The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-16
IN THE EVENT OF WAR
HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD COULD
BE Modified.
The Military Defense Act That Is Most
Needed at the Present Time-Organiza-
MI

Needed at the Present Time-Organiza-
ton of this Force For Foreign War
Only.
The military defense act which the |
United States doubtless stands most in
need of at the present moment 10 one |
whereby the militia bodies Of the whole
country will become compact and
comprehensively organized national
force, with their position, discipline
and movement accurately determined
for readiness in time of foreign war.
If the United States should be in
volved now with Spain or any other
power of consequence, the first move
would be TO place the regular army in
the field, and Immediately afterward
the national guard would be modified
for active service.
We have national guard composed
of enthusiastic volunteers, maintained
in many states more by their sacrifices
than by the just treatment of their state
governments. The efficiency of the
guard varies from high in several states
to below zero in others. The regimen
tai and company strength widely differ,
the equipment and clothing are ex-
tremely variant, the arms likewise diff
er, and some have magnificent armo-
ries, while others drill in sheds. To
bring order out of 100, 900 such soldiers,
irregularly comprised in detail, Will
take enormous labor and time, as we'll
as a waste of money which would have
been obviated by previous organization
into q modern national military ma
chine.
Nearly every high army officer and
many national guard officers have at
one time or another pointed out these
dangers aud urged some scheme for con-
gressional action. Several of these plans
have received careful attention, while
others have been dismissed as impracti-
cal because of their too European heavi-
ness or expense. The majority Of them,
! however, have failed to win approval
because they did not properly recognize
the civilian side of the service or the
sensibilities of the states and difference
in state laws.
Some have not remembered that the
amount of training a militiaman can
possibly receive is limited; that he is a
working citizen first and a soldier aft
erward, and the amount of time sacri-
feed cannot be much larger, If a pow
erful national force is to be organized
out of the militia, it must be carefully
adapted to meet the variety Of state
conditions, and if effected quickly must
disturb as little as possible the existing
military laws of different common
wealths
The proper plan to follow in the case
is to perfect an organization OF the
forces for the purpose of foreign war
only, leaving for every other duty the
! military under the same authority as II
no national reserve existed. Belonging
to the larger body would affect each
command only in the matter of It's
improved efficiency and equipment, as
well as uniformity in size of regiments.
Whatever service the troops perform
as members of the national force must
be considered as additional to all state
duty, and complete regiments only,
which under their own state laws are
required to do a certain amount OF drill
and field duty every year for the state,
must be eligible to the reserve.
Upon enrolment in the reserve the
United States should provide each regi'
ment with complete equipment and
with arms. They ought TO have two
uniforms, one for field service and one
for parade, for the facts must not be
lost sight Of that militia troops must
always be given the opportunity to show
themselves upon occasions III dress uni
form and that, however unmilitary II
may seem to some professional soldiers,
, this endowment of handsome uniform
does too much for the enthusiasm and
esprit de corps to we'll be ignored.
The performance of weekly drill (bu'
with regular inspections by regular
army officers) may be taken as sufficient
but in addition to the six days field
duty for the state tho reserve should 60
into camp of instruction by brigade an
nually for period of either 10 or Il
days exclusive of time occupied IL
transportation if 10 days. and every
three years the encampment should bt
by division, the alternating of the three
divisions of the corps upon differen
years permitting field officers of the othel
divisions to attend for training as they
should be required to do.
The pay given to regiments for theil
duty as mem ers of the reserve should
be so much per annum for the annua
work laid down, including attendance
at, say, 40 weekly drills, and all alb
sences frcm drill should be deducted
pro rata from the Pay, while penalties
should be ordered for dereliction of dut,
and failure to Join promptly for CAM
of instruction. Army and Navy Jour
nal.