The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-01
MILITARY CHANGES
INTERROGATION OF DICK BILL
BY WAR COLLEGE BOARD.
SOON TO BECOME EFFECTIVE.
RECOMMENDATION TO BE MADE
By SAVANNAH MILITARY.

The Minimum Enlistment in Infan-
try and Cavalry to BE 60; in Ar
tilIery 12O-Term of Enlistment
to Remain the Same as Prescribed
by the State-PhysicaI Examina-
tiOn of Enlisted Men the Same as
That in the Regular Army-Other
Important Constructions.
The Interpretation of the Dick Mill
tia bill by the War College Board has
been published. These interpretations
will be of much interest, especially in
Savannah, where the provisions of the
Dick bill have been carefully studied
by the officers and where the con-
struction on certain sections has been
awaited with considerable interest for
some time.
The construction by the War Depart
ment is a mere Interpretation, and is.
therefore, not necessarily final, though
it is probable that in most instances
the Interpretation on various sections
will obtain as a final construction. The
Secretary of War calls upon the mill
tary in the several states for recon-
mendations, denoting that where many
of the states desire a change in the
construction of any particular section
! that course will be pursued, provided
the change meets the approval of the
War Department.
Each state is called upon to official
| ly announce whether it will subscribe
TO the conditions imposed by the Dick
| BILL Gov. Terrell has already sign1fied
| the acceptance of the Georgia troops
| by reporting to the Secretary of War
that the troops in this state are ready
| for inspection.
Some Important Changes.
One of the most important internre
tations is that the minimum number
| OF enlisted men to company of in
| tantry or cavalry shall be Co. the num-
Der required of the heavy and light
artillery to be 100
1t is provided that the War Depart
ment cannot prescribe examinations
for officers other than those prescribed
| by the state In regard to enlisted
| men, the War Department may pre-
| scribe the physical examination, which
| is to be the same as that for the ~egu-
lar army, or a suitable modification
of it.
1t is recommended that each state
prescribe its own oath and period of
| enlistment. Equipment will be furnish
ed by the War Department only after
a favorable report, following an in
| spection by a deputized regular army
| otlcer. Neither can the state troops,
| under the construction of Sections IA
and To- get money for a state camp
or participate in an encampment with
| the regular army until after the off
| Ger so appointed shall have reported
that the troops are sufficiently well
equipped.
The Interpretation of the bill was
| read yesterday by the officers in Sa-
vannah with much interest. General
| ly speaking, the construction meets
| the approval of the officers, though
| there are quite a number of recon-
| mendations which the Savannah mill
tary will furnish Adjt Gen Robertson,
to be forwarded to the War Department.
In speaking of the matter, Col. G. A.
Gordon said:
Col. GOrdOn's Views.
Under the provisions of the bill we
have five years in which to conform
to the organization, armament and dis
cipline of the regular army, in which
time we must make suitable progress.
The duties of Capt. Spence will, l pre-
sumo, be to look after this matter and
| render such assistance as he is able.
1--WE will have quite number of rec
concentrations to make. For instance
the minimum number of enlisted men
to company is entirely too large.
The volunteer companies in this state
| cannot support companies with a min
imum of that size. The adjutant gen.
erals office has received a recommen-
dation of fifty as a minimum. In my
opinion forty would not be too small a
number.
Under Section IA it seems that any
portion of the state troops may attend
an encampment. The volunteer troops,
under Section Is, can participate only
with the regulars in their own state
This Interpretation is contrary to that
of some of the officers, who construed
the section to mean that a volunteer
Georgia regiment might encamp with
the regular troops in another state.
| This restriction will not, however. de-
bar our participation with the regular
troops at Chickamauga, since that post
is within our state"
One Question Unanswered.
1.-THE policy of the War Department
seems to be against the undue increase
in regimental organization. If we con-
form to the conditions of the bill as
interpreted by the War College Board,
the result will be the existence of
twelve companies to each regiment,
with a minimum of sixty-five men to
each company"
The Interpretation of the board leaves
but one important question in connec-
ton with the Dick bill unanswered in
the minds of the local military The
Adjutant Generals office in Atlanta
has written to Washington. and the
answer of the Secretary of War is
awaited with a great deal of interest.
No reply has been received as yet The
question which dsturbs the minds of
the local military and which is of first
Importance to them is: What will he |
hn 6of IF 70 80
unteers go in with the regulars?