The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-03
STRENGTH OF THE MILITIA.
Troops Ready for Action, II3,56O-
Men Liable to Military Duty, IO,-


37S,1IS.
From the New York Times.
Washington. March 31-The Adjutdnt
Generals Office has just completed a re-
port on the organized militia of the Uni
ted States. 1t has been called forth by the
present crisis, which has made it an in
teresting and important question as to how
strong this militia is, and how well pre-
pared for taking the field for the defense
of the individual states, or as part of the
Federal forces. To enlist in the latter it
has been decided that the mlitiamen
would have to be recruited and examined,
just as all recruits have TO be, but they are
| able, without such examination TO act IN
der the state regulations as a home guard
for the coast lines of the states.
The summary of this report which is
still in the printers hands, gives the fol-
lowing information as to the militia in
summing up its strength and availability
The term militia appears In the official
designations of but two chu-
sets Volunteer Militia and Brigade of
Rhode Island Militia. Thirty-eight states
use the term National Guard" some
placing it before and others after the
name of the state. The term State
Guard is used by Arkansas, Kentucky
and North Carolina. The terms used by
other states are: Louisiana, state Ma
tional Guard; Georgia, Volunteers;
Virginia, Volunteers; Florida. "State
Troops; South Carolina, Volunteer
Troops" and Texas Volunteer Guard"
The total authorized strength is 1883
which is 1904 more than the organized
strength. Oklahoma has the smallest force
(500) and New York the largest, Us, 000)
In Idaho, louisiana Nevada and Tennes-
see the force is not limited. Therefore in
footing up the above total the authorized
strength of these states has been consid-
cred the same as the organized strength.
The organized strength is 1890. 1t is
least in New Mexico, (36D, and greatest in
New York, $4,000 the average being near
ly 2,322. Alaska and Indian Territory have
no militia. The actual strength is made
up as follows:
infantry .lO0,ll9
Artillery OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 0,Oo5
Cavalry OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 49S
special troops .'..........--..........',.. Z,zIO
Generals and staff officers .....,...... S7S
Non-commissioned staff officers .... 400
Thirty-one states held encampments,
with percentage of attendance varying
from 9S per cent. in Pennsylvania TO u per
cent in Idaho.
Returns show total of 1O,S7S,11S men in
the United States liable to military duty.
This must be considered as only approx
mate, as the numbers in many of the states
are only estimated.
There are flfty-five general officers of the
line eight major generals and forty-seven
brigadier generals. California and Penn
sylvana have one major general and three
brigadier generals: Arkansas, New Jer-
sey and Texas have one major general and
two brigadier generals; Louisiana, one
major general and one brigadier general;
Kansas and Mississippi, one major gen
eral. The following states have brigadier
generals: New York and South Carolina,
four; Illinois, three: Iowa and Massachu-
sets, two; Alabama, Colorado, Connecu-
cut, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mime.
sofa, Missouri, Nebraska New Hampshire,
North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island,
Utah, Vermont. Virginia Washington,
West Virginia and the District of Column
ba have one. The remaining states have
no general officers.
Company officers are elected in all states
except Washington. In Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire, New
York, and Ohio the adjutant general has
the rank of major general; in California,
Colorado. Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi Montana Nebraska, Nevada,
| New Jerseys, North Carolina, North Da
kota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. South
| Carolina Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Vir-
| ginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyo-
ming, Arizona, Oregon and New Mexico
| he is a colonel in the District of Column
! bia, lieutenant colonel In Arkansas the
| private secretary of the Governor is ex-
officio adjutant general. The reports from
| the remaining states do not give the rank
of the adjutant general.
There are now forty-five army officers
regularly assigned for duty at state head
quarters. One of these officers also per-
| forms college duty, and one renders service
to the militia of the state wherein he is
| stationed, besides performing his camp
duties. In addition to the above there have
been thirty-four officers detailed to tenn
porary duty at state encamDments during
| the year at the request of the Governors.
| All the states except Delaware, Idaho,
| Illinois. Louisiana, and New York are
completely armed with the Springfield
rife, caliber "A. In Delaware there are a
very few Springfield rifles, caliber so,
which are to be exchanged for the caliber
| A In Idaho one company is armed with
! the Springfield rifle caliber so, and three
with the Springfield carbine calber AS.
In Illinois there are still some Springfield
rifles, caliber so, most of the force being
armed with the caliber AS. In Louisiana
| tnefe are some SprlnSiSlu ftitSS, CdliueT
AS. In New York the Remington rifles
are now being exchanged for the Spring
| field rifles, caliber As.
The cavalry of all the states is armed
with the Springfield carbine. caliber AS,
except Illinois, Louisiana. Oregon. South
| Carolina, and New Mexico The Illinois
cavalry is reported same as in regular
service" In Louisiana. in addition to the
| Springfield carbines, there are a few
Shapes carbines. caliber As. In Oregon
the entire force is armed with Spencer
carbines, caliber so In South Carolina
a few troops are armed with the Reming-
ton carbine. In New Mexico one troop
is armed with the Shapes carbine, caliber
So The greater part OF the cavalry is
also armed with the sabre and revolver
| in addition to the carbine
Thirty-one out of the thirty-nne states
having artillery organizations have one or
more Calling guns. Many of the states
have the 3.2-inch breech-loading rifles, but
a large proportion of the artillery arma-
ment is old and out of date
Capt Silas Casey, commandant of the
League Island navy yard. who has become
ranking captain in the navy, was gradu-