The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-30

the one being purely a national force.
maintained for national purposes only.
and the other purely a state force Tor
state purposes. except when IL may be
called into the service of the United
States for the purposes specified.
Undoubtedly the militia Of the sew
eral states should be fostered by the
general government. and this for the
reason that IL must be relied upon In
a great degree TO 'repel INVASION" IN
not TO y Instruction since
the several states must maintain
militia forces. for their own purposes.
wise % suggests that these
forces be also made available for ma
tional purposes. when necessary. as
provided and limited in the constitu-
ton. But the national armies. svaila-
BILE for all kinds OF national service.
should manifestly be organized and
maintained solely by the national gov
eminent.
IL the above proposition is accepted.
then IL is clear that there should be a
national reserve, ready at all times to
reinforce the United states army.
whenever the emergency may require.
1t may be well here to note a popu-
lar error I'm drawing a distinction be-
tween regulars and volunteers"
There are no troops In this country but
volunteers. The volunteers belonging
to the government establishment may
well enough be called regulars be-
cause they have become regulated"
but those still needing to be regulated
are no more volunteers on that ac-
count
The organization OF a national re-
serve Is a matter OF great Importance.
The subject hould be maturely con-
sidered by a commission of expert Of
fcers. whose report might be made the
A--n- - l.. n fa hA
lieved the system need not be very ex-
pensive. All h principal officers
should be officers OF the army. de-
tatched from their regiments tempo
rarily. at the proper season every year.
to organize. drill and discipline the re-
serves. BY arrangement with the state
authorities and In consideration OF the
money appropriated by congress for
the state militia, the armories In the
cities could be used for drill purposes
by the national reserves. perhaps also
the state camp grounds. 1t might even
be possible that such OF the officers n
men OF the state regiments as could
pass the requisite examinations might
be commissioned and enlisted In the
national reserve. still retaining their
places in their militia regiments until
ordered into active service OF the United
States. In this way all OF the So
called national guards OF the several
states who possess the requisite mental
and physical qualifications and are
ambitious TO serve the national govern
ment. could have their places assigned
them in dvance and be ready to join
their regiments in the United States
service at a moments notice. The
places vacated by them In the militia
regiments would. OF course, be filled by
the state authorities.
These and other details will require
careful consideration. and doubtless
some modification from time TO time as
the result OF experience. Hence legisla-
ton should he broad and general in
terms. leaving much to executive d.
rection. The problem Is to provide in
advance a large body of officers n
men qualified for the military service
and ready to enter Il at short notice,
thus saving the long delays and un-
avoidable errors incident to the enroll
ment. examination and instruction OF
men and officers after their services
have become necessary. This problem
ought not to be difficult nor very ex-
pensive. and. az above suggested. II
may be solved I'm such a way as to give
fun opportunities to all of the ryan
ICED militia of the several states who
have the patriotic ambition n the
mental and physical qualifications TO
serve the United States In time OF war.
II may be objected that the president
cannot intelligently appoint so many
officers. But this objection will dfsap-
pear n Il is provided that the appoint
ments shall be mad upon the recon-
mendation OF a board of army officers.
The national reserve should include
as many as possible OF the veterans of
former wars. both in civil life and on
the retired list OF the army who are
still able to act as inspectors and in
st~ructors. though not TO command
troops In campaign. thus to diminish
the evils resulting from lack OF prac-
teal experience.
JOHN NJ. SCHOFTELD.
Major General, l.. :. A., Retired.