Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-26
Emphasizes Fact
National Guard
First Line TrOons

| NatlOnal Guard as outlined in The
Dick bill in 1916 and under the pro
VISIONS of the National Defense Act
I92o. was emphasized in the report
or the committee named to stud,
the question of National Guart
stfensth and organization which has
recently made it's report. The re.
polt declares that under the appro-
pflatlons authorized by Congress anC
! the several states for the Nationa
! Iiuard, that it is impossible to main.
tam the standard of organization as
| outlined in the National Defense Ac,
| ana they recommend that plans be
revised SO that it will be possible tc
rave 2oO,OtU men in the National
Guard by June, 1926, which humble,
would bring the divisional troops to
the required number but would not
care for the auxiliary army and
corps troops.
| Under the Dick bill. the various
comronents of the army were classi-
fled as follows: First, regular army;
second. volunteer army: third. regu-
lar army reserve: fourth. officers
reserve corps; fifth. enlisted reserve
corps: sixth. National Guards: sew
enth. other land forces. From this
Classification it is easily seen that
VIZ ~ ui'tl Gil Nsto " Dt uSttI III
the initial stages of war with the
National Guard in the second line OF
defense, to be maintained in such a
state of readiness for employment
by organizations and training after
the declaration of war. The author
lied strength of the Guard was the
same as today, to total 500 for each
representative and senator after 4
stated period.
Before the plans as outlined in
this bill could be worked out. the
trouble on the Mexican Border in
1916 demanded the use of practical
ly all the National Guard troops. so
that it is impossible. according to
the committee, to state what the
development of the National Guard
might have been under this bill. but
events seem to indicate that it
would have been unsuitable.
With the act of June 4. 1870. the
National Defense Act, the classified
ton of the army was changed, the
National Guard being placed next
to the regular army and included in
the first line of defense, the regular
army's duties being to garrison over
seas possessions. to provide the per
sonnet for training the National
Guard and Reserves and to serve us
model for organization. discipline
and training of the National Guard.
The Guard itself was to provide Il
force available in emergencies for
immediate employment. the report
stating that:
with reference to the National
Guard it is the policy of the War
Department to develop this compo-
nent of the army to the highest de-
gree of efficiency possible under ex-
listing law and constitutional limita-
tions. and instructions were issued
to the corps area commanders to
do all in their power to encourage
the development of the organiza-
tions. 1t is apparent that the status
of the National Guard was changed
from that provided in 1916 when it
was designated as a reserve force.
to that of first line force. trained
to insure readiness for 'D' Day"
Special plans worked out provided
for the concentration of the active
units of the regular army ana the
National Guard rs 4 covering force
on I'D" Day and the necessity for
those organizations is emphasized
when the present reduced strength
of the regular army is considered.
The report declared that proVi-
sions basing the size of the National
Guard on representation in both the
House and Senate worked a hard
ship on the smaller states and that
it would be advisable to change this
plan. basing the size OF the National
Guard on the number of representa-
tives alone. They had compiled
tables showing that with the funds
provided it was impossible to COM
ply with the provisions of the act
and recommending that the require
ments be changed so that the Guard
would number 25O0OO men in 1926.
They recommend that all organiza-
tions heretofore recognized be main
tanned and that the organization of
all units now under way be COM
pleted. The 25O,0OO men recon-
mended by them would take care OF
all divisional troops.
Under the revised table Maine
would have 25O1 divisional troops.
500 in the Coast Artillery Corps. DOL
corps trops. making total OF 2C?2.
which with about 200 officers would
make the total about 1000. At the
present time, the state has approx
mately 1900 men. At the present
time. Maine needs one battalion of
field artillery 75mm., and three COM
panies of Military Police to COM
plete her quota for the 43rd National
Guard Division.