Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11

from civil life and would become at once
second heutenants at STA q month. In all
to those enjoyed by Graduates Of West
Point. Even now there are more vacancies
every year in the list Of officers owing to
deaths, retirements and designations, than
can be filled by the cadets. The extra ones
required are recruited from civil life To
get such an appointment Is simply a matter
OF influence. The candidate obtains an or
der permitting him to be examined. The ex-
animation Is not at all hard, and If he can
answer few common-school questions. and
is found to be sound physically, he slides
into the army. Promotion is slow, but the
pay increases from year to year, and is a
sure thing for life
Militia Unreliable.
Militia cannot always be relied upon In
emergencies. They do not like to kill peo-
pie. During the recent trouble in the far
west certain companies refused to do duty
and had to be placed under arrest Some
OF the citizen soldiers were threatened with
oStracism by their relatives and friends If
they took up arms against the rioters. One
man was shot in Chicago by his command
ing officer because he declined to fire on the
MOB. There ought to be no sentiment in
the soldier business. In the War Depart
ment at Washing ton lately a proposition
mas been. discussed for detailing officers of
the army for temporary duty with the ma
tional guard in all the states. in order that
Dh
against the regular army might be over
come by mutual acquain tance. But the old
war ooSS froWn upon such a notion. They
say that 1t is proper that the army should
De feared representing as il does the strong
hand of the government.
The War Department has been gathering
together some very interesting Information
respecting the citizen soldiery OF the states
New York has the largest force of militia
numbering 1880; Idaho, with only 229 has
the smallest. The time required for the con-
centratlon OF the national guard varies from
eight hours in Connecticut to three days I'm
Oregon. In New Y ,rk concentra ton can he
erected in forty-eignt hours; I'm Pennsylva-
ma thirty-two hours AZ the time needed The
percentage of men that may be counted on
to turn out in case of emergency runs from
10 per cent In Pennsylvania to 80 DER cent
IA kentucky. Massachusetts, Illinois and
Alabama have the best -deyeloDed plans for
concentrating and supplying troops In the
event OF trouble Most OF the states have
no such plans; they are waiting to find out
what Is The best thing to do when an emer-
Sency arises.
Some state Approximations
New York makes the biggest regular ap-
preparation for the purchase of equipments
-SoOWO annually. Pennsylvania comes
next with SSa.Oo0. Massachusetts puts up
S2lo.oo per annum for this purpose, CaIifor-
ma SlSo'oU, little Rhode Island $4,000.
Connecticut sl20Ocn Illinois sl2oOoo and
than 100000. Idaho makes the small
est appropriation, with one exceptjon
loo: Arkansas appropriates nothing
depending on what is given by the federal
-. srninent' supplemented by subscriptions
OF members OF the state guard The annual
appropriation made by Congress for eouin
ping the militia is divided up among The
states states according to their representation in
49,, Stess' ne amounts thus contributed
Idaho. " S-'olf ior
We - aclluSetts New York and Pennsyl-
artiiiar,' ia very complete equipments. The
Ga - aiIess or the states generally is
oId ana rotten and not in condition for Ia I'd
service Massachusetts and New York have
tie pest arms. As q rule, the arms of rba
,nlitla are not well cared for, too little ar
'ehtlon being paid to keeping them claana5
ana repaired. The field guns of tho NJ
,iof al Guard are of obsolete patterns. The
kihd or arms possessed by the militia va
res from New Hampshire. which has only
ly the carbine VA
All Of the states issue the forage can.
blouse and trousers to their militia, Most
of them furnish overcoats some srDDi,
leggiRs, blankets and full-dress uniforms
pennsylvania issues shoes and blue flannel
sHrts. me uniresS uniform In all the
states is the same as that Of the regular
army. In many states that is tho npI,,
uniform prescribed. selection of the f1Ii-
dress uniform being left to the various or
CARNATIONS Different companies of the
same regiment sometimes wear different
uniforms. Vermont keeps the greatest
quantity OF ammunition on hand-3 nnp
rounds for each company. Most of the
states keep little or no artillery ammuni-
ton on hand. Only twelve OF the states
nave enough tentc. West Virginia has
rome. hiring them whe1 thsy are needed.
Nearly all of the states are deficient in
field mess outfits.
Some Foreign Armies.
The army OF Russia on a peace footing
numbers $4,000: on war footing = I33 600
Italy's army numbers 10000: in war l.
$4,000. The army of Germany has a peace
footing Of 44a.J89 and n war footing Of l.
iH2.ec0. The army of France which num-
bars only 50S.ooo in peace. has a war foot
Ing Of 3.75s.ooo The United States are sat
isiied To get along with n standing army
Orly as large. numerically, was main
tail ed when the population Of the country
was one-half of what il Is today