New-York tribune., 1918-12-25
Identity Lost
By FederaiiS6d
National Guard
Continued from page 1

stituted, recruited to the necessary
strength and again presented to the
Federal government for recognition
before it can take a place IN the Fed
eralized National Guard.
Another elememnt of uncertainty in
the guard situation, it was SAID to-day,
is the question of the extent to which
divisions which saw service in France
have been diluted by replacements from
Nationarl Army troops. Regiments
like some of the New York or New Eng
land units in divisions which took part
in the fighting almost from the first,
officers said, now probably contain less
than so per cent of their original per-
sonnel. Losses were made good with
men from various parts of the country
who have no National Guard statds
whatever Officers were assigned from
training camps at home OR abroad, and
the returning divisions or regiments,
while being the inheritors Of the ira
ditions of the old National Guard which
composed them. and which, having a
favoring of the officers and men in
their ranks who came from the old
state service, probably will bear very
little resemblance to the units that en-
trained for camp after the guard was
drafted in July, 1917.
Baker Approves Reenlistment
Mr. Baker said he expected hat
! state authorities generally would not
attempt to reconstitute any of the old
regiments of National Guard until af-
ter the divisions into which they had
been merged return from France. 1t
would seem desirable, he thought that
men to be discharged from those d
visions be given chance to reenlst
in the Guard. This would enable, he
said, the reconstructed regiments to
| be in fact as we'll as in name a con-
tinuation of the old organizations, with
every right to carry the names of the
historic battles in France-of Chateau
( Thierry, the Second Marne, the Ourcq
the Vesle, st. Mihel the Argonne For
est, Sedan, Cote Chatilion and other
places the divisions mare famous-on
their banners.
ALBANY, Dec 24-New York State
authorities will hold out every induce
ment to their former National Guards
men, who are in Federal service, to re-
Lieutenant Colonel Westcott, acting
adjutant general of the State Guard
said today.
Urges Federal Recognition.
He made the announcement upon be
ing informed of the ruling of the
Judge Advocate Generals Department.
that former guardsmen viii revert 10
civilian status when discharged from
Federal service. He also said that
every effort would be made to have the
State Guard recognized by Federal
authorities as the National Guard was
before it was actually Federalized
New York's National Guardsmen,
who were sworn into the Federal SER
ice August 5, 1917, numbered approx
mately $4,000. About thirty thousand
comprised the twenty-seventh overseas
division, in command of Major General
John F. O'Ryan, the only National
Guard officer to retain such a high
rating The remainder were scattered
among other detachments. The 9th
was completely equipped and comprised
all branches OF the service 1t par
ticipatcd in some of the heavy fight
ing with British troops just prior to
the signing of the armistce. Its casu-
alties were heavy. However, it was
specially commended by high British
and French military authorities and
many of its officers and members we're
cited.
The State Guard, which replaced the
National Guard when it was federal
lied, now numbers about $4,000 men.