Evening star., 1925-03-05
WEEKS COMMENDS
NATIONAL GUARD
War Secretary Tells State
Officials of Value in Ma
tionaI Defense.

Declaring that the trained citizen
soldier is the bulwark of national de-
Tense. Secretary Weeks of the War
Department, addressing a meeting in
the Munitions Building of the the Ma
tional Guard Adjutants General of the
several States this afternoon, said
that the provision of militia was a
democratic method of maintaining g
armed forces for the protection of
free peoples.
The national problem in time of
war" he said, lis to have trained
troops ready to take up the burden of
the conflict. The National Guard has
always helped toward this end. By
maintaining the National Guard the
separate States of the Union have
maintained and kept in training local
organizations ready for the call of the
Federal Government I have spoken
Of the militia. and il is possible you
may misundertand my meaning. In
fact, ! believe that one OF the chief
reasons for the unfortunate rivalry
and mutual suspicion between the
Guard and Regulars that existed
prior to the World War and has now
happily disa sappeared-indeed,I believe
that the chief reason for this rivalry
was due to the fact that when Gen.
tary Policy of the inefficiency of the
militia, his use of the word militia
was misunderstood. BY militia he
meant unframed and unorganized
troops. Upton paid full tribute to
the organized units. the trained per-
Sonnel and the heroic service of the
National Guardsmen. Yet simply be-
cause the National Guard has been
spoken of as militia his criticisms
have been mistakenly understood and
repeated as if they were criticisms of
the National Guard.
1t is very essential that we should
realize the distinction. The militia in
cludes all ablebodied citizens be-
tween Is and As years of age. The
National Guard is not the militia. 1t
Is only a part of the militia. 1t in
cludes only organized and trained
citizens, ready and capable of i'm
mediate service. The National Guard
has fulfilled, to a great extent, the
requirement of a free people that
they be organized and disciplined for
their own defense. 1t has always
worked to provide, so far as its cir
cumstances would permit, that well
regulated militia which our Consti-
tuition SAYS is essential to the Sc
curity of "A free state"
Point Need of Law Revision,
Need for revision of the national
defNse act so that the National
Guard of the country could be de-
Veloped with some definite goal in
view was pointed to by other speakers
II the conference.
Maj. Gen. Richards, chief of the
Militia Bureau and a militia officer
from the Pennsylvania National
Guard. whose term of duty with the
War Department expires shortly. dis
cussed some of the problems which
the Guard has been facing, and
pointed out how it's development had
priations. Col. Z. J. Williams, execu-
tive officer of the Militia Bureau, also
stressed the need of definitely de-
termining what the strength of the
national Guard should be, so that all
could work with that end in view.
AFTER commencing the State militia
ofncers for their accomplishment in
bringing the National Guard to its
present high state of efficiency, Gen.
Richards said:
No one regrets more that the Mill
tia Bureau the necessity for curtail-
ing the growth of the National Guard
at the time when every element ex-
cept that of finance was in harmony
with our plans. And yet this situa-
tton was not wholly unanticipated as
you who have read the statement of
the chief of the Militia Bureau made
before the appropria tions committee
OF Congress last Fall know"
Cails Appropriations UnbusipessIfke
Gen. Richards said that he did NOT
oelleVe that the National Guard an
preparations were controlled on sound
business principles, and he had en-
oeaVored since becoming chief of the
bureau to have it changed He de-
lalleo the various divisions of the
appropriation, and said the money
should be appropriated in the lump
sum and that those directing the des
tlhles or the National Guard should
De allowed to spend fhe money in
such way as in their judgment
would result in the greatest good to
the country.
He said he had no doubt of the
ability of the National Guard to re-
spond promptly and efficiently to any
ca that was made upon it.
Gen. Richards said that the COM
pact between the Federal Government
ana the States to create a defensive
force is somewhat of A one-sided
partnership.
Is the Federal Government doing
100 much when it subscribes $40. 900
600 or S40,000.000 to this proiect ?"
asked Gen. Richards. I'm nv candi6
opinion. l believe not, but If it were
doubled it would still be a light cost
Tor the insurance it secures. To
maintain a National Guard of 500 600
and a proper National Guard reserve
that would insure war strength units
should the emergency arise, will. in
my estimate cost S50,00O,OOO per
year. The Nation spends more than
this each year for questionable prof
ectS, memorials of no great national
moment. and others with which Won
are as familiar as J."
Col. Williams said the goals sAt
by the national defense act had never
been achieved because Of lack Of an
propriations. The provisions in that
act. he said, are founded on too grand
scale and there is great need at
this time of revamping this law and
definitely deciding what the country
is going to do with regard to its
National Guard. To this end he sua
gested that a survey should be made
by those responsible for the policies
and a definite decision reached as to
what would be the maximum strength
OF the organized militia
Inc conference will last five days.