The Irish standard., 1903-04-25

Eleven millions Of intelligent, cour I
ageous men. That is the military
strength Of the United States, says a
Washington dispatch to the Chicago
Inter- Ocean.
With the enactment Of the new ma
tional-guard law the country, during
term of peace, is placed on strong
er military footing than ever before |
in it's history. Some idea of the i'm
mensity of this force can be appreciat- |
ed when it is realized that this num-
ber would make eleven armies as |
large as that magnificent host of sea-
soned veterans under the command of |
Grant at the close Of the war between |
the states.
European nations may well ponder
over the significant fact that in the
twinkling Of an eye Uncle Sam could
place an army in the field which could
not be duplicated and which would
challenge the admiration of the civil
lied world. While the idea Of large
standing army is repugnant to the
American mind, it is true, neverthe-
less, that the United States has ap-
preached nearer to standing army
than ever before. 1t is prepared to de-
fend the Monroe doctrine, the main
tenance of which many leading states
men believe will precipitate the next
41,1 Ion %1,Se 0Sf
army, thoroughly armed, equipped,
and trained for the serious business of
war, can be mustered almost instantly.
At present the naval force Of the
United States is exceeded only by that
of Great Britain and France.
According to the recent reports of
the adjutant generals of the states to
the secretary Of war, the exact avail
able strength Of the United States is
1O,S53,396. OF the number 11S,259 are
organized. The regular army consists
of $4,000 men. Thus there are 153,259
men actually under arms, and this
force forms a nucleus which is sus-
ceptible of indefinite expansion.
A thorough understanding Of the ex-
cellent military position of the United
States will be had when it is known
that the new law provides for equip
ping the national guard with modern
arms; for practice marches; for field
maneuvers with the regular troops;
for target practice; for the same
formation and tactics now in force in
the regular establishment, and for
generous appropriations to be expend-
ed in carrying the new law into effect.
Wonders are expected of it, and the
mistakes of the Spanish war will be
avoided. The laws providing for rota-
tion in the staff departments and the
new general staff of the army will
also contribute largely toward bring
ing about these excellent results.
A brief review of the salient feat
ures of the new national guard law
will show exactly what Congress has
done for the defense Of the nation. 1t
provides that the militia shall consist
of every able-bodied citizen who is
more than 18 and less than 45 years of
age. Government officials and men,
bers Of any well organized religious
sect or organization at present organ
ized whose creed forbids it's members
to participate in war are exempt from
military service. The organization,
armament, and discipline of the mill
tia will be the same as that Of the
regular army. When the United
States is invaded or in danger Of in
vasion from any foreign nation or Of
rebellion against the authority of the
United States, or the President is un-
able with other forces at his command
to execute the laws of the Union, it Is
lawful for the President to call forth,
for period not exceeding nine
months the militia force deemed
necessary to repel the invasion, sup
press rebellion, or enable him to ex-
ecute the laws. He is vested with
authority to send the troops from one
state to another to suppress riots
which the local authorities cannot con-
troll.