Evening star., 1946-02-09
Army to StreomIine
New National Guard
Veteran Militia to Emphasize
Airpower in REORGANIZATION
By Berfram Benedict

BY Berfram Benedict
The Army's plans for the National
Guard in the postwar military setup
are being considered by a House Mill
tary Affairs Subcommittee The plans
are ambitious. Although the traditions
OF the old National Guard units would be
preserved "as far as practicable" and
although the new units would still be
responsible for preserving local law and
order under Jurisdiction of the State
authorities, the new units would be con-
sidered IAN integral part of the Army"
Stressing air warfare, the new National
Guard would be a front-line reserve
capable of immediate expansion to war
strength" and service anywhere in the
world
When the defense emergency burst
upon the United States in May, 1910,
after the first defeats of the Allied
armies, the National Guard of the
United States had about the same
strength as the Regular Army. On June
80, 1910, the number of men and officers
in the several National Guard units was
251, 1,612, as against 264,o35 in the Regular
Army and 147,889 (mostly offcers) in the
Reserve forces
In 1910 the National Guard was or
dered into Federal service before civilian
conscription was applied. In the second
and fourth of his defense messages in
1910 President Roosevelt asked Congress
for the necessary authority. Congress
responded before taking up the conscrip-
ton bill, by vote of II to in the Senate
and 342 to "a in the House. The measure
provided that Guardsmen below the age
of 18 were to be honorably discharged.
One issue of Importance in connec-
| ton with the conscription policy was
| first fought out in the National Guard
bill. The Guard Act, like the Selective
Service Act, provided that the men in
volved were not to be employed outside
of the Western Hemisphere except in the
Territories and possessions of the United
States. This provision was, of course,
repealed after the attack at Pearl Har-
Dor and the German declaration of war.
The American colonies and States in
herited the militia system from England.
At its base was the obligation of all citi-
zens to take up arms on call Of the au-
| thorities. Federal law still makes every
able e-bodied male between 18 and As,
with certain exceptions, member of the
militia. However, those who have not
| actually enlisted are classified as mem
| bers of the ''unorganized militia" and
| are available for service only in theory.
The militia law enacted in 1892, which
remained almost unchanged on the
statute books for nearly century, pro-
vlded for compulsory enrolment in the
militia of all males between 18 and As,
with the important exception of all who
might be exempted by State laws. But
training was not made obligatory and
enforcement was left to the States.
This provision for compulsory enroll
ment, largely neglected, was finally re-
pealed in 1903
The President may call the National
Guard into national service In emer-
gency, such as the border troubles with
| Mexico in 1916 without separate legisla-
ton. In this event the Guard retains
| its State identity and its State ale
| glance. Legislation is needed to order
| the Guard into national service. when it
loses its State identity and allegiance,
becomes subject to the President as Com
mander in Chief, and is merged with
the Regular Army.
| In peacetime the National Guard
meets certain number of times year
| for drill and has an annual training
period in camp. During drill and at
camp it is paid at approximately the
same per diem rates as members of the
Regular Army. Prior to World War I
training of the Guard was largely left
to the States. Now, by the defense acts
of 1917, 1918. 1920 and later years, the
training, still theoretically under the
Guard officers, is supervised by the Reg
ular Army.
The Army assigns hundreds of Regular
officers to assist in the training of the
Guard and provides the Guard pay and
equipment (the States furnish the hous-
ing, such as armories). Promotion for
Guard officers usually depends on va
cancies.