New-York tribune., 1902-01-29
NEW MILITIA SYSTEM.
REFORMS ADVOCATED BY SECRETARY
ROOT.
PLANS TO BRING THE NATIONAL GUARH
INTO CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE
REGULAR ARMY.

INTO CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE
REGULAR ARMY.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Washington Jan. 2-Secretary Root REGARDS no
legislation pending before Congress as OF more
pressing Importance than the bill proposing 10 IN
crease efficiency of the militia introduced IN the
House by the chairman of the Committee on Miiitia'
Mr. Dick, and in the Senate by the chairman Oh
the Committee on Military Affairs, Mr. Hawley.
The subject has been of the closest to him for
several years. and ever since he came TO the war
Department he has discussed il with army officers
and mitiamen in the hope of suggesting a system
that would meet every national emergency, avoid
ing a repetition of the weaknesses developed when
with Spain required A sudden expansion OF the
military force and at the same time ooVfatlng
the maintenance of enormous standing army in
time of peace. The new bill, which appears to solve
with surprising simplicity problems which were
heretofore most completing, was drawn by the Sec
retary in consultation with many experienced OFF,
GERS of the National Guard and number of Off
of the regular army. familiar with the work
ing of the methods of raising volunteer forces eA-
listing at the opening of the Spantsh-Amerfcan
War including President Roosevelt. 1t has been
carefully revised in conference with a committee
of the convention of adjutan5 general of the
National Guard held In Washington, and has been
approved by an overwhelming majority of that
body. It's design Is TO substitute series OF prac-
ticable provisions for the obsolete Militia law or
1892 define the status and duties of the National
Guard, that without infringing on their status
State troops for State purposes, they shall be
treated under certain specific circumstances and
limitations the organized militia OF the con-
stitution and that their relation to any volun-
teer force which may be raised shall be clearly
established. Its further design is to increase the
efficiency of this organized militia and bring about
harmonious cooperation between 1t and the reg
ular army in preparation for war and for the
raising of volunteer forces whenever such forces
shall be necessary. Its further design is TO make
provision : that when volunteer force is called
for there shall be at hand list of trained men
who may be organized from the country at large
ready for immediate service, and officered by men
whose fitness to hold commissions has been previ-
ously ascertained.
CHEF FEATURES OF THE BILL
The distinguishing features of the bill
Section /. Defining the National Guard as the
organized militia and requiring the organizau,oh'
TO conform to that Of the United States army.
se PrGEdng & for the III tS ealing OF fhe stse
Secs. g., 4 and 6 PToyiding for the greater eff
eSy 9' rev5n e foT the Entertainment in time
of peace of the fitness of persons 70 hold commits
See s Providing for keeping roll of the trained
men who have been graduated from the regular guar
ing in the National Guard, that they will be
I s aS6s IL sse m Se ca Of S a IN the
same way the last force of volunteers sent 10
See Providing for the general organization nbsn
75 War. TnS' were o'S"''''O HI ''''
FORCES AVAILABLE FOR WAR.
Under these provisions there would be whenever
comes tho following forces:
secondISuch OF the organized militia the Presi
dent should lit TO call into the service or the
suppress nsurrectlon repel invasion or execute the
Thlrd-A volunteer force of such size as Congress
should determine. 10 be composed Of:
ca Such companies troops and regiments OF the
orsanzed militia should volunteer as bodies with
tbj or a body OF men having previous military
training. organized by the President and com
yiousiy ascertained under the provisions OF Sec
Ccl OF such further volunteers as might neces
sarily be called for from the States according TO
appointed by the Governors OF the States.
Secretary Root declares with emphatic significance
that he considers this measure of the very high
est Importance in there is TO be any adequate
preparation for another when II comes. and
he adds impresslvely that OF course Il will come
some time The militia law stands to-day Secretary
Root says practically as II enacted In 1892 and
is obsolete. The organization and armament of the
State National Guards. which treated $ militia
in the appropriations made by Congress- must be
made the same as those provided by Congress for
the regular and volunteer armies The relations
OF the National Guard organizations 20 the national
lofces and the obligations and duties OF those or
gdnizaons In time of war. must be clearly defined
80 that the confusion and distress regarding their
action which accompanied the outbreak OF the war
with spain may not again occur.
RELIANCE ON VOLUNTEERS.
THE reliance OF the country for the large forces
necessary In modern warfare" says Secretary
Root, must necessarily be chiefly on volunteers
Ihe method and procedure of raising volunteer
forces should be prescribed in advance so that in
stead OF waiting TO devise plans for a volunteer
army until the excitement and haste of impending
war make perfection OF design difficult and sat
iStactory execution impossible Congress will have
plan by officers each one Of whom has long been
familiar with the part he is play. desirable
that any plans adopted should provide for utilizing
IN the earlier volunteer organization called out
already In the regular and volunteer forces.
earlier volunteer organizations be constituted
OF these trained men, much valuable time and
penSe be saved, and many dangers NAV be
aVerted during the period while the ordinary yolun-
teers are receiving the necessary training ProVi-
sion should also be made for the selection in ad-
vance OF the officers OF any volunteer force which
may he raised. Careful selection is impossible at
the outbreak of war. 1t Is entirely practicable in
time OF peace
The provisions of Sections s and . of the new
GERS to command the expanded forces called into
service in times of national peril. and to this
Secretary Root will throw open the various
vice schools to the officers OF the National Guard.
military colleges and technical institutions for In
structiOn by and with officers of the regular army
These Include the Artillery School Fort Monroe:
the Engineer School of Application at Washington
Fort Totten, y. Y; the School of Application for
Cavalry and Field Artillery. at Fort Riley. Kan;
the Army Medical school at Washington; the GEN
eral Service and Staff College. at Fort Leayen-
worth and the new War College. for the most ad-
Vanced instruction Washington. 1t is Intended
TO arrange the courses az all these schools so that