Evening star., 1923-12-09

poeed of officers of the Regular Army.
msfnbers % the general stan of the
ir Department and officers of the
Sational Guard. who will become
temporarily members of the general
.tan .tan TOR the purpose of studying
the question of a commission for
Officers of the National Guard in
Il;e Army of the United States"
mis- committee is made up of
Ccl- John E. Woodward, adjutant
generals department; Col. Laurence
Halstead. infantry; Mai Jay l.. Bene-
a,ct, also of the infantry, Regular
9rmy. and the general staff; Brig
Gen. Milton A. Rockford. adjutant
general of Maryland and newly elect
ed president OF the National Guard
Association; Brig. Gen. Franklin w.
Ward of Pennsylvania and Col. Louis
A. Toombs of Louisiana
The committee will not only take
up the matter of the commissions
but also allied subjects that
presented to Congress. 1t is re-
garded as of great Importance by
the National Guard officers that there
be special provision for their com
mlssiontng in such form as shall
make them Immediately available for
duty in time of war. At present the
officers are commissioned by the gov
ernors of the states and this COM
mission is not effective in time of
war. commission in the reserves
Is also unsatisfactory. The subject
has been under discussion for many
months and has been the occasion of
repeated representations on the part
Of the National Guard Association,
but nothing has been accomplished in
the desired direction until within the
fast week or two. when a committee
OF the association called on the Secre
tary of War and obtained his author
tty for the creation of the special
committee of the general staff.
Int ,fr
GERS Training Corps are fulfilling
their mission with respect to the
national defense. An ever-increaSing
number OF graduates are accepting
commissions in the reserve.
OF those who graduated at the
termination of the courses during
The summer of 1923. more than 1900
Of them have approved for appoint
ment as second lieutenants. or given
certificates OF eligibility for appoint
ment when they become of age. The
reports indicate that some 800 of the
eligibles have already accepted their
In the ninety seven senior units of
The r. Q. T. G.. for 1923-1s24. was
more than $4,000. and this IS an in
more than 10000 1t is expected that
the 1924 classes will produce a large
number of candidates eligible for
commission in the reserve corps.
Changes No. from the militia bu-
reau of paragraph 926 and certain
subparagraphs of paragraph 92S of
the National Guard regulations have
been promulgated. They relate to
enlisted men for attendance at as
semblies for drill and other instruc-
tions.
The National Guard engineer serv-
ice showed an encouraging increase
in Its enrolment for the past fiscal
year. AS obtained from the militia
bureau the figures are as follows:
Strength on June, 80, 1923. 3l1 officer.
and 5.sIS enlisted men. Strength on
June 90. 1929, 266 officers and 5.l37
enlisted men. Gain of 45 officers and
676 enlisted men.
visions. the 26th. 9th. 2sth. s5th.
36th, 37th, 3Sth and the 44th show
complete organization OF their COM
bat engineer regiments. and in seven
out of the ten remaining infantry
divisions the engineer regiments are
more or less completely formed. OF
the four National Guard cavalry divi-
sions only one. the 21st can show
any federally recognized engineer
unit to date. and in this case the pre-
scribed mounted engineer battalion is
represented by the single company
organized in Pennsylvania. This |
leaves the three National Guard in ,
fantry divisions and three cavalry di- |
visions for which combat engineer units |
have yet to be formed !
There were sent to adjutants gem
eral recently copy of a proposed re- !
vision Of the regulations. Officers /
Reserve Corps tentative draft. with |
a request that 1t be examined by !
competent National Guard officers OF |
experience and that comment and |
suggestions be made on such por-
tfons as affect the National Guard. A |
request for submission of these sug-
-. ,
at the same time. The response has
not been sufficiently general nor the |
comments on the whole of such ma
ture that the militia bureau Is con-
aware of their vital interest in these
regulations.
The only way National Guard off,
GERS can function under the draft is
in the Officers Reserve Corps. No
other statement than this should be
necessary to impress on National
Guardsmen the Importance of these
sion of time has been obtained from
the Secretary of War within which |
the completed recommendations of
the militia bureau must be submitted. |
AS this additional time is short list |
&c concrete changes Of these regula- |
r1ons. based largely on recommended |
tionS already received, have been sent
out with the request that comment
ter relating to these regulations as
may be desired be submitted in time
to be received this month.
The changes proposed In the list
are only those that can be made CON-
sistent with present laws of the Con-
gress. In case certain proposed leg
islative actions are taken hereafter
many Of these proposed amendments
would be necessary. The militia bu-
reau is aware that for those adju-
tants general who did not make a
thorough examination of these regu-
lataions during the time set the time
for further examination and report
is very short. yet the limit assigned
adjutants general are to be made use
of before final recommendations of
the bureau must be submitted.
While there is nothing at the pres
may ma be taken by | the T present sent
Congress with respect to the Organ
ICED Reserve activities, 1t Is known
that further attempts will be made.
through the curtailment Of appro-
quarters that now exist.
The value of these headquarters Is
fully realized by officers. and II is
recognized that they are absolutely |
essential to the success Of the Organ
sonal contact cannot be maintained |
by the several components Of the /.
Army of the United States and inter
est would soon go to q low level. |
action Of certain group OF pacifists |
and near-pacifists who would destroy
the. national defense act ts through ]
the education OF the legislators, and /
this may be accomplished by reserve I
officers associations and Individual l
members of the Reserve Corps max I
ing Known the situation to their own |
members OF Congress and acQuaintine |