor the Information Of all con
cerned.
Another point that must be clearly
understood is this: Considerable time
must elapse between the recognition |
Of new unit and its equipment for i
entry into federal service. The men
composing thee new units can be i
clothed, fatiOned and sheltered az |
federal expense. init; they enter the
federal service.
suitable arnories and facilities for
the care Of equipment must be pro-
yided for all new organizations.
There must be some prospect Of
Of organization.
The war strength required for units |
Of the regular army tinfantry compa-
ny. I50; cavalry troop, 105; Field Ar
tillery, 1901 viii be required for fed
eral recognition.