New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-29

arms and equipment similar 10 those used by
the regular army
principle that whenever the United States be-
comes involved in the regular army must
fern only a small part of it's armed force. and
the country must depend upon it's militia for
immediate and special eX1gencies, as we'll
upon volunteers for service beyond the proper
limit of militia duty, the new law passed by Con-
gress was based upon the idea SET forth by Mr.
Root that it is Of vital Importance to have al
ways ready a trained force of militia as well as
a large number Of citizens sufficiently instructed
and exercised in the art of war. TO organize
train and command volunteer forces. Naturally
tne pest way to secure both these requisites was
Tor the national government TO turn to the al
ready organized and partly trained National
Guard of the States, which without interference
with service to the States in time of peace could
be readily called into the service of the United
States in time of
EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY.
Pursuant to this policy the new militia law
was passed. placing the organized militia upon
basis corresponding to that of the regular
army, making it. together with the regular
army, a homogeneous force and planning to
bring the two military elements into closer con-
tact. promoting between them habits of cooper
alton, mutual respect and good understanding To
further these purposes. the new law prescribed
that the organization, armament and discipline
of the organized militia should be the same as
that Of the regular army; inspection and in
struction by detailed officers were also provided
AOr, anu likewise Qeld exercises in State
carnpment and the joint manPuvres with the
regular army, the expense Of 1t all to be borne
py the federal government. Thus new and
important duty was prescribed for army Off
GERS, while upon militia officers must rest great
er responsibility and task than ever before if
they essay TO meet faithfully and fully all e2s
pectatons.
To those who think they see extravaganza
In the new scheme brief statement of facts
should alone be necessary. For example. ad-
hitting that all of the $1.OOOOOO appropriation
allotted annually to the States for militia pur-
poses is expended each year (Which, however, is
not factj, and that the federal joint manRu-
vres will cost annually about S10O0O0O more
the whole aggregate cost would be small COM
pared to the vast practical good accomplished To
organize, equip and train even a few additional
regular regiments Of thousand men each would
cost much more than the entire new militia
scheme. Whereas. according 10 the initial in
spectons and returns last YEAR the total num-
Der Of the organized militia. including and
officers was ascertained to be 116,542. Distrib-
uted by organizations there We're about 500
companies OF infantry. the equivalent of 1873 regi-
ments; S6 troops OF cavalry, equivalent to I regi-
ments; 81 companies of coast artillery. rs bat
teries OF field artillery, II engineer organizations
y signal corps organizations and II hospital
corps organizations. This force reported by the
ectet1iy VI w ar "ouIu IoIiH I'VE army C"iPS u
three divisions of three brigades or three regl-
ments Of Infantry each, with a reduced tactical
complement of cavalry and artillery. With
such force Of trained and praCtised troops
TO form with the enlarged regular army first
fighting line. with volunteers and reserves IN
lines, need the United States with its strongly
fortified seaports, its spendidly improved supply
department and ample gunmakng factories be
apprehensive over any foreign menace?
Those who because of the conspicuous part nee
essarily played by Republican administrations IN
conducting successful and victorious wars and IN
building up the military strength of the country
on safe and conservative constitutional grounds
see or pretend to see military menace and ten
dency TO alleged mltarisp should at least rec
ognze the important fact that after all Presi-
dent Roosevelts administration has only at last
succeeded in accomplishing what every Prest-
dent of the United States OF every political
school had in way another sought TO
achieve. In further refutatiOn OF the ground
less charge of Republican alleged "miIitarism"
the additional stupendous fact may be men
toned that the army Of 1868 numbering 1.OOO.-
SIC men, was steadily reduced by Republican
administration TO - 935 in four years, and
In the subsequent two years to 3J353 men.
which finally, not long afterward. was still
further reduced TO about $1,000. And in this
respect all fair minded men should ponder the
constant reduction of the Spanish force
gress authorizes him + his untrarnmelled dis
with a tendency 10 so-Caed federal militarism.
especially when he is the first President Of the
United States that has been able to so efectual-
~ Join the hands OF the States citizen sodiery
and regular federal troops to make them a
single military unit for the purpose Of national
defence as contemplated by the Constitution.