Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25

being sufficiently armed, equipped and
drilled for the purpose.
Therefore there is. a force of So 4SI disci-
pinned men, nearly all armed with the
regulation United States magazine rifle
ready at short notice to reinforce the stand
ing army of the nation.
Increase of interest on the part OF the
younger men in the militia has been marke5
and the morale of the organizations ha
oeen appreclably advanced" Gen. f.
AinsWorth, the military secretary saws
On the part of the state authorities +" r.,
adds, "a disposition is evinced to bring the
militia to a state OF discipline and efficiency
that snaii conform as nearly as possible to
that OF the regular army" And competent
Judges assert that the regular army of the
United States. man for man, and organiza-
lion for organization, is without peer
X
During last year there was no occasion
Tor calling any body OF militia into the
service of the nation, although. in a num-
Der of cases, the states made use of their
troops to subdue uprisings or to protect life
ard property
Upon such occasions the conduct of Off
GERS and men was closely watched and a
general Improvement in discipline and eff
clency was noted over preceding years In
addltlon, a thorough inspection of the va
fiouS state forces was made last year by
officers of the regular service
With few exceptions, the organization of
the militia now conforms, so far as prac-
ticable, TO that of the regular army Where
commands have been reported upon ad-
Versely by inspecting officers the state au-
thorities, as a rule, have promptly adopted
remedial measures
designations of officers, it is stated. have
been frequently called for, and many COM
panles have been completely reorganZed
At the time of inspection for instance the
entire infantry forces of South Dakota
were undergoing reorganization and some
OF the companies were disbanded
The military forces of the states and ter
ritories are divided as follows: General Of
ficers and general staff 966; cavalry. 1851;
artillery, 8,26S; infantry. 3d. sos; engineers
1,131; signal corps, $50; hospital corps, 1.s16
Total, III 313
This number includes Is officers and 1s3
enlisted men of the District of Columbia
Naval Battalion, and is exclusive of seven
Mississippi organizations, from which no
reports. were received.
New York state has the largest body of
National Guardsmen ready for active serv-
lce-l4, 264-and Nevada the smallest-l40
Following New York in numerical
strength of efficient militia are PennsyIva-
MIA, with $3.50; Illinois. 6.269; Ohio. 6.S32
Massachusetts, $500; New Jersey 1918
California, 1856, and Georgia 3 1866 Far
away Hawaii maintains its little local army
of $40 men
Rhode Island, smallest state in the Union
has 1,035 officers and men in her National
Guard, and Delaware. next In size, has 3ss.
Lack of armory accommodations and of
ranges for target practice are two ills
which have retarded the general advance
ment of the National Guard and prevented
a better showing.
The almost general demand for better
armory facilities is indicated by a few ex-
tracts from the state reports:
District of Columba-Armory facilities
inadequate, and the guard labors under
many disadvantages for this reason.
Colorado--Armories throughout the state,
with the exception of four, are IN poor
condition and inadequate to accommodate
the troops.
Georgia. great deal of property has
been lost or destroyed on account of COM
panies not having suitable quarters for
storing their property. The armories are
small, unserviceable, unsuitable and unat-
tractive.
Idaho-Property from the government Is
stored in warehouse.
Kansas-Lack of suitable armories, none
being owned by the state.
New Mexieo-Armories are such In name
only, being little more than rooms for the
storage of supplies, and not large enough
to permit of indoor drills by companies.
observation-disclosures armories are not
provided by the state, particularly for the
country companies the efficiency of some
Of the organizations being decreased for
that reason.
South GaroIina-State does not own a
single armorys except small one at Beaa-
Charleston there IL none owned by the or
ganizations or by the cities in which the
organizations are located.
West Virginia The poor class of arno1ies