The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-18
TO IMPROVE THE MILITIA.

II seems likely that the appointment of
Gen. r.. s. Oliver of New York. as assist
ant secretary of war may be followed by
more vigorous policy of developing the
national militia than has prevailed hereto
fore. AS now organized the National
Guard of each State constitutes an effective
and reliable force for the suppression of
local disturbances, but it is still lacking in
the quality of national organization. Every
State now has it's separate organization.
supported partly by national and partly by
State appropriations. The total organized
forces of all the States number 1lO,221 Off
GERS and men and the appropriations of the
various States in support of the militia ag-
gregate s.. $50. In this State the author
lied strength of the militia, known as the
Indiana Legion, Is 4.s0S men. including four
regiments of infantry and three batteries of
artillery. The annual State appropriation
for the force is $4,000 and the national ap-
preparation is about $4,000. The entire force
could be concentrated In this city in twen-
ty-four hours and force equal to any local
emergency could be sent to any given point
in as brief a time. Experience has shown
that the militia responds promptly to every
call made upon it. and the efforts Of the
sympathzers with the mob element to dis
courage enlistment in the militia and to
force men out of IL have not had any per-
ceptible effect as yet. In spite OF these ef-
forts it is believed there will be no trouble
in keeping the force fully up to its author
lied limit all of the time. Several Of the
States maintain considerably larger forces
than Indiana-New York, ISIS; Pennsylva-
mia, $40; Ohio. 4.6l0. Illinois. 6,S95; Michi-
gan. 5000; Massachusetts,, 3.s35. New Jer-
sey. 4.9oo. For the support of her State mill
tia New York appropriates $4,000 year,
Pennsylvania $355. 900, Ohio sl95.0O0, Illinois
$4,000. Massachusetts, s325.ooo. New Jer-
sey $4,000. Wisconsin 100000. California
$4,000. and so on. These figures show that
the Importance of an organized militia
is universally recognized and that the
States are not backward in supporting it.
General Oliver is civil war veteran. has
been connected with the National Guard
of New York for many years. and is an
earnest advocate of increasing its efficiency.
Military men say he has few equals and no
superiors in the National Guard Regard
ing the reorganization OF the militia he
says:
The national guardsman has been treated
too much as an inexperienced and unprac-
teal man. His camp has been little better
than changed place Of drill He has
found 1t all ready for him, with every pro-
permanent buildings and forth. 1t has
long been my idea that the citizen soldier
should be put on his mettle; sent into an
unknown country, compelled to make his
own camp and utilize his own resources
for the achievement of his own comfort,
convenience and sanitary welfare. In this
way a reserve army of real value can be
trained and held in readiness for any
emergency.
Those who are familiar with General
divers ideas the subject say he will
work TO secure cooperation between the
regular army and the National Guard and
make real soldiers out of the latter. AS
this is also a favorite idea of Secretary
Roots they will doubtless work together
on that line. 1t is probable, therefore, that
the next few years will witness the inaugu-
ration of plans that will give the militia
forces of the various States more work to
do than they have ever had before and that
will tend to make better all around soldiers
of them