New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Jersey Guard
Fight May Go
To Legislature
Wide Inquiry Will BE De-
naanded to Fix Blame for
Disruption of Forces Over
Election of Commander
Enlisted Men May Quit
Governor, Charged With Aid
ing in Defeating Buttle,
Veterans Choice, Is Silent
From a stao Correspondent

TRENTON, Jan. 29.--With the Ma
sional Guard of New Jersey in such
aemoralized condition that complete
disruption of the states military forces
Is threatened, Governor Edwards, Adju-
sant General Gilkyson and Brigadier
General Howard S. Borden, the storm
.enter of the squabble, are looking
about for some means of adjusting the
difficulties.
The next development in the cor
troversy is expected to be demand for
a legislative inquiry into the entire ad-
ministration of the National Guard of
New Jersey with a view toward deter
mining upon whom the responsibility
rests for the development of situation
which has deprived the Guard os the
services of some of its most experienced
and capable officers and has shattered
the morale of the enlisted men.
The feeling of dissatisfaction with
the admin stration of the Guard is par
sicularly manifest among members Of
the Legislature from south Jersey, but
Is by no means confined to this section
In the last few days the question of the
ton of the trouble has been extensively
discussed among the lawmakers, and it
is probable that the proposition will
develop definitely on Monday. when the
legislative session will be resumed.
AS the matter now stands, the Sd
Regiment, which saw active service in
France, has only one officer, Major
John Leonard, of Elizabeth, all the
others having followed the example of
the regimentai commander Colonel
Winfield S. Price, in resigning as a
Borden, millionaire woolen manufac-
turer and sportsman, over Lieutenant
: COLONEL George NJ. Buttle, of Arlington,
who served in France and who was fav-
ored by World War veterans for pro-
motion to command the brigade.
Both Governor Edwards, who is
charged with having brought his in
huenee to bear in order to obtain the
defeat of Buttle, and General Borden
have remained absolutely silent since
the beginning of the controversy.
The situation now has reached such
an acute stage, however, that some ac-
tion is imperative if the complete dis
organization of the National Guard is
to be forestalled. The fear is enter
tanned that the enlisted men of the Sd
Regiment, virtually all OF whom are
N complete sympathy with their officers,
Will also sever their connections with
the Guard. In fact, some have already
lone so.
Two Guard Officers Quit
ASBURY PARK, N. j., Jan. 29.-The
designations of First Lieutenant
George Y. Henderson and Second Lieu
tenant William s. Taggart of Company
a, National Guard, are in the hands Of
Captain George E. Jamlson, and the
company commander will. it is under
stood. present his resignation with the
ethers when he visits Adjutant Gen
eral Frederick Y. Gilkyson at Trenton
tomorrow.
I'm consequence of absolute disap-
proval of the election and appointment
of an inexperienced man as brigadier
general in the New Jersey National
Guard" is the reason given by the two
officers of the Asbury Park company
for rendering their designations from
the organization.