Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-31
NATIONAL GUARD
TO Be ORGANIZED
Governor Townsend Entertains
Officers at Dinner and Is As
sured of Cooperation.

SUICO "a NOkS~A 0eASsAs
A determination to reorganise tn
National Guard OF Delaware, rs soon
m effective phan can be worked out, VIA
reached at conference Governor Town
send had last night with former officer
of Delaware troops in the war, the oh
National Guard and the present Nationa
Guard The officers were the governor
CHESTS at a dinner in the clubroom Mt tn
Hotel du Point, IS being present and com
ing from all parts of the State.
After the matter had been discussed
at some length Lieutenant Colonel J
Austin Ellison made a suggestion tina
Governor Townsend appoint committc'
TO work with the acknowledgement ir
sounding public sentiment Throughout
the State and work out plan. Per
sonally he favored an artillery regiment
as he thought it would be impossible tt
form an infantry regiment. The gov
ernor agreed to appoint committees fol-
the several communities to ascertain Tho
sentiment and with Adjutant General
Wickersham. work out plan to reor.
ganize the National Guard. The gov
ernor said also that he would do anything
in his power to promote this reorganiza-
tion and he felt sure that the fund,
necessary would be forthcoming. The
committees will be announced IN very
short time, SO that they can go to work
without delay.
Governor Townsend, in opening the
meeting. e.logined the Delaware National
Guard and State troops in war and III
peace. General Scott, he said, told him
NJ, Camp Dix that the Delaware regi-
msnt had set the others an example for
the manner in which things were done.
"Shali VIC organize the g'nrd?" he
sskcd, eff so, what shall be the units
and when shall it be done?'
Capt. Joseph c. Lawson asked for
infor1natsuo - to the governments
idea.
Gen. Wrkersham said the government
has allotted Delaware four companies OF
infantry and two of coast ARTILLERY
with the proper officers. In the event OF
war the four compnnies-a battalion
would be attached to some other unit.
Delaware is in National Guard district
with New JERSEY, Maryland, District of
Columbia and Virginia. The government
Is anxious to have the guard reorganized
and prepared for Federal inspection, so
that 1t can have Federal recognition. The
government act provides for pay. Pay
ranges from $500 for captains OF higher
grades of down. Forty-eight meetings n
year are required, with at least so per
cent of officers and men present Each
company is to have 100 men each,
though the governor Is making an effort
10 have the number reduced TO 90 to the
company of infantry. Before a man Is
enlisted he must pass physical examina-
-. i i,.E nIn etc nd
An officer who has been In the army
can be reappointed and can waive mental
examination, but must undergo physical
examination each year.
Governor Townsend said he had taken
up with some Western governors the
matter of reducing companies to IS men,
but so far the reduction had not been
made by the Secretary of War.
Gen. Wickersham paid tribute to the
National Guard, which not only did
wonders in the war, but has served to
keep I'D the military spirit. He pointed
out the necessity for having an efficient
National Guard, for necessity may
occur st any time.
Co J. Warner Reed ssid the organize
ton specified would not have the appeal
TO the men of single unit, such as Sd
engineer regiment would.
Gen. Wickersham sand an engineer
company is provided for, with band,
officers, medical detachment, and so on,
approximately CTS men.
Col Reed thought unit OF this kind
would appeal more to the rank and file
than one under two heads.
Gen. Wickersham said so far a. he
knew, none of the States was consulted
as to its allotment, though some hsd
succeeded III having theirs changed.
Col. ]. Austin Ellison thought the
State should insist ON having unit for
It's guard When an organization Is broken
I'D the best results are not obtaInable.
He spoke of what he considered the
reprettable experience of the Delaware
regiment at Admission. The guardsmen,
he said feel that the National Guard got
q poor deal In the war.
January l, Governor Townsend said,
there were 20 States that ad not organized
q National Guard
Col. Ellison said if the compulsory
military bill goes through Congress he be-
heves IT viii be very hard to keep up the
National Guard. Personally he thought
there should be compulsory military
training. This WAS demonstrated IN the
Mexican border trouble. Every man should
be compelled to shoulder his share Of the
for the defence of the coun-
try. 1t would be well TO have compulsory
military training In the National Guard.
He believed Delaware should have we'll
National Guard.
Major A S. Hirzel believed any system
that will allow any person to elect the
form IN which they manifest their patriot
ism is wrong. He believed the guard could
not be successfully organized through
voluntary enlistrnents. He favored
complete unit with officers who could
zive ii their undivided attention.
Lieut.. William T. Turner, commander
Of the American Legion post, told of the
experience of two battal-
ons, which demonstrated the necessity
Tor unit. It might have TO be small
unit, but it would be better, with this
plan, be thought, IS per cent of the
former guardsmen would re-enlist. He
the 59th Pioneers, pointing
put the credit they had been tothe state,
With proper effort Delaware can have any
Guard it might desire.
Major NJ. j. Samuel said he was OPP
posed to the formation of battalions IN
Delaware, 81 think if we play politics"
ne said, I'VE can get regiment Ia Della
ware, There must be some inducements
o get any guard, and the first indorse-
nent is a unit. He believed there should
re law requiring attendance to duty. |
The men who have been In war service are
rot likely to voluntarily go back into |
he guard without inducement.
Governor Townsend asked If the COM |
oanies are reduced to 90 men and there is |
4 unit of six companies, could such a
init be organized.