The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-04-26

ornatlon or wetghty Significance
brought to Honolulu by Delegate J. X
kalanianaole indicates CLEARLY that the
administration at Washington believes
II possible that the war may even be
carried into the Pacific Ocean, as a
result of the Bolsheviki debacle and
the word that the Delegate brings is
that the war department is anticipat
ing all emergencies and is taking prep
aratory steps to meet any situation
that may arise 80 far as the Territory
of Hawaii is concerned
What the outcome may be of the
Russ'an crisis remains in doubt, but
VI t'@ y ay into the Pacific Is opened
TO "rn any, action that the war dc
part emit is now taking Is desi 2ned TO
'tnsu at the Territory will have an
ample defense.
To Expand Guard =
Yesterday Delegate Kuhio gave out
he word that it had been decided nj
hngton that the National Guard
OF Hawaii will not be called away from
the Islands, even If IT be called into
federal service. In connection with
his, a message that Delegate Kuhio
received 10 San Francisco just before
he sailed For home brought the news
that General Carter, chief Of the midi.
tia bureau at Washington, had directed
a communication to the commander of
the Hawaiian department., planning to
expand the Hawaiian National Guard
on Oahu to n strength. of more than
fve thousand men. This action fol
lows the recent executive order open.
ing the draft lists to the national
guard. ~
The present fun membership OF the
national guard is around 5000 men and
it IL accepted that the expansion plan
ned, together with other steps that
are being taken, can mean only TINT
the government is planning TO five the
territory as strong home guard. rs
The Message
The message Delegate Kuhio re
eetyed in San Francisco in, reference
to the national guard, says: Wv I.
The suggestion Is msde for an in.
fantry brigade Of at least five thou.
and msn hesides coast Gtiiiefy units /:
and further Is scggested two TO THREE
months, training zach year 1t such
time as would interfere least With ia.
dustrial work. The war DEPARTMENT.
through the adjutant general, has
yranted authority 70, enlist In the Ha-
~aiian guard men With dependents"
That the plan TO strengthen TIE home
iefenses OF the Territory and greatly
enlarge the national guard has been
'nder consideration at Washington for
come time was disclosed when the mes
age received by Delegate Kuhio in
i"n Francisco was read to Maj Henry
Merriam. U. s. A., chief of staff
If the Hawaiian department.
NEW cf PlHns
He said, that the commanding gen,
raj of the department had received
! communication from Major General
arter who had asked for an opinion
MT suggestions with reference to the
Hawaiian National Guard. although
he official communication did not fol.
wv exactly the lines of the message to
he Delegate.
Major Merriam said thnt n portion
Of the commanding generals reply
.ontained the recommendation th"t ev
'rN male citizen capable of acquiring
military knowledge or able to perform
military duty should do so to be pre-
pared for any emergency. 1t was held,
'e said. that all male residents here
should be capable of acting in a mill
arv canarity, for there may come a
time when every man here may have
to fight for his own skin.
1t was recommended also by the
commanding general Major Merriam
said, that the guard be used as a re.
serve, or to replace regulars called
away from the Islands. In the event
of the regulars being called away,
there would be a necessity, he said, for
the guard to take their places at vari
GUS posts. This would mean naturally
that the guard would have to be en-.
larged considerably to cover the field.
1t would not mean merely putting in
so many men just to Ill out, he con
t1nued, 1t would mean putting in men
qualified for service.
1t is correct" Major Merriam con
tinued, THAT the guard has been per
mitted under orders to recruit It's
strength by bringing in men with de
Dendents, and 1t has the privilege OF
taking in as many men as needed from
the draft lists.
No Date Fixed
Nothing was contained in the let
ter received as to any date when the
guard as a reserve might be called
Nor have l anything in this regard
with respect to the calling of a drift
quota.
General Carter's letter. while Of
course official, was really more in the
nature of a personal letter to the de-
partment commander and the reply
was largely in the nature of a personal
letter, giving the generals views along
the lines outlined in General Carter $
letter, and containing certain recon
mrndatiOns'
The Hawaiian National Guard, how
ever, has more or less been the sub
jert or close consideration in lncnl
army circles. The authority to recruit
the guard from the draft lists cume
suddenly. Authority to go Irtu tn,