Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-04
Ehrntttg Glrat

orsdhlzation of the Home Defense
corps, of Volunteer Reserves, as the
association will probably be called,
10 Ihe nfst to be held in Harrisburg
because of national emergency in
over half a century. There have
peen periods of internal disturbances
When committees of safety, posses
ana various other bodies We're formed
TOT preservation of order, protection
OF property and upholding of con-
sstltuted authority, but they were only
so ror acute conditions. During the
- opaiIsn- Am erican War provisional
organizations of the National Guard
were formed in Harrisburg, such as
VIII probably be done as soon as the
MCKEE bill passes the Legislature.
Inns measure provides for three regI-
ments OF infantry and a squadron Af
cavalry, to be brought into being
where designated and equipped by
the State. Adjutant General Stew
art. who organized and equipped five
reglments of the Provisional Guard
or 1898, in addition to handling the
| entrance of the regular guard or
ganizations into federal service, will
nave charge of the Provisional
Guard. This organization, however,
VIII be distinct from the association
started on the way on Saturday
night The volunteer organization of
citizens will be one which will run
itself, but be ready to respond to a
call in emergency at home. While
not formally recognized by either ma
uonal or state governments, it will.
nevertheless, be a part of the defense
| system. Similar bodies have been
formed in various parts of the state,
some OF them being military organ
lzatlons, uniformed, equipped and
| drilled like the National Guard, the
expense being borne by the members.
Others are to protect certain defined
| districts in event of disturbance or
trouble or to render aid when called
| upon. Still others have specific
duties, such as caring for families of
soldiers keeping track of aliens sus-
pected of being undesirable or worse
or lnculcating the spirit of sacrifice
which must show before long. Tho
local body's scope will be defined at
the meeting to be held on Saturday
night next to organize permanently.
There Will be place for it in the
community even If its members are
not called upon to do anything more
serious than attending drills and
learning use of rifles ana revolvers.
Announcement of the adjutant
general of New York that the aero
companies of the Empire State Ma
tional Guard has been disbanded be-
In the federal service will be heard
with interest by quite few people in
pennsylvania who were much stirred
up because the national and state
authorities declined to embark on
organization of such arms of the
service. When the suggestion was
made that PENNSYLVANIA either or
ganize or recognize aero companies
for the National Guard there was
quite q movement. Adjutant Gen
!, eral Stewart, however, declined to
issue orders making such organiZa-
tions "a part of the Guard. He was
roasted" for it in several cities, but
the federal government not having
sanctioned such organizations, he de-
clined to act. In New York they
went ahead and the companies were
formed. Even this did not move the
Pennsylvania adjutaht general, who
declared that aero work was a mat
ter which was of such importance
that it should be under the federal
, government. The War Department.
which had been considering aero
units, did not act, either. The Ma
tiona1 Guards were called into border
service and machine gun companies
were organized when the War De-
partment ordered them. SO were
motor truck units. But the militia
aero units remained at home. The
, other day the War Department an
J nounced that aero units were not
desired. The inside is that the Gro
service is to be exclusively federal
affair. just as is control of wireless
, telegraphy.
Harrie A. Douglass, the moving
= spirit in the Harrisburg Rifle Club,
says that the interest taken in rifle
} practice has jumped amazingly in
1,n 1ac fny NrnOp NC To- vic -Ittfse
. ganization is an integral part of the
organized rife clubs of the state,
. which number thousands of men,
bers, and men who knew little about
guns a year ago are now working as
often as possible with high-powered
guns and becoming proficient with
them.
Captain II. NJ. Stine. who has been
active in the establishment of the
volunteer reserve organization for
home defense, has been identified
with military organizations in this
city for over thirty years He served
in, the old City Grays in the days
when they wore bearskin shakos.
gray swallow-tail coats and white
pants" and was a lieutenant in Com
pany of the Fourth Regiment which
went to Porto Rico.
Harrisburg people who recall the
late ex-State Treasurer B. j. Hay
wood will be interested to know that
memorial to him was dedicated al
West MiddleseX Cemetery, in Mercer
county, on Saturday. 1t consists OF
a gateway and fountain. which were
presented by his widow, who is a
frequent visitor to Harrisburg, where
she has many friends:
The example, of the State author
tiles in Illuminating the flag on tht
central building of the Capitol inn
mediately beneath the dome ha:
been followed by half a dozen enter
prising firms about the city. The
flags are bathed in the strong light
from high-powered lamps set in re-
Electors and are to be seen for blocks
Visitors to the city during the las
week remarked upon tho substantial
manner in which Harrisburg wa!
showing its patriotism by night a.
hxy