The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-28
MINIMUM FORCE.
10000 IN PEACE
TIMES ADVOCATED
Committee Makes Careful
Study of American Defense
SyStem--ReportS to Sec
rotary Weeks

minimum peace-time strength of
100000 men for the national guard
was recommended today in report
of a committee of national guard
and general staff officers who have
been studying the problem for more
than a year. The plan outlined by
the committee was based on an eff
ficient organization of Is infantry
and four cavalry divisions, and
would mean a reduction from the
present authorized paper strength
of the national guard, which is
4S5,ooo men.
In addition to the infantry and
cavalry divisions, the guard, under
the plan submitted, would consist of
100 companies of harbor defense
troops, ~ infantry regiments to be
allotted and other units necessary
to a well balanced force, such as
tanks, anti-air forces and artillery
units.
Reorganization Sound
The committee recommended that
the strength of the guard be ap-
portioned among the states in pro-
portion to the number of members
of the House of Representatives and
that provision should be made to
maintain all organizations heretofore
recognized, and for the completion of
organizations in process of forma-
tion.
War department plans for organi-
cation of the guard under the mill
tary bureau were approved by the
committee as sound in principle"
and proceeding satisfactorily, sub
ject to the limitations imposed" by
the funds appropriated.
Sound principles of organization
and plans for the employment of the
national guard on mobilization in
the event of national emergency"
said the report. Demand that what
ever strength is maintained be or
ganized and developed into a homo
geneous. we'll balanced and effective
force, to the end that upon mobiliza-
ton it may be employed as such
without reorganization or changes in
character of units.
Duty of Bureau
Execution of the program, includ-
ing adjustments with the various
states. would be the duty of the
militia bureau under the recommen-
dations of the committee which re-
ported that amendment of the basic
law to accomplish the purposes de-
sired would not be necessary.
In converting the committee more
than year ago, Secretary Weeks
said suggestions had been made by
national guard sources that the ulti-
mate strength of the organization
should be 100000. Under the present
law" he said, "a strength of 500
men is allotted each state for each
of its senators and congressman. AS
q result such states as Delaware and
Nevada will be forced to have a
larger guard in proportion to popu-
lations than such states as New York
and Pennsylvania.
Secretary Weeks said the purpose
of the investigation would be to
search for plan under which the
guard could be organized along sane
and sound lines. The strength of
the guard at the time the commit
tee began it's work was approx
mately 100000 men.
Minimum Possible
In reporting today, the committee
said the strength of 100000 was the
minimum that could be considered to
make the national guard accomplish
it's mission in the national defense
and that it should be built to the
strength indicated as soon as "ossi-
BILE, land certainly not later than
June so, 1926" The following table
indica ties how the troops would be
distributed under the plan.
Alabama, 1856; Arizona, 2.045; Ar
kansas. 1929; California. 9,169; Colo
RADIO, 1924; Connecticut. 5,291; Della
ware, $50; District of Columbia.
2.219; Florida, 2.O7s; Georgia. S,372;
Hawaii, 2,714; Idaho. 1879; Illinois,
1906; Indiana, 5!933; Iowa, 5.745;
Kansas, 4,19S; Kentucky. 3.941:
Louisiana. 2,747; Maine. 3,7s2; Mary
land. 1885, Massachusetts,, 1905;
Michigan, $685.; Minnesota. 1913;
Mississippi. 2.761; Missouri, 5000;
Montana. 1,776; Nebraska. 1888; Ne
vada, 400; New Hampshire, 1901;
New Jersey, 7,1O6; New Mexico.
1905; New York, 25,3s0; North Caro-
lima. 1851; North Dakota, 2,077;
Ohio, 11,4S0: Oklahoma. 6.406; Ore
gon. 3.126; Pennsylvania, 14,419;
Porto Rico, 1918; Rhode Island,
2,93s; South Carolina, 2.55s; South
Dakota, 2169; Tennessee, 2.s45;
Texas, 1891; Utah, 1900; Vermont,
2,526; Virginia, 5,194; Washington
$3.50; West Virginia, 1881; Wiscon-
sin, 9.693; Wyoming, 1890.
Three regiments, less one battalion
Ito Massachusetts, for special allot-