The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-04-05
PLAN FOR RESERVE
Bill Providing That State HilttiA;
May Be Used In Place Of Large 8
Standing Army.
Road to Cheraw Ready.

Representative Hay, OF Virginia 81
prominent member of the militasy
committee, has prepared with Nest
care q bill to create OF the militia ot
the several states reserve voiunteet
army for use in time of war, 70 supple
ment the regular army. The bill con-
templates general broadening otthes
national guard. its equipment with thes
service rifle and its complete crgantxa-
ton in time OF war into regimeute
brigades, divisions and corps, with tttS
three battalion formation, - n ~
regular army, and is designed 70 obyl-
ate the necessity OF large Stand:
ing army upon the expirxtoa cs
the present law July l. 1901, in0esss
ing the standing army to g.. 900 anfl g
authorizing the present yolunteer afn
of 35, 900. e
The measure receives additional Inc
portance from the fact that Mr.. Hay ~
chairman of the Democratic csncqi
The bill makes ali citizens bstwses
the ages Of eighteen and fortyAye
liable to military service in tho yolu1ss
teer army.
It .ppropriates "a, 600. 900 annusll3
for the maintenance and equipment
the national guard Of the several
states. this forming the nucleus of ~
volunteer army, and requires the Co.
retary Of war to keep in each state j.:
supply of ordnance stores sufficient tot
ninety days use Of the national guard
of the state in the event OF waf. &
It provides q system Of mobilixatiots
for the guard by dividing the states
into military divisions and pre
vides for q board of officers IN each
state who shall hold examinations toR
the position OF second lieutenant in
the national guard, such omcerg to ~
promoted for merit and efficiency.
''The time has come, said Mr. Hays
in explanation Of his bill, ''vhen + ~
necessary to consider carefully the;
question OF the future military estahs
lishment of the United States. In th6
minds of many the maintsnanee Of q:
large standing army seems . necessit
aud at first blush it would seem thN}s
there is no other way ont Of the din
Guilty which now confronts IA.
"A careful consideration Of ~
question has led to the belief that t9
situation can be met without : resQR&
to that worst enemy Of republic
large and permanent military est
lishment. The secretary OF wax h9s$
we'll said that the regular establt1lss
ment in the United States win nAsek
be by itself the whole machine Nith
which any war will be fought Yhls
being admitted. it viii certainly not'
be contended that in time OF peAce
the regular establishment will be The
whole machine
''On the first day of July. 1901 the'
present army will be redacsd 20 ~
peace basis of 26,610 men. Taktsg1
into account the situation which may
confront rs at that time, VIII u bes
necessary to increase the regular -
tablishment beyond that number7 The
reasons given lOI 6UCH 1oCk - -
various, bat the most important a1e'
that there must be . sufficient number
of men to man effectively our SEA eoast
defenses; o sufficient number 70 pre-
serve peace and order in the Philippines
islands, and sufficient number e DC:
police duty against the Indians end %
take care Of the various posts IN the
United States.
"The number of men sufficient Tor
these purposes is vsriously estimated
at from st, 900 to 1O0, 900 men, but +
is not now necessary to determine this
question, because year may material.
ly change present conditions.
'.But it will be admitted BY oil that
the strongest argument which can BE-
used against large standing army is
the creation Of q well organised and
thoroughly equipped national guard.
''This country has fought oil Of her
wars with citizen soldiers and no good
reason can be given for departing
from that policy"