Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-26

essential that the service be con-
tinuous, so that former service In the
Guard may be counted I'm determining
an applicants eligibility. Similarly.
service with a National Guard organ1-
zation prior to its recognition by the
Federal Government may be consider
ed, the date of enlistment of the soldier
governing, and not that of the recog-
milton of the unit, The requirements
for admission to the Military Academy
are fully set forth in a War Depart
ment pamphlet supply OF which IS
on hand at headquarters of the local
Guard.
COMPANY commanders. and all other
commanding officers. have been d.
rected to give greatest publicity to
these opportunities and to urge All
members of their commands to take
advantage of the opportunity onered.
Although no applications nave as
yet been received at headquarters, "
official reports indicate that six en-
listed men of the local Guard will try
for the coveted appointment. and these
are being coached by Lieut.. Homer
r. Willard, Company F. 121st Eng1'
neers, and It is expected that the
competition for the appointment VIII
be quite keen.
Formal request has been made on
the District Commissioners by MAJ.
Gen. Anton Stephan that they issue
blanket authority for officers and en-
ploves of the local government to
enlist in the National Guard OF the
District of Columbia. A recent order
Of the War Department provides that
before any employe of the Government
may enlist in the Guard speclilc
authority must be obtained in the
case. unless blanket authority has
been given. The request specl1cally
exempts members of police and nre
departments.
The War Department order Is got
ten out on the theory, It was said'
that the Government might be EN-
barrassed in time Of a national emer-
gency which required the calling Of
the National Guard into the field by
taking away civilian employees neces-
sary to the carrying on Of the govern
mental machinery needed to support
the troops.
However, it was pointed out that
nrivate business which penr1its its
employees to enlist in the Guard might
he embarrassed in the same way, as
their work might involve handling
Government business, and unless the
Government. was willing to give ITS
assistance 1t could not look to private
business to give the proper support.
Plans must be made. It is said, to
handle such eventualities, and 1t
should not be by a blanket rejection
of authority to take employees OF the
Government into the National Guard.
The first support to the Guard. 1t
was added. should come from the Gov
eminent itself, and If its branches
could not handle a situation which
took some of it's employees away in
time of emergency, then private bust
ness could properly take the same
view. with the result that it would
be most difficult to obtain recruits for
the organization to engage in train
ing for a national emergency.
Problems of recruiting here are diff
cult enough, anyway, it was pointed
out, without having other obstacles
difficult in this city, 1t was added, be-
cause a great portion of the men who
make up the local Guard are drawn
from the Governments departments
and bureaus. Should the District or
any other agency of the Government
here refuse the authority which is re-
quired by the War Department regu-
lation, 1t was pointed out, the problem
Of keeping the organization up to
strength with new men will be a. great
one. However, the local Guard Is 60
ing out to seek the authority and
hopes to meet the situation by having
little difficulty in obtaining this per
mission which the War Department
requires.