The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-13
REPORT ON THE ARMY
EVERY PHASE OF THE MILITARY
is DEALT WITH.
Detailed Account of the Work of the
Militia-Comments on the OppOsi-
ton to the Militia Law.

Washington, November 1.-THE
annual report of Acting Adjutant Cen
eral Hall of the army, was made public
today. 1t deals with every phase of the
military. The actual strength of the
army Oh October 10. 1908, was 1851 Off
GERS and $500 enlisted men.
Over one half Of the report is devoted
to the militia and it gives a detailed ac-
count Of the workings of the act to pro-
mote the efficiency of the militia. passed
at the last session of Congress.
Regarding the dependable strength
of the militia in time of ma
tional peril, the Adjutant General
states THAT although the obligation re-
quiring officers and men of the militia
to respond promptly to a sudden call
of the President has been on the statute
books more than a hundred years, and
Of organized militia or national guard
for nearly forty and the neglect to so
respond is punishable by such penalties
as a court martial may direct, experience
has shown that this obligation is a
theory rather than a fact. Without
going farther back than the late war
with Spain, the proportion of the men,
bership of militia organizations who
have actually responded to such calls of
the President has borne a very small
proportion to those actually borne on
the company rolls
The Adjutant General comments at
length on the opposition developed in
some quarters to the militia law, which
he says is less on the whole than was
anticipated. He says it is true that
certain radical leaders of the labor
unions regard the militia as a menace
to their purposes, although it is doubt
full, he adds, if this enmity extends to
any considerable portion of their mem
bership. Continuing, the Adjutant Cen
eral states. that there is an inexplicable
opposition on the part of employers to
permitting their employees who are
members of the national guard to leave
their work to participate in drills. en-
campmentS and target practice, as well
as in responding to calls for service
from the state or the suppression OF dis
turbances. Business and professional
men connected with the organized mill
tia Of some Of the states" the Adjutant
lTSQGfdl duuS, 1Scl lllotl lllSy CdIllloe
afford to waste their time in riots or
labor troubles, while they would be
perfectly willing to respond in case OF
war. In some cities of Virginia, Geor-
gia and Louisiana, the newspapers have
prejudiced the minds of the milltiamen
by their distorted views. The fear is
expressed in some Southern communi-
ties that under the Presidents orders
white national guardsmen might be
compelled to serve under a colored COM
mander. and still others believe that
they are state troops and should not be
ordered for duty outside the state. Al
these examples, however, are to be re-
garded as sporadic, rather than conta-
gious. AS the intent of the law ns'
comes better understood, with perhaps
some further legislation, it is believed
thai all opposition will be confined t(
such irreconcilable elements as are no
to be satisfied with anything less thar
the abolition Of all agencies that MAKE
for the preservation of law and order.