The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-27
A RESERVE TO ARMY
I-LANS BEFORE CONGRESS FOR RE-
ORGANIZING STATE TROOPS.
SAVANNAH IS INTERESTED.
ONE-TIFTH OF THE MILITARY OF
GEORGIA is HERE.

vision OF Laws Regulating State
TrOOps-NatiOnaI Guard May BE
Made Reserve to Regular Army,
and Subject to the Presidents
Call for Nine Months Duty I'm This
Country at Regular Army Pay.
Central Points Selected for Mob
IixatiOn-PIan of Promotions Sug-
sested.
With an enlisted strength constitut-
ing about one-fifth of the military of
the state. Savannah is naturally much
interested in any changes that may be
made by Congress, in the law affecting
the State Troops or National Guard.
AS a military state Georgia stands
among the foremost in the Union. The
number of its soldiers places it sixth
upon the list, for numerical strength,
and for organization and efficiency,
largely due to the foundation so care
fully laid by the late Capt. Satterlee,
its standing is even higher. Yet Geor-
gia has much to gain by needed legis-
lation, and there are indications that
there will be several measures before
the next Congress, in the direction of
making the State Troops a reserve to
the regular army. The man
whose views upon this subject seem to
be the most clearly defined and which
are attracting the greatest attention
at present, is Col. Edward E. Britton,
late colonel of the One Hundred and
Fourteenth Regiment, Infantry, N. G.
N. Y, the Brooklyn Fourteenth, and
now connected with the adjutant gem
erals department of the National
Guard of New York.
1t is not unreasonable to suppose
| that Secretary Root, who is from New
| York, as is also the Assistant Secre-
| tary of War, Col. Sanger, entertain
views somewhat similar to those of Col.
| Britton, as they are both known to
! favor legislation upon the line that he
| suggests. In fact, the Secretary has
| gone so far as to select one point for
! the concentration and maneuvers of
troops, Fort Riley, Kan, and it is
given out that a point in the East is
also to be selected for the same pur-
pose. The Secretary's idea is said to
be to mobilize at these points State
Troops, as well as regulars, for annual
| tours of duty.
Col. Britton'S paper upon the subject
| of the national reserve was awarded
| first honor by the Military Service In
stitution of the United States, and has
| been printed in pamphlet form and
widely circulated its provisions cover
both the land and naval forces, and
| some of the most important are as fol-
lows: The supervision of the militia,
by bureau composed of army officers
to be known as the Bureau of the Vol
unteer Militia.
1t is expected that the appropriation
| for conforming states will be increased
and after allowing officers annually
sum to assist them in uniforming and
equipping themselves, providing uni
forms and equipments for enlisted men,
and paying transportation to and from,
and subsistence at the annual encamp-
| ment, the amount remaining to the
credit of a state is to be paid over to
the military fund of that state. II is
supposed that each state will continue
to appropriate for it's troops, as they
are to be subject to the orders of the
Governor for duty in the state, and
are to be paid therefor according to the
state law The president is to have
the authority to call out all or any por-
ton of the volunteer militia, but they
are not to be held for more than nine
months, and are not to be sent out
of the United States. For such duty
they are to be paid at the rates pre-
scribed for the army of the United
States, or an increase.
Rifle practice is to receive especial
attention, and the best shots in each
regiment and company are to be
awarded appropriate decorations by
the general government, in the shape
of gold and silver medals A state or
regiment is to be allowed to adopt
dress uniform of its own, at other
than government expense. The term
of enlistment is to be three years, and
organizations are required to have a
certain number of drills and parades
each year. All inefficient organiza-
tions are to be aisbanded upon report
OF the inspector, who is to be an of
fcer of the United States Army.
The promotion feature seems to be
favored for officers, according to which
nearly all officers except second lieu
tenants would be advanced by promo
ton, after satisfactory examination
upon subjects as prescribed by the War
Department. The second lieutenants
would be elected by the enlisted men
and commissioned upon examination.
Col. Britton has prepared bill which
embodies the above provisions among
others. He does not seem disposed to
push its adoption before the next Con-
gress, but has another bill for the ap-
pointment by Congress of a commission
10 MAKE study OF the situation by
travel. etc. and TO suggest laws to the
next succeeding Congress. Adjutants
general of nearly every state and ter
ritory have endorsed the bill for the
appointment of the commission, and 1t
is safe to assume that If Col. Britton
should not be upon such a commits
sion his views would have considerable
weight, and many of his ideas would
be adopted. 1t may be regarded as a
fact of some significance that Vice
President Roosevelt. then governor,
was chairman of the board. which
awarded the first honor to Col. Brit
toms essay.
The Georgia State Troops organiza-
ton would have to be somewhat
changed by the creation of two brigades
with general officers and their STATS.
otherwise the bill would cause few
changes, and IL is not believed il would
excite very great opposition here. IL
Is not thought that in view of the adj
vantages to be derived therefrom. Of
ficers and men would object to placing
themselves subject to the orders OF the
President. as before the Spanish War
many OF them thought that such power
was vested In the President anyhow.
Further developments will be eagerly
awaited by officers and men OF the
Savannah military.
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