Evening star., 1918-05-26
CHANCE FOR SERVICE
INU. 5. GUARD RANKS
ORGANIZATION Meets War Need and
Eventually May Comprise
25,0oo Men.


Army for some of the men who have
been chaflng at staying at homo from
overseas duty and the firing line. The
battlefelds of Europe probably will
never see them, but the subtle often
sives of hostility within our gates
raay be met with a valor as high as
meeting the German face to face in
the region of verdun, and the United
States Guard will be ready for this
The organization is practically COM
plete now.
The United States Guard is under
the direction of Maj. Gen. Jesse Mel.
Carter, chief of the militia, with the
assistance of Col. John w. Heavey Of
the Sd Infantry. Many applications
for admission have been received by
these officers. Perhaps the most pa
thetic, because it is impossible to use
them, are the veterans of other wars
who beg to be allowed to offer up
their lives for Old Glory, instead of
sitting around, perhaps in the garb Of
soldiers, with nothing to do but yearn
for the days when Remember the
the very heart beat of their young
lives.
Native Of Scotland Applies.
One applicant. whose letter came too
late. is a native Scotchman, past the
Ealf-century mark, who came to this
country before the civil war. when a
very small boy. He has seen military
service, but has long been a prosper
Gus merchant and is now eager to
keep an eagle eye on the enemy. re-
calling the days when he led his COM
pany in the struggle for Cuban
freedom.
A little humor creens in corresnond-
ence so varied as this concerning the
United States Guards must be. One
thoroughly earnest would-be member
advises Gen. Carter that he needs men
for Uncle Sam" he adds. "to get
good soldier. 1 know could be one.
If they don't think so. l amt no
Stacker Which, after all, perhaps
isn't SO humorous as at first glance.
The United States Guard Is charac-
the Presidents proclamation. May 1S.
1917" Upon inquiry as to what the
purpose. origin and present status of
the body is. Col. Heavey said:
"At, the time of the draft Of the
the United States, over 100. 900 troops
were being utilized to guard prop
erty. Soon 1t was evident that this
would seriously interfere with the
training and brigading Of state troops
question Of providing troops as mill
tary guards was taken under con-
siGeration.
Plan Is Worked Out.
During the following October
plan to use those men having mill
tary experience and beyond the draft
seas. was thought out Voluntary en-
listments were depended upon to I'LL
the ranks while commissions were
issued upon tie recommendation of
the chief of the militia bureau. The
use Of the dress uniform was a
stumbling block. the idea Of not being
considered suitable for oversea duty
was distasteful to American man
hood, and recruiting was slow. It
became evident that the idea Of this
federal force for guard duty was un-
pleasant to those who were interested
in the old idea of state militia, and
without doubt some Of the strongest
opposition came from this source"
so diligent as others in maintaining
their own protective Institutions, and
depend on federal help to disturb
ing extent. Many soldiers. keen for
service abroad, and f1t as a fiddle for
music" in their adaptation for the
firing line and a chance at the enemy,
have been kept on duty heretofore in
districts which could as well as not
nave "Su OEkdulZcu StdlS kuhEQB xOE
the state property, at least. New
York. Massachusetts,. Connecticut,
Pennsylvania and Michigan are es-
pecially well equipped with state de-
fenses well organized and active.
Efficiency the Watchword.
at is apparent" said the interested
assisting chief of the militia bureau,
that only efficient men and officers
are to belong to this force. and that
efficiency is the watchword. The
future history of the United States
Guard now depends upon the individ-
uals making up its personnel. AZ the
necessity arises, the force may com.
prise $4,000 men. under authority of
instructions received May 9. 1918. It
Is possible that the officers and SOL
diers returning unfit for service over
seas may be transferred to this force.
AS 1T stands now. a total Of IT'S COM
missioned officers and $4,000 men
complete the United States Guard.
1T is believed that a company can
emciently protect a greater area than
an equal number of regular troops,
due to their special organization and
the transportation facilities furnished
as part Of the equipment. The or
gantzation of this force must be ex-
pedited."
And. meantime, letters are pouring
In. fairly flooding the militia bureau,
from those who want to guard the
stars and stripes. The pity of It Is
that SO few are wholly fit