The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-07

IL That is the miltar,
IL strength of the Unltet
IN M States.
With the enactment o
the new National Guard law the coun
try, during a term of peace, is place,
on stronger military footing than
ever before in its history. Some idei
of the immensity of this force can b,
appreciated when 1t Is realized thai
this number would make eleven armie.
as large as that magnificent host OF
seasoned veterans under the command
of the indomtable and matchlcss
Grant at the close of the war between
the States.
European nations may well ponder
over the significant fact that in the
twinkllng of an eye Uncle Sam could
place an army in the field which could
not he 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. 1t is true, nevCrthe-
less. that the United States has ap-
| preached nearer to a standing army
defend the Monroe Doctrine. the main
tenancc of which many leading states
men believe will precipitate the next
war. Under the new law this vast
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
acknowledgements of the States to the
Secretary of War the exact available
strength of the United States is TO-.
S53.a9G. OF the number, 11S,259 is or
ganlzed. The regular army consists of
$4,000 men. Thus there are 153.259
men actually under arms. and this
force forms n nucleus which is sus-
ceptible of indefinite expansion.
\ thorough understanding of the OK.
ccllent 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
maneuvres with the regular troops: for
target practice; for the same formation
and tactics now in force in the regular
establishment, and for generous appro-
prlations to be expended in carrying the
new law into effect. Wonders are eX-
pected of it. and the mistakes of the
Spanish war will be avoided. The |
laws providing for rotation in the
staff departments and the new general
staff of the army will also contribute |
largely toward bringing about these
excellent results.
a brief review of the salient features |
of the new National Guard law will |
show exactly what Congress has done |
for the defense of the nation. 1t pro- |
vides that the militia shall consist of |
every able-bodied citizen who is more |
than eighteen and less than forty-five |
years of age Government officials and |
members of any well-recognized reli- !
gious sect or organization at present |
organized whose creed forbids its men,
bers to participate in war are exempt !
from military service. The organlza-
tion. armament and discipline of the
militia will be the same as that of the |
regular army. When the United States !
Is invaded or in danger of invasion |
from any foreign nation or of rebellion |
against the authority of the United |
States. or the President Is unable with |
other forces at his command to execute !
the laws of the Union. it is lawful for |
the President to call forth. for a period |
of not exceeding nine months, the |
militia force deemed necessary to repel |
the invasion. suppress n rebellion or
enable him to execute the laws. He is
vested with authority to send troops
from one State to another to suppress
riots which the local authorities can
not control
When the militia OF more than one
State is needed the President may. in
his discretion. apportlon the force
among the States. When in actual
service the militia will receive the same
pay as the regulars. Every officer or
man who Is found Gt for duty after
the President calls the troops in the
field will be court -martialed If he re.
fuses to present himself.
There will be appointed an aGlutant-
general for every State. who VIII re-
I'A' w 'ht ctEittdlI Va w III lllp con-
dition of the militia and make observe
tions for the information of Congress.
The Secretary OF WAY Is authorized 10
issue, on the acquisitions OF the Gov
ernors, standard magazine arms with
bayonets and the other accOutcament,
used by the regulars for the equipment
of the militia IN exchange for the anti
quated arms. Ammunition will also he
provided To provide for arming the
troops an appropriation OF S5,OOO,OO0
Is made.
Authority is given to the Secretary
Of War to provide for the participation
of the militia, OH the request of the
Governors, in the cncampment maneu.
vres and the field instruction of the
regular army ut OF near any military
post, camp, lake or seacoast defcnscs
of the United States. The militia viii
also participate in practice not less
than twenty-four times with the ?cgu-
lar army. When thus engaged they
Will receive the same pay as the re-u.
lar force and Will be provided with
subsistence and transportation.
Officers OF the organized mil,t.a.
when authorized by the President, may
attend ard pursue a regular course OF
study at any military school or college