Evening star., 1919-03-09
Army and Navy News


After the shock of the failure of
Congress TO pass the Army appro-
priation bill, the War Department ap-
pears to have adopted somewhat the
same attitude toward the National
Guard as to the Regular Army; and
that is, that for the next few months
it must serve as a stopgap and that
little will be accomplishe until Con-
gress takes action. It's position seems
to be that the next few months Will
fix the policy of the government with
regard to it's armed forces. Iheh
will be time enough to do something
about the National Guard.
The failure of the Army appropria-
ton bill, which contained the pro-
visions for the National Guard, holds
up the liberal support that Congress
intended to give it. 1t makes no
change in the enlistment period IN
favor of the veterans of the European
war, and in unvarnished language
raises hob with all the plans for the
reincarnation of the National Guard.
X X
1t will not, however, end all re-
cruiting and need not prevent the re-
or ganiza
Failure of Congress .tioh or
Hits National Guard. ments.
where they are needed for general
policing of the states. 1t was at frst
In
the national defense act it would be
impossible for any state to recruit IT'S
guard up to the required strength OF
$50 men for each of the states rep
resentatiyes in Congress. This is
quite true; but study of the act
shows that the President has the
power to waive the maintenance OF
the units at full strength; anu IL Is
quite certain that IN this emergency
he Will in proper case not hesitate
to exercise his authority.
1t is understood that the staf now
is considering a plan for the reltet
of those states where a militia force
Is an immediate necessity, and that
the bureau will as soon as this plan
is matured present it to the govern
diately available to meet probaofe
expenses for the guard UP to the END
of the fiscal year-June 30.
Some of the states have failed to
secure the required state legislation
to entitle them to participation IN
the federal fund; and this fact will
have a tendency to give greater op-
portunity to the states which are
entitled to participate. The view OF
congressman, whether given privately
or on the floor of the House or Senate,
seems to be that the federal govern
n1ent will look after the interests of
the guard; and they are expressing
regret that the failure of the ap-
preparation bill should prove source
of embarrassment to the state or
ganiza tions. They unite, without
regard to political party, in saying
that it is only matter of few
months delay before they will be able
to enact into a law those provisions
which all wanted to see become
effective for the guard.
A question that is OF interest TO
the guard in common with thousands
of other troops who had to fight is
the treatment awarded to the con-
scientious objectors. 1t is now re-
ported of them, and the report is
under investigation, that some OF
those worthy gentlemen, who for con-
science sake would have nothing to
do with fghting, have received their
discharge of the real soldiers coming
pay and allowances, 1t is further
reported that in some of the camps
these discharged and paid ex-con-
scientious objectors have been re-
turned to camp and engaged at three
times the pay of a private to do
cIerica work in connection with the
discharge of the rea soldiers coming
back from France, These and several
similar propositions will receive the
due attention OF the returning MEM
bers OF the National Guard.
MAJ. Gen. John A Lejeune, COM
mandiny the I'd Division, United States