Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-09
The New Militia Law.

Our own State is particularly inter-
ested in the new militia law which has
now passed both branches of Congress
and received the signature of the Pres
citizen soldiery and have maintained
it on high standard, and the value of
the training given and the equipment
provided was we'll attested when the
call came for volunteers in 1885, In our
more recent annual encampments the
reorganized National Guard has shown
a high degree of efficiency, being made
up of good material, well differed and
with particular attention given to rifle
practice.
But many states have not taken as
much interest in this matter as Maine
and this lack of interest in many
states and the need of organizing and
equipping the militia in harmony with
the regular force have long been prob
lem with the war department and Il
much subject in Congress.
Many bills have been framed with a
view of improving the militia system,
and some have passed one branch and
some the other. but none were salts
factory to both sides. Everybody real
lied that there was urgent need of re-
form in the composition, management
and equipment of the militia but each
bill proved inadequate and defective in
some respect. The bill which has now
become a law is sometimes referred to
as Secretary Roots bill, and sometimes
as the Dick bill in honor of Congress-
man Dick, long connected with the Ma
tional Guard of Ohio, who introduced
it in the house. Its trainers could profit
by the mistakes of their predeces-
sors and by the lessons of the war with
Spain.
By the provisions of this new law the
organized militia, with it's 115000 men,
which had no standing in the military
establishment of the country, now be-
comes part Of the armed forces of the
nation. In time of war the President
may call upon the National Guard for
a term not exceeding nine months. for
service within the boundaries of the
country. and when volunteers are
needed for service outside of the
country the members of the organized
state forces will have the first oppor-
tunity to enlist. The bill provides also
for the re-arming and the re-equipment
of the National Guard on the lines laid
down for the regular service. This
means the Krag rifle in place of the
archaic Springfield and other old
fashioned black powder weapons. This
part of the bill appealed strongly to
those men who saw our army in Cuba
and in the southern camps at the time
of the war with Spain. Six different
kinds of rifles. requiring six kinds of
ammunition. were used at that time,
and every part of the country had it's
oNH iuVd DIS W the proper size Oh the
organizations. The tactical organiza-
ton, as well as the equipment of the
National Guard, will from now on be
like that of the United States army,
and the new law specifies that within
five years these changes must all be
completed. To accomplish this purpose i
81, 100000 has been appropriately. |
Names share of this, it is, understood, |
will be about $4,000. Cyl sg9dfn adt
Joint camps of instruction, in which i
National Guardsmen and regulars"
will take part in maneouvres and |
practice marches, are also provided ,
for in the bill. These encampments
will give the citizen soldier a chance
to see how his comrade of the army
lives in camp, and they will also pro-
mote good fellowship between the two
branches of the service. Attendance at
these encampments on the part of Ma
tional Guardsmen will be at the re-
quest of the Governor, and not by Or T
der Of the army authorities While
the President OF the United States Is
he commander in chief Of all the mill