The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-02
states to ne Divided Into Military
Districts and All Able-Bodied
Men Liable 10 Service.
NECESSITY OF SUCH A PLAN
AUTHOR OF THE BILL CLEARLY OUT.
LINES ITS PURPORT.
Obviates Necessity for Large Standing
Army-Appropriatio Carried
VIII he Introduced To-day.

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 regular
army. The bill contemplates general
broadening of the basis of the national
guard its equipment with the service rifle.
and its complete organization i'm time OF
war into regiments, brigades. divisions and
corps, with the characterization formation.
as In the regular army, and Is designed 10
obviate the necessity of a large standing
army upon the expiration OF the present
law, July !, 1901. increasing the standing
army to 5000 and authorizing the present
volunteer army Of 5000. The bill will be
introduced in the House tomorrow, and re-
ceives additional Importance from the fact
that Mr.. Hay is chairman Of the Demo-
cratic caucus. The bill makes all citizens
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five
liable to military service in the volunteer
army. 1t appropriates s4,0000O0 annually
for the maintenance and equipment of the
national guard of the several States. thus
and requires the secretary of war to keep
in each State a supply of ordnance stores
sufficient for ninety days use Of the national
guard of the State. in the event Of war. IL
provides a system of mobilization for the
guard, by dividing the States into military
divisions, and provides for a board OF Of
ficers in each State who shall hold ex-
aminations for the position of second lieu
tenant in the national guard and OF officers
to be promoted for merit and efficiency.
tine time has come" said Mr.. Hay to-
day, in explanation of his bill. when il Is
necessary to consider carefully the ques-
tion of the future military establishment
of the United States. In the minds OF
many, the maintenance of a large standing
army seems a necessity, and az first blush
it would seem that there is no other way
out of the difficulty which now confronts
US A careful consideration Of the question
has led to the belief that the situation can
be met without a resort TO that worst
enemy of a republic, a large and perma-
nent military establishment The secretary
of war has well said: That the regular
establishment in the United States VIII
probably never be. by itself, the whole
machine with which any war will be
fought This being admitted. it viii cer-
tainly not be contended that in time OF
peace the regular establishment viii be
the whole machine Conservative men
will seek some means by which the regular
establishment can be reduced 10 mini
mum compatible with the requirements OF
the country in time of peace and at the
same time will offer some plan by means
of which an efficient army can be placed
i'm the field should we unfortunately engage
in war.
NECESSITY FOR ACTION.
ION the first day OF July, 1901 the present
army will be reduced to its peace basis OF
2e.elO men. Taking into account the situa-
ton which may confront at that time.
will II 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 ef-
fectively our seacoast defenses; a sufficient
number to preserve peace and order I'm the
Philippine islands. and a sufficient number
TO do police duty against the Indians ard
TO take care of the various posts I'm the
United States The number of men suin-
cient for these purposes. is variously esti-
mated at from 5000 TO 100000 men; but II
is not now necessary To determine this
question, because a year may very mater
Tally change present conditions. But IL VIII
be admitted by all that the strongest argu-
ment which can be used against large
standing army, Is the creation OF we'll
organized and thoroughly equipped na-
tional guard.
This country has fought all her wars
with citizen soldiers. and no good reason
can be given for departing from that
policy. Money spent for the purpose OF
organizing and equipping the militia OF the
States is money saved. and the sooner this
course is adopted the better II 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 II.
II possible. I'm a way TO prevent the crea-
tion of a large standing army. An or
ganized citizen soldiery. In touch with the
people. and composed OF the people does
this. The object TO be attained is 90 enact
q law which will effecutally create an or
ganized militia which will be available az
a moments notice.
1.-The bin, II enacted into law. viii. IL is
confidently believed. go far towards solv-
ing successfully the intricate problem Of
national defense. and an the same time
obviate the necessity for any Increase Of
the standing army"