Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-04
Recognizing the National
Guard

@OTH as a matter Of pride and protec-
X tion the business leaders and young
- men of Atlanta should give an i'm
mediate and spirited response to the appeal
of Adjutant General ]. Van Holt Nash for
local enlistments to the Georgia National
Guard.
In the reorganization of the Guard, now
rapidly nearing completion, Atlanta stands
in danger Of having but one company, states
the Adjutant General. The War Department
allots but one regiment to the State of
Georgia, and nine companies OF this regl-
ment, including one in Atlanta, have been
filled. Thus there remain only three COM
panies to be secured for the State, and At
lanta, for it's own interest, should enlist
enough Guardsmen to complete this bat
TALON.
General Nash concisey states the situa-
ton when he says: "If some active interest
is not shown by the business men Of this
city, Atlanta will be shut out. 1 therefore
call upon the Atlanta spirit to begin active
steps at once to complete the organization
of battalion. The need for battalion in
Atlanta cannot be denied. No one can tell
when the call may come for the protection
Of life and property, and it would be re-
Election upon the city should such need
arise and. the troops of the small towns
throughout the State be ordered here to rem
der service"
This is direct and urgent appeal to the
love of their city and their State in the
hearts of Atlanta's manhood 1t would be,
indeed, reflection on Atlanta, as the Ad-
jutant General points out, should the city
be forced to seek military assistance from
it's smaller neighbors in time of peril, to say
nothing Of the lives and property that would
be placed in jeopardy by the delay that would
be necessary in procuring such assistance.
1t is not going too far to declare that the
city's very honor is at stake in this issue
Georgia has ever held her National Guard in
the highest pride and esteem. It's history
is a cherished one many of her companies
dating back to Revolutionary days. Some
of them saw active service in more than one
war; until the European war, the National
Guard was one of Georgia's most Furnishing
active and valued assets.
Atlanta, with Savannah, Augusta, Macon
and other cities, was one of the principal
strongholds of the National Guard. This
city was the only one in the State to boast
an entire regiment, the Fifth Georgia. unit
with long and honorable record. A COM
pany Of cavalry, artillery unit and COM
plete field hospital were also maintained for
many years in Atlanta.
Can 1t be said that the fine spirit and
CIVIC patriotism that gave birth to those or
CARNATIONS is now a dead thing? Surely
Atlanta has not become such a laggard in
service to her State and herself that three
battallons of infantry cannot be formed here
This is an opportunity, nay, a duty, for
some Of our worthy local organizations, al
ways so responsive to movements for the
welfare OF Atlanta, to shoulder It is as
well, responsibility for those young men
who, returning from unselfish service for
their country, had the vision of continued
unselfish service to their communities No
greater chance to help Atlanta and Georgia
could be given them at this time than to
complete the organization, of the National
Guard with an all-Atlanta battalion.