The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-07

(COntinue0 rom sirSt Fd9cJ from civil life and for volunteer officers in any future exigency. the President, in August last, authorized the announce ment that thereafter he would annually award a commission in the regular army to at least one honor graduate of each of the six institutions of this character showing the best work upon inspection, provided that vacancies should exist after caring for the graduates at West Point and the successful competitors among the enlisted men. This announcement was made by war department general order No. 6, August 24, 1908.
 The Militia.
 Of equal importance with the general staff act in it's relation to the general military efficiency of the country is the act to promote the efficiency of the mili- tia, approved January 21 1903 supplement ted by an appropriation of $2,000,000 in the army appropriation act of March ?, 1903. A copy of these statues Is annexed hereto as Appendix F. The militia act had it's origin in an agreement between the regu- lar army, represented by the war depart ment, and the National Guard of the states, represented by a convention which met in Washington in January, 1902, upon 
 necessary to give vitality and effective ness to our militia system Upon presen- tation of these provisions to congress, the committee on militia of the house took up the subject with great public spirit and industry, and on that basis wrought out bill which, with but few changes, was passed and approved in the form of the present act. The act proceeds upon the following ideas:
 That whenever the United States be- comes involved in war, the regular army will form but a small part of its armed force and the country must also rely, for immediate and special exigencies, upon militia; and for service going beyond the proper limits of militia duty, upon volun- teers.
 That 1t is of vital importance to have a trained force of militia ready for in- stant service when called upon, and also to have a large number of citizens suf- flciently instructed and exercised in the art of war, to organize, train and cofn- mand volunteer forces.
 That the best way for the national gov ernment to secure both these requisites is by turning to the national guards of the states, which have grown up as state or ganizations intended for state purposes. but are composed of citizens liable to be called upon by the national government for military duty, and willing to devote a considerable part of their time to fitting themselves for the performance of that duty
 That, without at all interfering with the services of these organizations to their respective states in time of peace, they can be treated as a national militia to be called into the service of the United States in time of war; and that it is for the interest of the national government to make these organizations as effective as possible. having in view their prospec- tive national service as militia and their immediate service as the school of the national volunteer soldier.
 That as the militia when called into the service of the United States and the volunteer forces commanded by the citi- zens trained in this school of arms will form. together with the regular troops but one army, subject to the same conn mand drawing arms, ammunition and supplies from the same source. and sub- ject to the same general system of ac. countability for property it will be i'm. portant that all parts of this preate,. army shall have used and shall he fa. miliar with the same arms, ammunition. supplies, and forms and methods of trans acting business, and shall have similar or ganization and discipline.
 Coast Defense.
 Satisfactory progress has been made in the construction and armament of fortifi cations. Additional guns have been mounted as follows: Twelve l2-inch. three 10-inch, four S-inch. seventy rapid fire, and thirty-one 12-inch mortars
 The test and installation of range and position finders and fire-control stations have proceeded under harmonious co-op- eration of the chief of engineers the chief of ordnance. the chief signal officer and the chief of artillery There are now Il fire commanders and 56 battery com manders' stations completed and turned over to the artillery corps. and 22 fire commanders and 55 battery commanders stations are under constructions
 The ordnance department has made good progress in additions to the supply of heavy projectiles and smokeless pow der. The engineers. the ordnance corps. the signal corps. the corps of artillery and the quartermaster's department all complain of an insufficient supply of ex-