Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-18
Throughout Elihu Roots long service

Throughout Elihu Roots long service
| as secretary of war the one subject
tention, aside from the operation of
| the army in the field, the army reor-
ganiZatiOn act, the general staff scheme
| and the national militia project. was
| the question of developing i'm the mass
| of American citizens Il body of trained
| riflemen large enough to make our de-
| lenses secure in time of war. In sea
son and out of season he insisted that
the country needed men who could
shoot straight, who knew the use of
| the rifle thoroughly, and with whom
! proficiency in small arms practice
| S.ould be the first test of fitness as
| soldiers. Mr.. Roots earnestness in
| this matter served as reminder that
whereas we have made but little real
progress in rifle shooting since the
close of the Spanish war, other coun-
tries are giving close attention to the
subject. Canada alone having but re-
| Gently instituted broad gauge
scheme which it is believed will pro-
duce 100000 trained riflemen within 10
years.
Owing partly to Mr.. Roots persist
ent urging, supported by other inter-
| ested gentlemen i'm the army, navy, the
| marine corps. the National Guard and
| civil life, public interest in the sub
| ject took form in the organization of
the national board for the promotion
of rife practice in the United States
and
have been formulated which. if carried
into effect, seem likely to transform
| millions of hardly young Americans in
| to expert rif1emen and thus correct
what is palpably the gravest defect
i'm our military system.
In preparing these plans careful con-
sideratiOn was given to the methods
| employed by other countries to en-
| courage rifle shooting among their citi-
Zens and the paramount purpose was
| to devise system which should make
every American between the ages of
| Is and Is years ambitious to become a
| master marksman. In its general
scope the scheme provides for a highly
| organized system to encourage riff,
| practice in the state militia, in military
and other schools, and among private
| organizations as well as among in
dividuals who would be liable to mill
| tary service in time of war;
The judge advocate general Of the
| army on Tuesday submitted to the
attorney general his letter asking for
| an opinion on the status of retired offil
| GERS of the army who are eligible toI
advancement one grade on account df
service in the Civil War. The letter Oh
| the judge advocate general is accom-
| panied by long report which goes
fully into the question and cites cases
I'm the army and navy which might
lead the Department. of Justice to sus-
tain the judge advocate general in his
opinion that the retired officers who
are veterans may be promoted by
means of recess appointment A
similar question relating to retired
officers OF the marinH corps who served
in the Civil War h B been submitted
: to the attorney general also.
The general staff tpf the army has
rendered decision of interest to Off
GERS designated for deta'l as students
at the general service a staff college.
Hitherto the rule has been, in the
selection of officers foH instruction at
that institution, to cohfine the choice
to those who have haf four years OF
commissioned service in the regular
army. This rule has been departed
from so far as applies to the coming |
term In order that there may be ad-
mitted to the course at the school those |
commissioned officers OF the army who !
were appointed to the service under the
act Of February 2, 1901 After the next !,
term there will be strict observance !