Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-10
WAR VETERANS


In other cities and in some states
new National Guards were organized
to take the place of those mustered
into the Federal service. This oc-
CURED only in a few states. however.
, The state that raised the biggest and
most efficient new Guard was Texas.
! Three full brigades were organized in
that state under the able supervision
OF Governor Hobby and Adjutants
General Harley and Cope. These
troops compared favorably with any
National Guard organizations. They
were adequately armed, uniformed,
and equipped. Their officers went to
school and the three new brigades
were on the point of being mustered
into the Federal Service and probably
would within a short time have been
sent to France had not THE Armistice
interviewed. These brigades were af-
| forwards turned into a cavalry di-
vision. Texas is now the only state
with full division of National Guard
F., cavalry. 1t is reported this Texas
I Cavalry Division is one of the best
/ National Guard organizations ever
| formed, thanks to Governor Hobby
and Adjutant General Cope, who sue
ceeded Adjutant General Harley some
time ago.
J New York. Wisconsin. Illinois, and
Pennsylvania are the only states that
now have anywhere near the National
in Texas.
| At this writing the organized
strength of the New National Guard
only numbers about s., 900 officers and
/ men. The authorized strength at pres
ent is 10000.
| The old National Guard, as Guard,
ceased to exist when the American
troops were mustered out after>war
ended. The War Department. there
fore, at the beginning of the ARMS
tice, was faced with the problem OF
building up a: complete new National
Guard. 1t has been a difficult job.
| Always among the veterans of any
! war there is an indifference not to
say hostility, to peace time service in
the National Guard. The present is
no exception to the rule. AS practi-
cally every young man in the United
States was either in the service dur
+. ing the war or registered for service,
these men now feel no desire to con-
meet themselves with a new National
Guard. That is the principal reason
, why recruiting the new National
Guard has proved so difficult to the
| War Department. There are other
reasons too numerous to mention in
| this article that will be discussed at a
later date, as to why there is great
difficulty at this time in organizing a
new National Guard. ~-e
As it seems certain that Congress
at this session, or in fact at any ses-
sion, because, principally, such a sys-
tenn would cost $1,000. 100000 annually
many senators and representatives are
anxious that a big National Guard be
secured as soon as possible. Many
members of Congress, in lieu Of uni
versal military training system, be-
lieve that the only safety of the coun-
try lies in a strong National Guard
Many would like to see the new Ma.
tional Guard number at least 1000, 0Ot
oA4ANCAS eAl0 srbiCA. "A ldI &c nSSQldf
Army is out of the question because O,
the immense cost, so that the only
remedy for real and strong national
defense system. failing universal
military. training, undoubtedly lies il
a big National Guard.
tits Of course out of the question fol-
the United States to maintain a Regu.
lar Army of 100000 men, because il
would cost too much. At least LOCO, 00t
trained men are needed to assure the
safety from invasion of the United
States in the next war, according tc
members of the military committees
of the House and Senate, and of off.
lcials at the War Department. The
only way to have such a force is te
! organize a National Guard of that
size.
In the Harding Administration, with
certain changes that will certainly
be made in officers and officials at the
War Department, a great effort will
be made to quickly build up a new and
a big National Guard that will be a
Icredit to this Republic.
The National Guard deserves we'll OF
the country and the people for il
made a glorious record in France
Every young man who patriotically
desires to prepare himself to fight fol
his country in event of another wal
should join the new National Guard
and at least learn the rudiments OF
soldering, declare members of Con-
gress' who are investigating the status
of the guard.