Evening star., 1919-02-23
Army and Navy News

tion by state authorities for the re-
construction of their militia organiza-
ton. Although Gen. Carter would not
admit it, it is believed that the War
Department realizes that at the pres
ent time and in the pending circum-
| stances 1t ought not to go so far as to
encourage the states to rebuild the
guard to its pre-war strength. Such a
course might handicap the adniniStra-
tion in any effort to fix stable mill
tary policy If the militia is fully re-
organized before the government has
adopted a definite plan for army or
ganization The government must
, adopt some plan for a National Army
whether that force be for the defense
of the nation or for the maintenance
of a league of nations.
Gen. Carter SAYS that whatever policy
Congress and the administration decide
upon will have the support OF the militia
bureau to its utmost capacity. that
while the bureau is waiting for Congress
to act 1t is gathering data and working
out plans, based upon military prinCi-
pies and the needs of the several states,
for the reorganization of the Guard.
When the time comes the bureau will
be ready to act Immediately.
Reports from some of the states are
that il is doubtful that they will at
tempt to create new Guard troops for
some time; but reports from others are
that they intend to proceed vigorously
with the rebuilding of their former or
ganizations. If the bills now pending
become the law so that the minimum of
200 guardsmen for each congressman
will entit!e the unit to federal pay and
maintenance, the militia bureau will
promptly authorize the creation of such
forces in any state starting such organi-
cations,
Another reason for avoiding haste in
the reorganization OF the Guard is found
in the fact that the fighting men of the
militia, with very few exceptions. are
! in Europe; and they should be here and
have opportunity to be heard before a
! final plan of reorganization is adopted
Many of these units have long tradi
tions and an excellent spirit; their Off
GERS and men have had invaiuab Bile cam
paign experience. and governors should
make every effort to have them become
substantial part of the militia. For
this reason the Calder bill. which pro-
vides for such men a one-year enlist
ment, is entitled to favora BILE considera-
ton, since many of these men would
! gladly re-enlist for d year where the
old six-year period would deter them.
The War Department has directed
that. on the demo bilization of units
originally national guard troops,
funds to the amount of those held by
the unit before draft into federal
service shall be held by the Director
of Finance, who shall turn them over
!
credited representatives of such unit.
| If there are no succeeding units. the
{, Director of Finance will be en-
| powered to turn funds of each such
| unit to the duly accredited represent
atives of veteran associations of the
original units.
The Controller of the Treasury has
held, on appeal, that an officer of the
! guard drafted into federal service
and accepting his discharge to take
| command of state organization
which is not drafted into the federal
service. cannot be paid out of any
| appropriation for troops in the federal
service.
| Perhaps the most difficult problem
resulting from the war to be solved
| by the War Department is the dis
posal of the enormous stock of ma
terial on hand. 1t is recognized tha'
| the government, which bought for tht
emergency under conditions whert
| time of delivery outweighed price o.
purchase, must be prepared to take {
loss; but that is the easy part of tbs
problem. The government must dis
pose of it's huge surplus in such {
way as will do least harm to any o.
the national industries, and there /:
where the real trouble begins.
| The government fixed the prices
and it is taking in the way of wa