Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-12-05

y
year. In the opinion of the medical
department, when permanent arrange.
ments have been made and proper
sanitary regulations can be enforced
the health of the troops stationed IN
the tropics will be quite as good as If
stationed in our own gulf states
Militia and Volunteers.
The present provisions of law relat-
ing to the militia and TO the raising
of volunteer forces, and to the raising
feet and unsatisfactory. The militia
law stands today practically as il was
enacted in 1892, and is practically OBJ
solete. 1t is very desirable that con-
gress should now exercise the power
conferred upon it by the constitution
to provide for organizing, arming, and
disciplining the militia. The organ.
cation and armament OF the national
guards of the several states should
be made the same as those provided
by congress for the regular and vol
unteer forces. The relations of the
national guard organizations to the
national forces. and the obligations
and utes of those organizations in
time of war. should be clearly defined,
so that the confusion and distress re-
garding their action which accompa-
MED the outbreak of the war with
Spain may not again occur.
The reliance Of the country for the
large forces necessary in modern war
fare must necessarily be chiefly upon
volunteers. The method and proceed
ure of raising volunteer forces should
be prescribed in advance, so that in
stead of waiting to devise plans for
volunteer army until the excitement
and haste of impending war makes
perfection of design difficult and sat.
isfactory execution impossible, con
gress will have but to direct the exc
cution of well understood plan by
officers, each one of whom has long
been familiar with the part he is to
play IL is desirable that any plans
in the earlier volunteer organizations
called out, the training of those citi.
zens who shall have served already In
the regular and volunteer forces. II
the earlier volunteer organizations
can be constituted of these trained
men, much valuable time and expense
can be saved, and many dangers may
be averted during the period while the
ordinary volunteers are receiving the
necessary training. Provision should
also be made for the selection In ad.
vance Of the officers of any volunteer
force which may be raised. Careful
selection is impossible at the out
break OF war. It Is entirely practl
cable in time of peace.
1t is recommended that the presi
dent be authorized to convene boards
of officers for the examination Of Of
ficers Of the national guard, Ind other
citizens who may apply to be exam
ined, as to their qualifications 10 hold
volunteer commissions; that the per
sons passing such examinations shall
receive certificates. stating that the
office for which they are found to be
qualified, and upon the calling out Of
volunteer force shall be entitled TO
receive commissions for such ofices.
The secretary recommends that the
war department be authorized to arm
the national guard with the present
service small arms used by the .regu.
lar army. navy and marine corps; that
the national guard be treated as
first reserve. TO be called into the ser.
vice Of the United States to execute
the laws, suppress insurrestlons, and