The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-21
NATIONAL GUARD
MCCULLOUGH HAS ITS REORGAN-
IZATION ALL FIGURED OUT.
REGIMENT OF SIX COMPANIES
Battery A, Stationed at Helena, Z So
Far the Only Company That
Has Done Any Drilling.
Especial to Inter Mountain.l

Helena, Dec. H.-Adjutant General M
Cullough is making plans for the re-
organization Of the national guard on a
six-company basis Five companies have
already been mustered into the service
and within a short time he will apply
to the war department at Washington
for the government aid given each ma
tional guard, which with the $4,000 ap-
propriated by the last Legislature. Will
be sufficient to partially equip the guard
Under the old law this state received
out S2SoO from the government, but the
last session of congress increased the
federal aid for the state militia organi-
cations from 100000 to 81. 900, 900, and this
will give Montana about $4,000 from the
government, which, with the money
made available by the last legislature
gives the new adjutant general $4,000
with which to take preliminary steps to
place the militia on good footing.
Before the government viii issue either
arms or clothing to the state, it must
be shown that Montana has 100 men,
pers OF the state militia, to each repre-
sentative in congress.
But Little Work Done Yet.
AS this state has two senators and one
congressman, it will be necessary for the
guard to have 500 members before the
government will issue supplies. The gov
eminent gives no cash aid to the national
guard. but in lieu of the amount appor-
toned to each state issues supplies.
Thus far five infantry companies have
been organized by General McCullough
and the artillery company has been or
canned Tor number of years. Battery
OF the National Guard located in Hell
ena. is the only National Guard organiza-
ton that has been drilling for any length
of time. But little work of any kind has
been done by any of the new companies
The first requisition that will be for
warded to the war department 6y the
adjutant general will be an order for
krag- Jorgenson rifles, of the same pat
tern as those used in the regular army
1t is regarded as important that the mi
ltlamen first be issued guns, as they
could drill without uniforms for the time
being.
The Montana State National Guard
as now organized consists of the follow
ing: Battery A of the artillery at Hell
ena; Company A, Bozeman: Company
b, Butte; Company c, Big Timber;
Company D, Red Lodge: Company f,
Livingston. There is one company vet
to be organized. The sixth company will
be supplied by either Kalispell or Lew
lStOWn or Great Falls
The plan of the congressional COM
mittee on military affairs in passing the
increased appropriation for the State
National Guard is to make the National
Guard as much like the regulars in equip
ment as possible. The government is
sues blue flannel shirts and the regula-
ton Krag- Jorgenson rifles.
Six Company Regiment Enough.
The adjutant generals of many of the
states petitioned congress about two
years ago for the passage of a bill ap-
propriating 100000 for the state mi
litia. A compromise was effected and
the amount asked for cut in half For
mer Adjutant General English of Mon
tana was one of those prominent in the
movement for a more liberal support of
the guard on the part of the government
The Bozeman, Big Timber, Livingston
and Red Lodge companies are located
close together. This will enable them
to hold a series of practice marches
during the summer. 1t is Adjutant GEN
eral McCullough's idea to make the state
guard as effective and practical an Or
ganization as possible, that they may
be ready to respond to their country's
call should the occasion ever offer again.
1t is believed that a six-company reg
iment in Montana will be much more eff
fective than 10 or 12-company regi-
ment. Soon after the Spanish Amemcan
war, when the reorganization of the
guard was talked over, it was proposed to
recruit a full regiment of militia in
Montana.
The plan was abandoned and 3 six
company regiment is all that would be
practical with the means at the disposal
of the state. With the state and gov
eminent appropriations it will not be
possible to fully equip 300 men or six
companies of so men each, but a good
start will be made and the next legis-
lature will probably be asked to make
deficiency appropriation.