The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21
MILITIA ARE HAPPY
increase in National Guard Appro-
priations Leads Many Old
Men to Re.enlist.
State Rife Team May Enter Nation
al Competition at seagirt
This Fall.

campment GROUNDS located at Lake City, |
has been big assistance and encourage
ment to the companies throughout the
state ,and already many 81 the veterans
have announced their intention Of taking
on" again.
One OF the most important sections of
the new law is that which provides serv-
ice or "fogie" pay for. the enlisted men.
Heretofore only the officers have enjoyed
this privilege.
Enlisted men will hereafter be entitled
to a 10 per cent increase while in any
service under orders of the commander
in chief: for each period Of five years
service. The pay per diem for the first
five years Is as follows: Regimental non
commissioned officers and first sergeants,
$2.25; each sergeant and regimental musi-
clan, 50; each corporal, $1.75, and each
other enlisted man, $3.50. OFFICERS draw
the same pay as those OF equal rank in
the regular army, but their '.fogies'' cease
after an increase Of 40 per cent, or TWEEN
ty-five years service.
The medical department as separate
organization has been abolished. Each
regiment will now be entitled to sur
geon with, the rank Of major, two assist
ant surgeons with the rank of first lieu
tenants; one hospital steward and two
acting hospital stewards. Lieutenant Col
onel r. j. Fitzgerald, who was medical
director, will be assigned as surgeon of
the First regiment, with Harry p. Ritchiea
and Judd U. Goodrich, both Of st. Paul,
as assistants. The assignment of the
other medical officers have not yet been
decided upon, further than that Asa F.
Goodrich, st. Paul, and A. Be- Cole, Fer
gus Falls, will probably be assigned as
assistants in the Third regiment. It, is
conceded that this change will provide for
better discipline in the medical depart
ment.
An ordnance officer has been added to
the staff Of the battalion Of artillery, also
one commissary sergeant, one hospital
steward and one acting steward Each
| battalion of artillery also has an extra
allowance OF $3.50, and the battalion com
| mander 800 for horse hire. For years past
this arm of the service has been seriously
| handicapped for want Of money to en-
gage suitable horses, The batteries are
now on a solid basis, and in shape to
compete with those of our neighboring
states. : ~. Fl 81 -. ~ ..s.E
For Advanced Rifle Practice.
The new bill provides that the com
mander-in- chief may at his discretion
order and establish special camps for
advanced instruction in rifle practice, not
to exceed six days in any one year, the
attendance to be limited to officers and
men who have attained Sa prescribed
standard in craftsmanship. Teams may
also be selected to participate in official
competitions with similar teams from
other states. The idea of this section is
to pave the way for sending a team to
Illinois ITO retrieve 2tle Washburn trophy
and also one to Sea Girt: next, fall to
try for honors with teams from all over
the world. Colonel Van Duzee Of the
Third regiment zts very afaxious to send
his rifle team to- Sea t2tthis afall, and
recently announced *l1e would personally
stand the expense Of said trip if the state
made no provision for such. =
Headquarters Pay. =
The following sums will be allowed an.
nually to officers in actual command Of
troops, for incidental expenses in the ad-'
ministration Of the affairs of their re-.
spective commands: Brigade commander,
s10o; commanding officer of each regi-
| ment of infantry, $3.50; commanding Off
| Ger of battalion Of artillery, $3.50; each
| commanding officer of company or bat
teary, $100, the same to be drawn upon
vouchers approved by the adjutant gem
eral. In the past this money has been
raised by assessing each company from
SIS to $50 annually, which was taken
from camp pay. '.';. ~ .-~-s<- .-.,s
The adjutant general will hereafter have
fun charge of the state camp ground and
military reservation and $4,000 is an
nuaHy provided for the maintenance, ex-
| tension and Improvements Of grounds and
buildings. One of the first expenditures
will probably be for the erection of a
high fence on both sides of the railroad
tracks at Lake City and rigid regulations
will be provided and enforced to keep men
! away from the track. Guards will be es-
tablished at the gates and every precau-
tion possible taken to avoid accidents. 1t
is probable also that gravel paths will
be made. a wharf built for the landing
Of launches and improvements made to
i the bath houses. =..<s
II An additional sum Of $4,000 annually
has been appropriated, which now brings
the total annual appropriation up to $685.
500. @s.*'. ,~& &S ~ s.'+F&
| From all over the state come reports
, Of increased interest in the national guard.
The expiration Of the term Of enlistment
Z of all the men who went into the re-
organized regiments after the volunteer
: service has expired and nearly all are
-enlisting. - .tstt~a. 49,
/ The ST: Paul companies especially are
l now filling up fast in view Of the erection
/ Of a new armory to cost $100 200, which
3 will be a, magnificent structure
: Bills have been presented in the legisla
s ture providing for the legalizing Of any
>. bonds that may be issued by the cities O
Minneapolis and Duluth for the erection O
v armories, and as soon as it becomes Law
a vigorous movement will be commenced
in Minneapolis to secure new armOry.
q Governor Van SAINT has applied to th
war department for the assignment Q
+ Major William Gerlach, U. IS. A., retired
to duty as inspecting officer with the Min
nesota national guard, and 1t is expected
that the regulars from Fort Smelling vii
!, be camped near the national guard regi
,, ments at Lake City this summer.
). New Firing Regulations.
. A memorandum, has been prepared b
\ the war department on the revision of tn
s small arms firing regulations and sent ou
to the various states. This memorandum
n which will form part of the new regula
Y tions describes Special Course C-Sma
:, Arms Firing. Regulations for the use 9
: the Organized Militia
The cou1 Sc will be preceded by sight
ing, position and aiming drills, CALLER
s practice and estimating distance drill
J, lusing the methods and rules described !
e the new firing regulations, as far as the
n are applicable. Proficiency in estimatin
. distances will not be requisite for quail
y f1cation. Rules governing range practic
for rifle and carbine are set forth in table
and regulations Indicated in the memo,
andum.
, The rules for firing, the general regu
s I1ations the calculation OF the figures (
J, merit-company regimental and state
rs will be determined by army methods, an
l. the rules and regulations for competition
Il will conform to those of the regular arm.
n The target year will be from Jan.
= Dec 81, and the practice season from Ma
: 1 to Oct. !. Thine insignia for the sever.
! states will be uniform in general appear
Il I1h rfr 31ya