Evening star., 1923-08-19
THE CIVILIAN ARMY
BY LIEUT.. STEPHEN F. TILLMAN.
Organized Reserves National Guard

listed men were gained by the air
service units of the National Guard
between the dates of June 30, 1922,
and June 80, 1923. One new observa-
ton squadron 1I1th) was recognized
during the year, while two corps OBJ
servation squadrons, included in, last
years tabulations, have been trans
ferred to a division, according to in
formation just released.
Candidates for appointment as
flying cadets, air service, who have
fulfilled all the other requirements of
elisibility-being unmarried male
citizens of the United States, between
the ages of twenty and twenty-seven
years. high school graduates or pos
sessed Of the equivalent of a high
school education, of excellent char
acteT and Of sound physique and In
eNcellent health-uniess they can pre-
sent documentary evidence of gradua-
tlon from high school within two
years Immediately preceding date Of
phySical examination or of his at
tendance at recognized college or
university within that time. must pass
an educational examination.
Efforts to obtain additional per-
Sonnel to handle the evcr-growing
volume of work devolving In the
militia bureau have not been as sue
cessful as desired. and as thought
reasonable by the head OF that branch
OF the War Department. The National
Guard is growing in size. and Con-
sreSs being willing, it will continue
until IL. nearly doubles its present
size, l0.400 officers. But the rate of
the growth Of the personnel at the
fountain head of the National Guard
anafrs has fallen away behind the
rate or increased growth of the guard
itself. Notwithstanding this situa-
ton, the commissioned and clerical
personnel of the militia bureau are
doing all that can be done to direct
the turbulent stream of papers along
IT'S proper course. and ii must be said
that those out in the field are not
helping out the situation as we'll as.
might be the case
The usual amount OF work has in
creased to such an extent that IL
lakes three or four days for Il COM
munication TO go from the receiving
desk to be recorded for the files and
be dispatched to the section which
VIII act on the paper. All sections
are so buried in work that action on
a case within a week after il reaches
the section IL good. There are only
certain number of typists available.
ana the amount Of work that can
De turned out is. definitely limited
EVERY effort is being made to handle
cases IN the order of their receipt
and the whole machinery has hem
sped up as much as possible.
Ihe present status of cases mend
ing Tor federal recognition is indica-
i've or the general situation. Some
siH nuhdred cases are pending and
an are peing handled as rapidly as
possible. In these cases are MANY
with papers very carelessly and Inn
properly prepared. This means extra
work and time that could have been
saved at the source of preparation Of
lno paper. Data required to be fur
nlShed by regulations are omitted and
search of the militia bureau records
must be made to overcome this omis-
sion and more time lost. Letters and
le!esTams pour i'll asking when so and
SO are 10 be recognized. not only from
state ad1utant generals, but from in
Structors. organization commanders
ana from the ,officers themselves
rorty-Six kilograms of inquiry were
received in one day alone in addition
TO letters, official and otherwise, ask
ing why and especially when. An
swering these inquiries takes time
that could be spent to much better ad-
vantage In getting out the cases
themselves, but both can not be done.
one has to be held in allegiance
Col. h. Francis Riggs field artillery
Oficers Reserve Corps. upon his own
request having been relieved from az
slgnment TO the S0th Division, IS re-
ileFed from assignment to the 3l4th
Field Artillery. The following named
officers having been assigned 10 the
8Oth Division. are assigned to units
thtreof. as follows: Capt Clapham
P. King. medical, Officers Reserve
Corps, to the medical personnel OF the
320th Infantry; Capt. Albert Smith,
medical. Officers Reserve Corps. TO
the 3O0th Medical Regiment and Capt,
Clay S: Cole, infantry. Officers Re-
serve Corps. to the 3l8th Infantry.
These officers are attached to the fol-
lowing units; Second Lieut.. Alfred, G.
Hewitt, infantry, Officers Reserve
Corps. to the chemical warfare sec
ton: Second Lieut.. Raymond l.. Riss-
Ter. infantry, Officers Reserve Corns
and Frederick S. Waesche, infantry.
officers Reserve Corps to the 3o0th
Infantry. Second Lieut.. Frank W,
Loeff1er. ordnance, Officers Reserve
Corps. to the 305th Ordnance Company
(naintenance).
On returning to Washington from
.l,is recent observation trip of National
Guard activities. Col. Il. J. Williams.
executive officers of the militia bu-
reau. stated that the various organiza-
ion commanders are building up their
units and all are working hard for a
more efficient guard