Evening star., 1901-07-20

II 1t is in the military service. but he does
this duty well and without more than the
usual amount Of grumbling. He evenS up
his discomfort. however, when 1t comes to
rockies" are put through their PAGES from
early morning until night, in expectation
OF their being called upon for foreign serv-
ice, Is enough to disabuse the mind of the
visitor Of the idea that soldiers life is
one Of sloth and ease.
Plans for Reorganixfng the Militia.
There are some great plans being made
In the War Department for the reorganiza-
ton Of the militia force OF the United
States. OF course, the carrying out OF
these plans depends entirely upon the will
Of Congress- and politics plays such an
important part in militia affairs that the
War Department officials do not care to
enter into any public discussion in regard
to them. The Spanish war has brought
about a well-def1ned agreement among the
many members OF Congress that there
must be some radical change made in the
present system of keeping up the reserve
army Of the United States. The Consti-
tuition gives Congress the power to organ
ize, arm, equip and discipline the militia
OF the several states at national expense,
and there is little doubt but that a propo-
sitiOn will be made this winter for Con-
gress to relieve the states Of the necessity
of making any military appropriation on
the condition that the National Guard may
be organized and drilled under the direc-
tion of the government at Washington
Should this idea be carried out Fort
Leavenworth Is to be used as a great mo-
bilfzation point for the militia forces OF
the middle western states: and II Is not an
imposstbflity In the near future that any
American citizen who will take the trouble
to visit that reservation at the time of
these great gatherings will be able to see
an army corps Of $4,000 men or more on
the march, in camp, fighting sham battles
nr IRWIN he work 10
direction of the field officers OF the Amer
lean army. This will be something worth
going a long distance to see, and one which
will not be duplicated except on rare oc-
rope where governments have been upon
a military basis for centuries past.
A consistent and continuous policy has
prevailed In regard to Fort Leavenworth
reservation, which seems to indicate that
the far-sighted military men Of a genera
tion or more ago realized the Importance
this military school would assume In the
future. No speculators or promoters have
been allowed to encroach upon the conflne
of this government land; no rights Of way
have been granted, and every institution
which might in any way be a detriment to
the moral or physical condition OF the SOL
dier has been strictly tabooed by each sue
ceedfng commanding omcef.
The Artillery school.
A little more than one hundred miles TO
the west lies Fort Riley, with reservation
seven miles square. In the past this post
has been looked upon as the practical artfl-
lery school OF the army. and it has not YET
lost it's prestige. nor will It ever. To this
interior point the United States sends it's
heavy siege guns and the light mountain
batteries. and, in fact nearly every kind Of
gun of movable character which Is used In
military operations The artillery men have
free range around Fort Riley; the prairies
are broad the roads are hard. and there are
enough hills to tax the ingenuity OF the bat
teries in cross-country marches Between
Fort Riley and Leayenworth Is an ideal
country for military operations. and the
two posts, taken together, may be said 70