Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-14
VIRGINIA MILITARY MEN
WANT GUARD ORGANIZED
They Declare Old Organization Cease
to Exist With MASTERING Out
of Troops.
Relative Cost to State Would BE
Slight-Fcderal Government Bears
Major Portion of ENpcnse-l'icid
Service Rules Define Status.

Acknowledgement 10 Lane Stern. his
assistant. Major Joseph lie Masurier.
and other military men of Virginia
are planning to reorEaniZe the Nir-
ginia National Guard
In the opinion OF the adjutant-Gen-
eral. Virginia having no constabulary
or state notice. reorganization of the
Virginia National Guard is the only
alternaiive II the State Is to maintnin tain
order within its borders in cases OF
emergency.
Members status Is Lost.
With the mastering on; OF these
Virginia troops. the old National
since the Virginians, which before the
war made up the National Guard. do
no; return 10 their Old status as MEM
bers OF the National Guard but auto
Under the national defense act passed
by Congress in 1915. NO State shall
maintain troops in time OF peace other
than as authorized in accordance with
the organization prescribed under this
act; Provided. That nothing conta ined
i'll this act shall be, construed as linn
ritcrieS in the use OF the National
Guard within their respective borders
in time OF peace. Provided further.
That nothing contained i'll this act shall
prevent the organization and main,e-
nance of state constabulary or police
Three Companies Organize.
Within the last three weeks. accord
ing 10 Major feMasurier, three COM
been reorsanized in the State. The
company at Charlottesville has already
been inspected. that just formed at
Petersburg vii! he ready for inspcc
zion Monday. ard the company at Roa
noke will he ready for inspection June
20. Until June 50. only, siXty-fve men
are necessary. for the formation of a
unit OF the National Guard.
Relative Expense slight.
II is pointed out by the adjutant-
general that the relative cost 20 the
state of maintaining the Virginia Ma
tional Guard is only about - per cent
ton maintenance. subsistence, and so
on tho Federal government bearing
the major portion Of the expense.
Approximately 100000 worth of
equipment. supplies and so on were
transferred 10 the Federal govern
ment by Virginia when the Virginia
National Guard units were drawn into
the regular army. This represented an
expenditure of nearly 100000 Of
Federal funds. which had been used
prior 10 the war solely for State pur-
poses.
The hesitancy of many men TO en-
list in the National Guard, according
to Major LeMasurier. is explained by
the erroneous idea existing in some
government has the power to call the
National Guardsmen into service on
the slightest provoca;ion.
When Guard May he Called.
The wording OF the field service reg
ulations of the United States Army
clarifies this matter. II says: in peace
the army of the United States consists.
ordinarily. of the regular army: but
whenever the United States is invaded
or in danger Of invasion from any
foreign nation. or OF rebellion against
the authority OF the government Of
the United States. or the President is
mand 10 execute the laws OF the Union.
he may call into the military service
OF the United States all or any part
OF the militia organized as a land