The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-06-02
BY COL. JOHN s. MAXWELL.
jacksonville. Fla. Nav %. 10


jacksonville, Fla, May 20, 1906.
Editor Sun:
In reply to your request for my views upon the
condition of the militia in Florida, herein set them
forth:
In the first place, permit me to say that I think
the fears expressed for the militia as whole
not only exaggerated but unfounded. l have been
connected with the militia in Florida for nearly
fourteen years continuously; and, from military
point of view, l must say have never known the
militia as whole to be in as good condition now,
nor the standard of efficiency as high as now.
Prior to $780, the Florida State Troops consisted
of twenty infantry companies and two light artillery
batteries organized into five battalions. The min
imum number of enlisted men forming company or
battery was thirty-two, and many companies had on
the roll but few more than the required minimum,
and some less. company of more than forty-fve
rank and file the exception to the rule. At
drills, if sixteen twenty enlisted in at
tendance it was considered hardly short of miracu-
lous, and the average attendance, may venture to
say, was twelve to fourteen men,
Today, as am advised, the Second Infantry
ssts of twelve companies, all with the full compile
ment of men, that is sixty-fve rank and file, except
-aytona and Starke, and these are each above the
minimum of fortyfve enlisted men, II 10 true that
company 3D." Second Infantry (Palatka), has re-
Gently been disbanded; but am advised that three
companies have recently been accepted with full
muster rolls that is sixty five enlisted men and three
officers I am also advised that some companies are
available in South Florida )
The First Infantry consists of ten companies there
Icing two vacancies in the regiment which may be
.lled in the future. The reports for the last
quarter ending March 3d. 1905, show that the three
Jacksonville companies and the companies at st.
Augustine Fernandina and Lake City are below the
minimum strength, and must either be recruited or
mustered out of the service. The discouragng fea-
ture about the present condition of the militia Is
that the largest city in the State the city which dur
ing the time have been connected with the troops,
has had more need more urgent need for the troops
than any other point in Florida does not support the
militia it should. In fact Jacksonville does not
seem to realize the situation Let it chance, for any
reason, that the military companies here and at ST.
Augustine Fernandina and Lake City should be dis
banded, Jacksonville would be without adequate mill
tary projections for with the exception of Starke,
there would be no company of the militia located
nearer to Jacksonville than eighty.two miles-the
Live Oak company.
This feature of the military situation in this State
stands forth prominentlythe strength of the militia
is indsputably in South Florida. The first regimen
tai district extends westward from Jacksonville,
along the line of the Seaboard Air Line to Pensacola
and in all that territory there are but three compa-
mes that approach the maximum strength. This fact
does not mean, necessarily, that the First Regiment
VIII be disbanded; but it does strongly indicate that
the State must be redisriced and that the military
strength of South Florida will be increased and
Jacksonville will become more dependent than ever
upon local militia for adequate protection in time of
necessity 1t therefore behooves here to keep the
local infantry not only up to the maximum strength
and the highest standard of efficiency but also that
we maintain well-dred efficient artillery organ
izaton.
What is the reason for this tendency strongly
marked for the military strength to drift south
wards cannot say. 1t may be that the increasing
population of that section of the State is the most
potent factor. Or, agian it may be the people of
that section feel the need Of protection because
OF the trpentne industry employing negroes in such