Evening star., 1942-02-01
Wholesale DISCHARGE
OF u. :. Workers by
State Guards Delayed
Nearby Companies Awoit
CIorificotion of Order
From War Department

A threatened wholesale discharge
from the Maryland State Guard of
men now in Federal employ has
been averted, at least temporarily,
by an order from Brig. Gen. D. H.
Mohr, State commander, suspend
ing the dismissals until further no
tice, it was revealed yesterday by 1t.
Col. E. Brooke Lee, commander of
the 7th Battalion with headquarters
at Silver Spring.
In a new order sent to battalion
commanders throughout the State,
but affecting principally companies
In Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties, Gen. Mohr announced that
the discharges required by his pre-
vious order will henceforth be at the
discretion of the battalion COM
mander and the officers and men
concerned until further clarification
Is received from the War Depart
ment.
Earlier the War Department had
requested that all Government
workers in the State Guard be
dropped from the Guard immediate
ly because their administrative
functions" in the Government might
be impaired if they should be called
into active duty as guardsmen.
Col. Lee estimated that enlisted
strength Of the three Montgomery
County companies would be cut in
half and the units would have to
undergo a complete reorganization
as result of the first instructions.
Lee Plans Survey.
Heads of the Guard units in the
State contended that many of the
men who would be affected by the
order are employed in non-defense
agencies of the Government and
could be released for active duty in
the Guard without impairment Of
their agencies efficiency.
Col. Lee said he would make a
survey among the members of his
command to learn how many who
are working for the Government
could be dropped from Guard rolls
without seriously affecting the COM
panies.
He added that system will be
set up to Judge each prospective
discharge on its own merits. SINH
lar measures are expected to be
taken by Maj. Caesar Aiello, COM
mander of the 9Th Battalion.
In Arlington County and Alexan-
dria, where a similar order was
given by Gov Darden which would
result in discharge Of half the per-
sonnel Of the Virginia Protective
Force, unit officers have left the
matter up to the individual men.
Representative Smith. Democrat,
of Virginia has promised to investi-
gate the matter to see whether
some modification Of the order can
be obtained.
Paid From Roads Funds.
Equipment valued at more than
$157, 900 has been given the Mary
land State Guard by the Federal
Government, it was disclosed yes
terday by Gov. O'Conor. Most OF
the equipment will not have to be
returned, he said.
The equipment, consisting OF
rifles, bayonets. ammunition, uni
forms, cots. mattresses. blankets
tents, cooking outfits and kitchen
utensils, is sufficient for the entire
guard force Of approximately 5000
officers and men, he said.
Gov. O'Conor also said that State
Guardsmen on active duty are be-
ing paid out of State Roads Com
mission funds because they are
guarding vital bridges and high
ways. The guardsmen formerly
were paid out Of q special defense
fund. When this became nearly
exhausted, they began drawing their
pay from roads funds.
In an attempt to clarity mis-
understanding among Arlington
County residents as to where and
how the Virginia Protective Force
is to be used, Maj. Everett Hellmuth
executive ofiicer Of the Eleventh Bat
| talon, yesterday explained that the
companies will be used only in the
general area where they are sta
toned, unless very unusual con-
ditions arise"
For Duty Only in State.
He added that the force Is in
effect a State militia, and as such
is to be used only within Virginia
Mai. Hellmuth also quoted a re-
cent statement by Gov. Darden thai
the v. p. r. was not designed FOL
regular, full-time duty except u
cases of extreme emergency"
In this connection, Maj. Hellmutf
SAID that the use Of the force a
regular guards on bridges would bt
| terminated shortly.