The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-10
STATUS OF NATIONAL GUARD.
f 81
No Policy Yet Adopted by the Federal
Government.


The reorganization of National Guard
units at the present time on much
smaller scale than that in effect before
the war is not to be considered as a
move by the militia bureau of the war
department to modify the plans of mill
tia organization, according to officers OF
the general staff. The militia bureau is
seriously handicapped by lack of funds
and until the beginning of the next fiscal
year units of state troops can be organ
lied only in locating where state officials
deem it particularly advisable. Owing
to the belief on the part of the congres
sional military committee at the time
of the enactment of the last army appro.
priation act that the war would last
through the present fiscal year, only
meager militia appropriation was made
for this period. Thus when the 65th
Congress failed to enact military ap.
preparation bill for the fiscal year 1920
which would have provided approximate
ly $6,000,000 for the National Quad, ia
be available at once, the militia bureau
was left with only 100000 with which
to finish the current year and reorganize
National Guard units from troops dis.
charged from the federal service
In addition to the S6,000,000 which
would have been available for reconsti-
tuting the National Guard clause OF
the appropriation bill would have al.
lowed the army to turn over to the state
forces whatever surplus equipment the
0oyarnt mt bad On 10 nd ,pb;cb Gould hs
used in Quitting the National Guard
Without this specific sanction by Con.
gress the states cannot even recover the
uniforms which militia bureau money
purchased for the state troops, and which
| were automatically lost to the National
| Guard when the troops were drafted into
| federal service.
Facing this condition of affairs, the
militia bureau found il necessary &c
form as many guard units as practicable
and as many as it was possible to equip
with existing appropriations. An estimate
was then made with view to determin
ing what proportion of the available
| funds should be allowed to each state
and it was then that pro rata appor.
| tionment of troops was allowed to each
/ slhhts III dilHolILiuE LHt
of new units the bureau followed the
principle that public interest demanded
that there be a fair apportionment to
each of the states and territories based
upon congressional representation. When
this plan was established letter to the
adjutants general of the several states
informed them the number of troops al.
| lowed their states They were asked il
their immediate needs were so urgent as
TO make the organization of these units
imperative. In all cases where the reply
was in the affirmative, authorization was
Immediately given for the formation Of
National Guard regiments according ia
the table previously prepared. In few
cases, however, state adjutants general
replied that local constabulary forces
were sufficiently well organized and
equipped to render federal aid unneces.
sary until additional funds became avail,
able.
The militia bureau has been asked many
times since the return OF National Guard
regiments from France to recognize gen
eral officers at their National Guard
rank, but in each case has been com
PEELED to cite the ruling to the effect
that their National Guard rank has beer
vacated by their accepting commission.
| in the army of the United States, and
that they cannot be recognized as gen.
eral officers Of the guard until Their
states have sufficient number OF troops
to warrant the appointment of a genera
officer. While cognizant of TIE seeming
hardship to Maj. Gen. John T. Organ Of
New York, and other general officers who
commanded guard units in France and
who ROW find themselves appointed by
the states as guard commanders without
divisions or brigades to command, the
militia bureau can only point to the law
which specifies the apportionment of of