Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
BAKER URGES STATES
To DELAY FORMATION
Of NEW GUARD UNITS
Judge Advocate General Re-
verses War SeCretay'S RuI-
ing and Holds States Have
Right to Form Them

WASHINGTON. April l4-Against
the judgment OF military experts as IL
the wise course in the present emergen-
cy. the war department was compelled TO
reverse previous ruling today and an
nounce that under existing law states
have the right TO organize new units of
the national guard. This opens the door
TO expansion of the existing guard force
of about $4,000 men TO 100000 at peace
strength or more tnan 100000 on war
footing.
The department has planned to draft
into federal service only existing units OF
the guard plus such auxiliary troops as
might be needed. Twenty states have
applied for permission to raise new regi-
ments however. and Secretary Baker or
dered new study of the national de-
Tense act to determine whether the &C
ceptance OF new units up to the limits
in the act was mandatory. Judge Advo-
cate General CrOwder took this view and
his ruling was approved by the secretary.
An effort to prevent immediate organ
ization of the new regiments was made
simultaneously. however The COVER
nors were asked to see TO it that existing
units were filled up TO peace strength
before any new ones were organized.
Shortage of equipment prevents the inn
mediate acceptance of such new regi-
ments as the department has not had
appropriations for reserve supplies, and
il will take from two to three months
TO provide for the forces which may be
organized under today's ruling. There
are not enough supplies on hand to pro-
vide even for existing units at war
strength.
BAN SKELETON UNITS.
Secretary Baker made il plain I'm COM
munications 10 Governor Cox, of Ohio.
and others. that the department would
in no circumstances recognize skeleton
organizations. but would require a rea-
sonably full complement OF officers and
men for each new unit.
If the state forces are raised to full
strength the present total of more than
10000 national guard officers would have
to be expanded to more than 10000 to
provide the oNcer personnel for the full
twelve national guard divisions con-
templated by the national defense act.
The war department has felt disinclin-
ed to add in this way to its already
heavy burden nfinding and training Off
GERS for the war time armies that are to
be raised.
The senate military committee today
cleared the way for taking up the war
army legislation Monday by completing
consideration of war department amend
ments to the present national defense act
to perfect the regular army reorganiza-
ton. Whether public hearings on the
new army bill and it's seIective draft
feature will be held has not been decided.
Many requests for hearings have been
received.
After plea today by Senator Hughes
to double the pay of enlisted men. the
committee decided TO ask the war de-
partment for suggestions, recommended
tions and cost estimates regarding in
crease of the enlisted personnel from
SIS a month to SEQ, s25 and $50.
Virtually all changes in the national
defense law suggested by the army gem
eral staff were accepted by the commit
tee and a bill incorporating them Will
be reported to the senate Monday. The
amendments include authority TO in
crease the general staff to ninety-two
members, TO increase the number of
machine gun companies in each div.-
sion from ten to twenty-three, and TO
increase the number of non-commission-
ed officers in each army unit
MOTOR CAR COMPANIES.
The war department was asked also
to submit suggestions regarding addi-
ton of armored motor car companies,
like machine gun squads, to each unit.
Separation allowances Tor soldiers
dependents in time of war, recommend
ed by the general staff in lieu of the
$50 monthly allowance given by con-
gress to dependents Of national guards
men during the Mexican border service,
were approved by the committee and IN
cluded i'm the bill. These provide that
during war. dependents of enlisted men
shall be paid SIS monthly. If soldiers
were killed in action, from wounds or
disease. the dependents would receive an
amount equal TO their pay for six
months. and, il in aviation. years pay.
The committee is divided on the Sc
lective draft proposal with a majority
however. understood TO favor the adj
ministration plan. kilograms and let
tiers are pouring in on both sides Of
the question. Many senators were per-
soally opposed TO cOnscription but are
lOath TO oppose the administration plans.
Chairman Chamberlain and others Of
the committee feel little can be gained
and much time wasted by holding pub
lie hearings. The arguments are so well
defined on both sides of the issue that
IL is believed they can and will be ade-
quately presented by senators on the
committee.
A. h-E-4s01