New-York tribune., 1900-04-02
BILL FOR A RESERVE ARMY
PLAN TO UTILIZE vOLUNTEERS-ALL
CITIZENS OF CERTAIN AGE
LIABLE TO SERVICE.

Washington, April 1.-Representative Hay. of
Virginia one OF the prominent members Of the
Military Committee of the House. has prepared
with great care bill to create out of the militia
of the several States reserve volunteer army
for use in time of war. to supplement the Regu-
lar Army. The bill contemplates a general
broadening OF the basis of the National Guard,
it's equipment with the service rifle and its COM
plete organization in time of war into regiments,
brigades, divisions and corps, with the three bat
talon formation, il the Regular Army, and is
designed to obviate the necessity of a large
standing army upon the expiration of the present
law July l. 1901, increasing the standing army
to $1,000 and authorizing the present volunteer
army Of $4,000. The bill will be introduced in
the House Tomorrow and receives additional
Importance from the fact that Mr.. Hay is chair
man of the Democratic caucus. The bill makes
all citizens between the ages of eighteen and
forty-fve years liable to military service in the
volunteer army. 1t appropriates S4,O00,o0O an
nually for the maintenance and equipment Of
the National Guard of the several States this
forming the nucleus of the volunteer army, and
requires the Secretary of War to keep in each
State a supply of ordnance stores sufficient for
ninety days of the National Guard of the
State in the event of war 1t provides a system
of mobilization for the Guard by dividing the
States into military divisions, and provides for
board of officers in each State who shall hold
examinations for the place of second lieutenant
in the National Guard such officers to be pro-
NOTED for merit and efficiency. Mr. Hay said
to-day in explanation of his bill:
On July l. 1901 the present Army will be
duced to its peace basis of 26,S1O men. Taking
into account the situation which may confront
at that time, will it be necessary to increase
the Regular establishment beyond that number?
The reasons given for such increase are various,
but the most important are that there must be a
sufficient number of men to man effectively our
seacoast defences sufficient number to pre-
serve peace and order in the Philippine Islands,
and sufficient number to do police duty against
the Indians and TO take care OF the various posts
in the United States. The number of men suffl-
cient for these purposes is variousy estimated
necessary to determine this question, because a
year may very materially change present con-
ditions. But it will be admitted by all that the
strongest argument which can be used against a
large standing army is the creation of a well
organized and thoroughly equipped National
Guard.
This country has fought all of her with
citizen soldiery, and no good reason can be given
for departing from that policy. Money spent for
the purpose of organizing and equppng the
militia of the States is money saved, and the
sooner this course is adopted the better it will
be for the country Heretofore the militia has
not been organized with view to war. The
folly, not to say the crime of such policy was
demonstrated in the Spanish war. The time has
come when we must solve the problem of Ma
tional defence, and solve it, if possible in a way
to prevent the creation of a large standing army.
An organized citizen soldiery, in touch with the
people and composed of the people, does The
object to be attained is to enact law which will
effectually create an organized militia which will
be available at a moments notice.