Evening star., 1948-01-01
Reserve ConsoIid
Moves Promise Fight
By Guard Association
By John A. Giles

"A OCCASION OF t1le pOuLlC1lly pow
arful National Guard Association
to oppose any change In the present
status Of the Guard may precipitate
q major fisht In Congress over 4
proposal for consolidation Of the
several Reserve components of the
armed services, it was learned today.
While the association has re-
manned silent since Defense Secre-
tary Forresta1 appointed a Joint
Service Committee to study Reserve
problems on November Z, 1T was
learned that it is adamant in its
position that the Guard should not
be consolidated with the other Re-
serve units.
The Guard Association, unlike the
Reserve Oficers' Association which
has been issuing frequent announce
ments Of late criticizing the Army's
handling Of its civilian components
program, will not make any state
ment until called for either by the
Service Committee or any con-
sressiohal committees which may
decide to 60 into the matter. It will
not enter into any public contro-
versy on the subject OF consolidation.
States to Be Consulted.
The committee, in its study, viii
consult" the Governors of the
States and then State adjutants
general, Mr.. Forrestal told q press
conference on November IL, thus
confirming that q possible change
in the Guard was contemplated
The Guard is supported by both the
States and the Federal Govern
ment.
Mr.. Forrestal also emphasized that
the appointment Of the committee,
headed by Assistant Secretary of
the Army Gordon Gray, was not
aimed at an unilateral determine
tion Of 4 subject which, of course,
affects all of the States and In
which We shall all want and need
the cooperation of all the State
Governors.
The Gray Board now is completing
organisational details and obtaining
preliminary data, not only on the
Guard, but on the Army, Navy, Air
Force and Marine Corps Reserves
aS we'll, and will not begin any hear
ings until early February. It's report
to Mr.. Forrestal cannot be expected
before May ut the earliest, an as
sistant in his ONCE said today.
Economy = Talking Point.
The National Guard Association,
which numbers among its members
the State adjutants general, will
oppose any change in the Guard
setup on the grounds its present
dual tate-Federal status Is less
expensive to the taxpayers and more
effective In times Of emergency.
The Guard is in the enviable posi-
ton Of deriving its status from the
Constitution which provides for
organising, arming and disciplining
the militia and for governing such
part Of them as may be employed
in the service of the United States,
reserving to the States respectively,
the appointment of the officers and
the authority Of training the militia
according to the discipline pre-
scribed by Congress"
This clause contemplates the use
Of the States military power to put
down an. armed insurrection too
strong to be controlled by civil
authority. The State concerned de-
teF.nines what degree OF force the
crisis demands.
Guard Strength Cited.
The second amendment also re-
stricts the Federal Government with
reference to the bearing and keep
ing Of arms, thus recognizing the
States power Of internal police.
Reserve units have no Constitu-
Aonal status.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Kenneth F.
Cramer, chief of the National Guard
Bureau, announced that the Guard
had experienced "its most rapid