Evening star., 1925-04-12
Civilian Army News

Practical disintegration of the en-
tire structure of the National Guard
is the substance of the tense tele-
graphic messages which have been
received by the War Department this
week upon the announcement that
the President had partially with
| drawn his suspension order withhold
ing the payment of armory drills for
the country's armed citizenry under
the deficiency act. 1t is stated that
the limitation of As drills imposed
upon the States forces will, in all
probability, bring this question for
decision before the court. In other
words, during the next three months
there will be some National Guard
units who will have no drills, as they
have already had the prescribed al
lotment authorized under the new or
der
From the adjutant general of Ohio
comes the report that the National
Guard of Ohio has already held 46
drills. With only two more drills au-
thoriZed for the armed citiZenry of
Ohio between now and July l, ii
means the breaking up of various
organizations in the 37th National
Guard Division. The order practically
terminates the holding of any more
of Connecticut. Reports from Ari-
zona indicate that a few of the Guard
units have already held extra drills,
some of which have already held 81
drills. This means that those units
who have held over the authorized
number of drills cannot hold any
more until after July l. Tennessee,
Illinois and South Dakota report
that the existing conditions with re-
fn
tremely discouraging. In the State
of Maryland the number of drills
held by the different units range from
a minimum figure of 81 to a maximum
number of 45. Conditions are re-
ported very bad in the 2sth National
Guard Division CPennsylvania), while
similar state of affairs exists in the
National Guard forces of the District
of Columbia
In the name of economy an at
tempt is being made, it is pointed
out by those familiar with the case,
to save about $500.000 or $780, 900.
The As drills will take all the money
with the exception of this amount.
The National Guard authorities for
the several States are confronted
with a difficult task, as the last three
months prior to the training camp
instruction beginning July 1 are the
most important period of the guards
men. This is the recruiting period,
during which time more drills are
held than in any other quarter for
the purpose of preparing the men for
their participation in the combat
training while in camp. AS a result
of the Limitation placed on the num-
Der of drills which may be held, il
can be seen that some of the units
will not be authorized to hold any
more drills between now and their
training camp instruction. War De-
partment authorities point out that
instead of the units upon their ar
rival at the various summer training
camps engaging at once in tactical
maneuvers, the primary purpose for
which the Summer war games are
held, the first five days. or one third
of the field training period will have
to be devoted to the fundamental
principles of the soldier. The total
expended annually for National Guard
field training amounts to about SO 000-
900, of which from 81, o00, 900 to SO, ,0o0.-
900 will now have to be enjoyed in
teaching the rudiments of military
life to the rank and file of the Ma
tional Guard when they arrive in
camp. In commenting upon this sub
ject, an officer prominent in National
Guard affairs for many years declared
that the drill limitation feature of the
order not only makes null and void
the great amount of constructive
work done by the Militia Bureau Of
the War Department in building up
the several States armed forces dur
ing the past four or five years to a
total aggregate strength of 10000
officers and men, but that it will
seriously affect the efficiency of the
National Guard, destroy it's present
high degree of morale and is mis-
| taken economy.
| Approxima tely 100 Ordnance Re-
serve officers will be given their Is
| days training at Springfield Armory,
Mass; Frankford Arsenal, Philadel-
| phia, Pa; PicatinES Arsenal, n. j.,
| and the Presidio of San Francisco,
| Calf. probably from May 81 to June
| IA. Up to the present time selection
has not been made by the Ordnance
| Department of the reserve officers
who will undergo this training.
| Plans are also contemplated to give
| this instruction in the office of the
chief of ordnance, Munitions Build
| ing, Washington, d. c., and at one or
two other ordnance establishments.
Approximately 25 Reserve officers
of the Coast Artillery, Field Artillery,
and the Ordnance Department, will
be given instruction at Rarltan Ar
senal, \. J., from April IL to April IS.
Practical instruction will be given in
| material, in the methods of equipping
an organization and in using and
maintaining the various items of
ordnance equipment.
| Orders have been issued Maj. Albert
| S. ]. Tucker, Infantry, that upon his
| completion of his present duties as
| student in the Command and General
! Staff School at Fort Leavenworth,
Kans, he is detailed for duty with
the Organized Reserves of the Sd
Corps Area, and is assigned to duty
as assistant to Lieut.. Col. John Scott,
Infantry, executive officer of the Or
ganized Reserves in Washington. 1t
| is expected that Maj. Tucker will re-
port to Col. Scott about July /.
Capt Irwin ". Todd, Finance De-
| partment, who has been on duty at
reserve headquarters in the Graham
Building, has been ordered 70 duty in
| the office OF the chief of finance.
! His duties will be taken over by
| Capt. James B. Golden, Field Artil-
Ilery, assistant executive officer. in
! addition to the latters present duties