The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-28
LACK Of FUNDS IS
PUTTING NATIONAL
GUARD FAR BEHIND
General Richards Says Guard
Has Support of the Peo-
Pile, But Money Is
Necessary

Washington, January 27.-Lack of
funds has thrown the national guard
''one year behind in the development
required by Congress itself" Mai.
Gen. George c. Richards, chief of the
militia bureau, declared today in his
annual report.
This retardation will be continued
during the fiscal year, 1923, as insult
ficient funds were provided for that
PERIOD" General Richards added.
This is regretable in view of the
country wide acceptance of the ma
tional guard idea by the American
citizenship. Even in the present in
complete state of the national guard
development, there are now more
than 1900 company units or the
equivalent thereof being maintained
in 1850 towns and cities throughout
the country. These local organiza-
lions range in size from a single
group of so men in a village to a
national guard garrison of 1900 in
New York city and Brooklyn.
THE national guard has the sup
pert of the American people. To COM
plete its organization is simply a
matter of money"
General Richards said the militia
bureau looked forward to early COM
pletion CT mot less than five infan-
try divisions and one cavalry divi-
sion in addition to the two infantry
divisions already federally organ
lied" The Twenty-seventh New
York; division is federally reeog
nized throughout, he said, while the
Twenty eighth (Pennsylvania) dvi-
sion is complete except for the air
service" The other 16 divisions Of
the Eighteenth infantry division
plan range from SO per cent complete
in the Thirty seventh (Ohio) to 40
per cent in the Fortieth California,
Utah and Nevada) division. The four
cavalry divisions range from 76 per
cent complete for the Twenty first
New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode
Island) to so per cent for the Twen-
ty-fourth idaho, Iowa, Kansas,
Minneapolis, North Dakota, South Da-
kota, Utah, Washington and Wyom-
ing) division.
The progress to be made during
the coming year, General Richards
said, depended upon the ability of
state authorities to furnish suitable
funds Regarding the cooperation
of the war department in national
guard development, he said:
1.-The need for harmonious coop
GRAFTON between the two services is
generally recognized, and the policy
adopted towards the national guard
by the war department will, it is be-
lieved. achieve the desired results.
The two great hindrances to a proper
and speedy development of, the ma
tional guard are lack of sufficient
funds and of regular army personnel
for duty as instructors. When these
two deficiencies shall have been cor
rected, the orderly development and
future success of that element of the
national defense will be assured"
General Richards added that after
a year as the first national guard
officer to be chief of the militia bu-
reau st is most gratifying to be able
to testify to the earnest and con-
structive cooperation of all elements
of the war department or the guard
in the defense problem"
Il am frank to say he continued
that believe even more firmly
than ever in the soundness of the
national guard idea. The United
States cannot have a we'll developed
national guard service, fully trained