Evening star., 1925-12-02
ARMY HOLDS BACK
MILITIA, IS CHARGE
Former Chief Urges Freeing
Guard From Control OF the
General Staff.
By the Anoc,s,ed Press.


Divorce Of the Militia Bureau Of the
War Department from general staff
control through appointment of an
assistant secretary 10 handle all Ma
tional Guard affairs under appropri
ations separate from those for the
Regular ARMY ia recommended by
Nal Gen. George c. Richards, head
OF the PENNSYLVANIA National Guard
In his annual report made public to-
day as chief OF the bureau.
Progress ot the National Guard has
been hindered as whole. Gen. Rick
ards declared. by the tendency Of the
War Department general star TO take
over certain administrative functions
Of the chief OF the Militia Bureau.
1T should be apparent to the gen
eral staff" the report continued. that
the Militia Bureau has competent
staff OF Regular Army of1cers who
are familiar with the National Guards
Of ALL the States and know their prob
lens through more intimate contact
with them than II Ia possible for any
other War Department agency to
have"
II am convinced" the general de-
ciared, that sound business principles
and best interests Of national defense
will he served when the chief Militia
Bureau. shall have his duties fully de-
fined by regulations. II not by law,
and he permitted to exercise them.
My experience leads me to the conciu
sion that 1t the National Guard
should have a separate appropriation.
This would eliminate the feeling
which now appears to he prevalent in
the Regular Army that moneys used
for the National Guard are being
taken from funds necessary for the
support of the Regular Army.
Declares Militia Handicapped.
1T I. my firm conviction. based on
long experience and close study. that
had the chief, Militia Bureau. heen
permitted TO administer the affairs OF
the Militia Bureau. as ! believe was
contemplated by the Congress. and to
have handled the appropria tions in his
own way instead NJ being bound by
tho actions of the Secretary Of War.
which actions were based on recon
mendstions Of the general staff.
strength Of 100000 could have been
reached and mainta ined throughout
the years 1928 and 1925.
Due to the restrictions placed
upon IT by higher authority. the
Militia Bureau was forced 10 stop
Federal recognition of new units. re-
strict recruitment and reduce the
number Of armory drills. thus leaving
- considerable unused balance OF
funds which were appropriated by the
Congress for these specific purposes.
y Il do not wish to be understood
AZ condemning the whole War De
partment policy as 1t relates to the
National Guard. for I trust | am too
lberaLminded to do that. As a result
ty,c
a member OF the War Depa rtment
general staff, four years as chief.
/ Militia Bureau and AZ wears of con
tiruous active National Guard serp-
ice. feel qualified to speak on this
subject.
Finds Much to Praise.
There II much to praise and COM
na rativeiy little To condemn. Jealousy.
animosity and personal advancement
! must have no place in this great un-
d>rtak king which has won such hearty
! approval.
II resn.ctfuIly recommend the ad-
visibility of abolishins the title of
chief, Militia Bureau. and instead to
| amend the law so AZ to make this
officer an Assistant Secretary Of War,
with duties specifically defined by
law"
Gen. Richards served as ch1er OF
the bureau for all but two days OF the
| fiscal year covered by the report and
signed the document at the request
| Of his successor, the present chief,
| Mai. Gen. Creed c. Hammond, Oregon
National Guard.
! Gen. Hammond made no reference
| to his predecessor conclusions in the
brief word he added to the report, but
| he commented on the wonderful
| work" done by Gen. Richards as
militia chief The new chiefs recon-
~mendations were confined to requests
for modifica ton of the non-recognition
! policy Of the department as to new
| guard units. particularly in the case
| OF air units for the four guard divi
sions still lacking them.