Evening star., 1949-06-09
Cramer 10 Ask Probe
OF Circular on D. {.
Guards S Strength
By Williom J. Wheotley

By Williom J. WheotIey
Mai. Gen. Kenneth Cramer,
chief Of the National Guard
Bureau, said today he would order
an investigation of circular is
sued by District Guard headquar-
ters which. it is alleged by ofiicers.
precludes the elimination OF
'deadwood" personnel and gives
false indication Of the actual
combat strength of the units.
The refusal of headquarters to
authorize discharge OF this per-
sonnel, he said. also has the effect
of denying to unit commanders
their pay for weekly drills.
Under National Guard regula-
tions, 1t was explained. men who
move out of the area are entitled
TO be discharged. Failure TO dis
charge men for this cause. II was
added. keeps merely a name on
the roster and prevents the m
dividual from enlisting in guard
unit in the area in which he
might then be living. 1t also au-
thorizes transfer to the inactive
reserve of men whose business or
schooling prevents their regular
attendance at drills.
so Pet. Must BE at Drill.
The circular says that head
quarters will not consider applica-
tions for discharge or transfer to
the inactive reserve of men in
units which do not have 80 per
cent of their authorized strength.
Officers. in order to receive their
drill pay. must have at drill at
least so per cent OF their actual
strength. They contend they
cannot. in many instances. get
down to drills so per cent of their
setaal strensths because much
Eof II 4 dea6Sood.
4 HA3hey Nere permitted to dr.
charge this deadwood. they claim,
and bring their organizations down
to. the actively Interested nieu,
thin shey gould easlh comply With
th8 ~ uiremept It's snd collect thfif
paw Sonik ~ thHi3f say they do
NOT zee how they can continue 70
serve without the drill compen-
sation.
Some officers reported that. de-
spit the directions in the circular.
they have sent patches of requests
for discharges to headquarters.
but all have been returned. Some
of the individuals. 1t was reported.
have gone into the regular Army.
One man is said to have been in
the Army for 20 months. and the
local guard organization to which
he belonged is still forced to carry
him on the rolls. Some members
carried on the active rosters, 1t
was reported are now and have
been for some months in District
penal institutions.
ID. c. Guard In 5th Place.
The latest figures from the Ma
tional Guard Bureau show that
the District Guard. as OF March
81. stood fifth among the guard
units OF the country with an actual
strength Of 67l per cent OF its
actual strength. The allocated
strength of the District Guard at
that time was 3,l27 men. and their
actual strength 2,098. Guard off,
GERS contend that the latter figure
Is a false representation to the
bureau in that it is "watered
through failure to permit the dis
charge of the "deadwood."
Gen. Cramer said he had not
seen the circular referred TO when
informed that one had been sent
to the bureau unofficially. How
ever. he added that he would i'm
mediately send for copy, and
study 1t to ascertain whether 1t
was q violation of regulations. as
well as its effect in creating a
false impression of the strength
standing of the local Guard.
Col. Peyton @. Nevitt. Guard
adjutant general. said such a cir
cular was issued. and 1t was in
tended to urge the officers to
recruit to strength with active
men. II an organization has more
than 80 per cent Of authorized
strength, then 1t may ask for the
discharge of such numbers OF per
sonnel above the actual strength
requirement
However. Col. Nevitt said this
was a poor recruiting period and
the strength situation viii be get
ting worse because of the enlist
ments of many OF the three-year
men are about to expire. BY the
end of May the District Guard
experienced net loss of II men.
compared with the strength at
the end of April.