The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-23
NATIONAL
GUARD AT
White HOUSE

Washington. Dec pa large delega-
tion OF members OF the Interstate Ma
tional Guard association, accompanied by
Senator Dick OF Ohio were received by
the president at the White House yester-
day afternoon Senator Charles A. Dick
OF Ohio head OF the organization, pre-
sided. President Roosevelt. Secretary
Taft, Assistant Secretary Of War Oliver
Gen. George X. Harris commanding the
District OF Columbia national guard. and
Senator Dick were among the speakers.
Before shaking hands with the delega-
ton the president made the following ad-
dress
II trust Il is hardly necessary for me
10 say what n genuine pleasure IL is TO
mo 10 greet this organization. / have
been a member OF the National guard my
self. and both at the time when / was
governor as the present assistant secre-
tary OF war can say and since l have
been president, and even when ! was
assistant secretary Of the navy. ! have
always done all that in me lay to further
the Interests OF the National guard
II have a good many things on hand.
but one of the things that are interest
ing me most at present, Senator Dick, is
the encouragement OF rifle practice In tho
National guard / want TO have IL under
stood. gentlemen. that do not care any
thing like as much for how your regiments
march and perform parade grounds and
armory manoeuvres as care for how they
are instructed in the work that would
make them valuable as soldiers in time
OF war.
II earnestly hope that the National
guard and Mr Taft, the regular army
also, especially the regular army will more
and more have the kind Of instruction
that will make II second nature for the
ma who marched TO march fully equipped
as he would be in time OF war. II he Is
trained to march that way he will not
throw away his equipment the first time
he goes TO war; otherwise he will do It,
RIFLE PRACTICE.
II want 10 see the average national
guardsman know how TO shoot well /
want 10 see the fund that we have for
rifle practice distributed among The sew
eral state organizations. partly at least
with reference 10 the way in which these
state organizations promote marksman-
ship. want 10 see the young fellow who
has been through the National guard re-
ceive a training which Will make him
able to do his work in time OF war If the
need comes.
you should try TO train your men so
they can live in the open: train them so
they VIII know what cover is, so they Will
be able to take advantage OF IT, so they
will know how TO march and march well.
and you should realize the relative impor-
tance Of what IL is that the men under
you learn, that as war is carried on nova
days, 90 per cent OF the ordinary work
done either on the parade ground or in
the armory. either by militia regiment
or a regular regiment amounts TO moth
ing whatever in the way Of training ex-
cept so far as the incidental effect is In
accustoming the men TO act together and
to obey; but they are not going 10 fight
shoulder to shoulder when they get out
into the field: 1t is absolutely not OF the
slightest consequence what their align
ment is, but IL is Of vital consequence
that they shall know how 10 take cover,
how to shoot and how TO make themselves
at home under any circumstances.
I'VE have such a small regular army
that you men of the National guard have
upon you heavy responsibility. l want
TO say that while IL is incumbent upon
you TO take your duties seriously and do
them with all your heart. IL you do even
that you do more good to the nation than
any equal body of citizens to be found in
our country"