The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-11

They could put 100000 men well
organized and equipped across our
frontier in forty-eight hours. Indeed
they would probably occupy every lm,
portant strategic point, including al
our large cities from Osweg0 to Duluth
or Portland within less time than
forty-eight hours the advantage OF
which cannot be over-estimated. lt Is
highly probable such an event VIII
never occur. Nevertheless experience
proves that 1t is "the unexpected" that
happens. Now the point Of my article
is this question, how can we provide
national militia force which shall be
available for emergencies, offensive and
defensive, wherever required through
out the whole United States? For
purposes of defense against mob and
other disturbances within the state,
i. e., arising out of the population
such as labor disturbances and the
like, the present National guard organ
i2ation ought to be amply sufficient.
If not it can be supplemented by the
regular army, and thus be made quite
effective.
PROTECTION OF FRONTIERS.
To be able to meet and repel inva-
sion by fOreignrfoes, along our vast'land
frontiers, we need to be able to mobilize
ut once n large and thoroughly organ
lied and drilled body of troops from
all the states, if necessary, ut one or
more points; to meet invasion 10y i'll
Vasion and carry the war OF our own
soil, into the enemy's county. This
would necesstate campaigns OF from
three to six months duration at least.
This time being secured by such Il
force at hand, there would be time to
organize an army in the ordinary way
which would be ready to take their
place in due time.
Such force might be obtained, it
seems to me, quite ieasibly, in the fol-
lowing manner: Let congress pass n
general law for the organization and
equipment of the active militia Of the
several states, to be known as the
National Guard" allotiug to the
several states their proportion of this
body according to population. Let
the entire force be say 100000 men, di-
vided into proper proportions Of artil.
lery, cavalry, infantry, etc. The entire
cost of organizing, equipping andmain-
tanning this guard TO be borne by the
United States The enlistment and
instruction of the guard to be the work
of the states under their own officers,
rs heretofore, conforming, however, to
the system Of rule and discipline Of the
Uuited States army. A certain num-
ber Of officers Of the regular army to be
detached to the several states as in
struCtors.
The benefits of this act Of congress to
be available to the states, upon the
enactment by them of laws accepting
its provisions and providing that said
troops shall be subject to the call of the
president Of the United States all times
through the governors Of the states, for
the purpose Of repelling invasions, for
Il period not to exceed six months at
any one time.
PAID HIGHER WAGES.
These should be paid little higher
wages when SO called out than the
regular army so that the service shall
not be undesirable. They should have
certain privileges granted in consider
alton of certain terms of enlistment,
e. e, exemption from jury duty, from
all military taxation, and from liabii-
ity to draft They should have uni
forms which should he handsome and
unique and distinctiyely their own as
n National guard, and alike through
all the states, except that certain pre-
scribed badges should indicate the
several states.
1t should not be like the uniform of
the regular army, but the uniform OF
the citizen soldier, such as every young
man Of patriotism and honor should be
ambitious to wear at least for a term OF
one enlistment. This guard should
take the place of the present National
guard or active militia of the several
states, and could be made to do so by
recognizing under the new laws to be
enacted Us above suggested.
In such event the men enlisting
would do 50 under q new contract Of
enlistment made to conform to the
new status, involving a possible nation
al service rs we'll as the ordinary state
services. | believe such a scheme il
entirely practicable, and would give us
superb army of sufficient strength
for e.-ergency needs.
WOULD BE AN EDUCATOR.
/ Itwould, moreover, be the education
al foundation of an army of almost
unlimited size should state of actual
war require it. 1t would give US the
power and security off standing army,
. without its burden, and this would be
the prOverbial ounce Of prevention
which would make war highly i'm
probable ifnot impossible. The states
would be the gamers in every respect.
They would have a better organized
militia force, under their control as
heretofore, for all purposes Of internal
protection, without the generalgovern
ment for such support, would receive
its ample quid pro quo in the security
. and protection Of q magnificent army
, at a nominal cost.
f. l.. HETCHCoCK.
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