The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-03
DIVISION FOR MILITIA
HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AD-
JUTANT GENERALS OFFICE.
BY THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
MAI. JAMES PARKER is AT THE
DIVISIONS HEAD.

Senator BacOn's Amendment, ApprO-
priating $2,OOO,OOO for the Equip
ment of the States MiIitia-WOrI<
of ReOrganizinE the MiIitin, in
Accordance With the Dick Bill,
Has Commenced - COrbin Reports
Upon the COuntry's Militia, Organ
lied and UnOrganized.
Washington, Feb. Upon the mo-
ton of Senator Bacon, the Senate
adopted an amendment to the army ap-
preparation bill, providing 100000 for
carrying into effect the provisions of
the militia bill, which was recently
passed by Congress. The army appro-
priation bill has not yet passed the
Senate, but it is certain that the Ba-
con amendment will be retained. This
action was coincident with action by
the Secretary of War, which is of in
terest and Importance to the militia.
Secretary of War Root issued an or
der creating a separate division in the
Adiutant Generals Office to control
militia affairs of interest to the federal
oONNA AAiiiCllbJ plONluCd ny tic lCCGHl
militia act. Maj. James Parker, u. S.
A, of the Adjutant Generals Depart
ment, has been detailed as chief of the
militia division, and Maj. F. F. Wilson,
formerly of the District of Columbia
National Guard, has been appointed
chief clerk
When the militia bill was first intro
duced in Congress, it contained a pro-
vision for the establishment at the
War Department of a separate bureau,
of which the chief would be a national
guard officer, having the rank of briga-
der general, for the administration of
militia affairs. Much to the disap-
pointment of the militia organizations,
this section was entirely stricken out
of the bill at the request of Secretary
Root before it became a law. Since
then Representative Dick, who is chair
man of the House Committee on Mi
litia, has introduced a bill, providing
especially for the establishment of such
a bureau, but this will also receive the
opposition of the War Department.
The newly-created division of mi
litia, with Maj. Parker, a regular
army officer in charge, has already be-
gun It's work or recognizing the mi
litia, in accordance with the new law.
Copies of the act have been sent to the
adiutant general of every state organ
ization, and in cooperation with the
| army ordnance department, means
are being taken to supply the militia
at the earliest possible date with the
g-Jorgenson magazine rifle. Or
ders have been issued by the ordnance
department to the Springfield armory
to rush the work of manufacturing
these rifles, which will be distributed
as rapidly as possible.
The report of Adjutant General Cor
bin upon the militia of the country
was sent to the Senate to-day. He
shows the available militia strength
unorganized of the country to be up
wards of 100000. OF this num-
Der 100000 are in Georgia. Gen. Cor
bins report shows the following fig
ures concerning the organized militia
of Georgia: General staff officers,
fourteen; regimental officers, field and
staff, $50; company officers, els; total
commissioned officers, 337 Non-com-
missioned officers. 75S; musicians, 1874;
privates, 1892 total enlisted men, 4,234.