Evening star., 1941-11-09

MQJ. LCH. MtttOU n. uCChOTu, L
recent ndneuDerS. Gen. Reckord is
NOW THAT some form of mass con-
~ scription is likely to remain long
term policy, question of universal mo-
ment is the fate of the National Guard.
This body has drawn its reason for be-
ing from the historic distinction between
organized and unorganized American
militia. The theory of the Selective
Service Act is that of eventually placing
the bulk Of the country's qualified man
power on an organized basis As a re-
suit of the draft, together with the re-
lentless march of specialized machine
war. must the National Guard cry out
with the Prince of Denmark that Ham
let's occupations gomez"
For more than a century and half,
since the Minute Men Of the Revolution,
its occupation has been to carry the torch
of military tradition. Through fair and
foul weather, often in the face of hostile
public sentiment, it has devoted to the
task no small sacrifices of energy, leisure
apd money Prior to the two World
Wars, it was counted on to bear the chief
brunt OF frst-line national protection.
Has the evolution of arms brought its
ancient role to an end at last-in fact if
not yet in form?
Portents Of Oblivion.
Visible above the horizon are certain
portents in the Affirmative The most
conspicuous has been plague of official
mortality sweeping through the topmost
ranks. The National Guard when its in
duction into Federal service began last
year. consisted of three cavalry and 18
infantry divisions. A fourth cavalry di-
vision the 21st of New York, was ready
FOR assembling, but was never activated.
erals, though there are nine in the Reg
ular Army. It's high command listed %
major generals.
One Of these, Maj. Gen. John F. Will
liams. was and is chief of the National
Guard Bureau of the War Department.
The others were troop commanders of
the 81 National Guard divisions. The
three cavalry divisions were broken up.
Maj. Gen. Edward j. Stackpole jr., COM
mander Of the 22d Cavalry Division, ac-
cepted a reduction in rank to brigader
general and transfer to the 28th In
fantry Division. OF the 20 divisional
commanders remaining, nine already
have been relieved of active field duty,
and at least three others are scheduled
to 60.
Putting aside the disbanded cavalry
divisions, seven vacancies resulted at the
head OF National Guard divisions. The
.sharpest concern of its champions today
rises from the fact that the places were
filled, not by promotions from National
Guard officers. but in every instance by
the appointment of Regular Army men
most of them apparently jumped up for
the purpose from the rank Of colonel.
This development may lend color to a
charge that the Regular Army's design
Is to make clean sweep Of National
Guard divisional commanders, and seize
on their double stars for its own officers.
The Displaced Generals.
Grounds alleged for depriving the nine
major generals of field command in
clude age, i'll health, physical disability
and incompetence. Records of the Ma
tional Guard Bureau show that six have
oficially quit the service, two have ac-
cepted transfers to post commands,
known in military parlance as house
keeping jobs" and one has been moved
to military board Following is list
OF divisional commanders displaced or
transferred to non-combat duty, with
the State or States supplying the regi-
ments in their units:
Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds, 23d
Cavalry Division, disbanded (Alabama,
Georgia. Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan,
Tennessee and wisconsin,.
Maj. Gen. William K. Herndon. oath
Cavalry Division, disbanded Colorado
Idaho, Iowa, Kansas. Washington and
wyoming. Gen. Herndon died soon
after he was retired.
Maj Gen. Ellard A. Walsh 34th Divi-
sion North and South Dakota.
Maj. Gen. Ralph e. Truman, 35th
Division cMissouri, Kansas and Ne
braska).
Maj. Gen. Claude v. Birkhead, seth
Division (Texas).
Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall 38th
| Division Undiana, Kentucky and West
Virginia.
Maj. Gen. Walter p Story, 4Oth Divi-
sion California, Nevada and Utah.
| Maj. Gen. Morris B. Payne, 43d Divi-
sion Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine
| and Vermont).
| Maj. Gen. Clifford R. Powell, 44th
Division New Jersey and New York;.
Three further divisional. heads whose
| retirement because Of age may be ex-
peeted are Maj. Gen. William n. Haskell,