The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-04-05
Heather forecast for Fred
sffcks6ur0 and cicinftV.
Thursday partly cloadyJTeSh
Northeast aoiRdS.

THE bill prepared by Mr.. Hay, OF
Virginia, for the reorganization OF
the army, Judging from its provisions,
as outlined by himself in an inter
view, appears to be q very proper
one, and will obviste the necessity
of a standing army in times of peace.
How to reduce the army to 8 peace
basis and protect our national pos
sessions and interests has been g
matter of no little concern, and it
was a question at one time, and may
be yet with many, as to whether the
regular army will not have to be in
creased to one hundred thousand
men.
Happily Mr.. Hay seems to have
solved that problem, and under his
bill the whole question is met at
comparatively small expense. His
bill seems to be similar to the meas
ure prepared by Gen. Joubert for
the Trsnsvaal republic, by which
citizens went from their farms to the
army as trained soldiers st a few
days notice.
The bill creates reserve volun-
teer army out Of the militia of the
!, several States, for use in time Of war
to supplement the regular army. 1t
contemplates a general broadening
of the basis OF the National Guard,
its equipments with the service rife,
and its complete organization in time
of war into regiments, brigsdes, d.
visions and corps, with the three bat
TALON formation as is in the regular
army, and is designed to obviste the
necessity of large standing army
upon the expiration Of the present
law. This bill makes all citizens be-
tween the ages Of eighteen and forty
FIVE liable to military service in the
volunteer army. 1t appropriates
100000 annually for the main
tensnce and equipment of the Ma
tional Guard Of the several states,
thus forming the nucleus Of the vol
unteer army, and requires the Secre-
tary of War to keep, in each state,
supply Of ordinance stores, sufficient
for ninety days use of the National
Guard of the state, in the event of
war.
1t provides system of mobilizs-
ton for the guard, by dividing the
states into military divisions, and
appoints q board Of officers in
each state, who shall hold exsmina-
tions for the position of second lieu
tenant in the National Guard, such
officers to be promoted for merit and
efficiency.
In speaking of the bill Mr.. Hay is
reported as saying that "this country
has fought all of her wars with citi-
zen soldiery. and no good reason can
be given for departing from that
policy. Money spent for the purpose
Of organizing and equipping the mil
tia 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
national defense, and solve it, if pos
sible, in q way to prevent the crea-
ton of large standing army. An
organized citizen soldiery, in touch
with the people, and composed of the
people, does this. The object to be
obtained is to enact a law which will
effectually create an organized mill.
tia that will be available at a mo-
Npent's notice.
9'The bill, if enacted into law, will,
it is confidently believed, 60 fsr to
wards solving successfully the intri.
cate problem of national defense,and
at the same time obviate the neces.
sity Of any increase of the standing
army.