Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-05
Legion Has Plans
For Home Defense
Force Of 100000
Senate Group Is Told
Details for Units to
Be Offered to Government

The American Legion has taken
the initiative to build around its
membership volunteer home de-
Tense force Of more than 1000 900
men. the Senate Military Affairs
Committee learned today.
Col. John Thomas Taylor, Legion
spokesman, unfolded to the Senate
committee the details of a plan
already under way to enroll World
War Veterans into local security
units that would offer their services
to local or national authorities for
home guard purposes in the event of
any emergency.
Earlier, Mayor La Guardia of New
York went before the Senate group
to urge that any legislation for the
development of home defense
force should make it a Federal func-
ton. He recommended this in pref
erence to pending bill designed to
authorize the States to form mill
tary units outside the National
Guard for home defense purposes.
La Guardia's Argument.
II the States undertake the task
they will have to turn to Washing
ton for the military equipment, the
Mayor argued. This would mean
the Federal Government would
have the burden without the con-
troll or efficiency it ought to have,
he added.
Mayor La Guardia, wartime flyer
and member of the ewly-appointed
United States Canadian Defense
Board, testified in support of a bill
sponsored by Chairman Sheppard.
Legislation is necessary before the
States could take the initiative be-
cause the National Defense Act of
1916 prohibits the States from form
ing military units other than the
National Guard.
Col. Taylor emphasized that the
units the Legion has gone ahead to
organize would perform services only
at the direction of properly consti-
tuted authorities, but Legionnaires
felt that something should be done
without delay, and are merely setting
up an organization that will be ready
when called upon, he testified.
Voluntary Plan.
The Legion plan, he said, has been
instituted after consultation with
Army and Navy officials. is purely
voluntary and contemplates no COM
pensation for members.
He explained how the Legion's
10000 posis throughout the country
can be utilized to form the nucleus
for these home security units, which
any citizen over 10 may join. Mem
bership in these units, he said, would
not become the basis for exemption
from selective military service in the
regular armed forces. 1t will, how
ever, give World War veterans whose
status or condition makes them I'M
available for military training an
opportunity to serve at home. He
said it also will enable boys between
Is and 81 to receive some prelimi-
nary training as members of these
volunteer home units
Committee members indicated by
their questions that the need for
organizing home defense units in the
States will become more apparent
after the existing National Guard
has been called into Federal service
The President already has called the
first increment of 60,500.
Senator Schwartz, Democrat, of
wyoming, inquired whether a fed
orally organized home defense force
would meet the requirements that
frequently confront the Governor
of State, when he has to call out
the National Guard for some local
disaster or emergency. Mayor La
Guardia said he did not believe there
would be any difficulty along that
line.