The sun., 1906-02-22

nearly all OF the volunteer regimehts'
II is desirable to have both the Regular
army and tho National Guard In high STATE
Of efficiency In time OF peace; but tho prime
object of these institutions. after all, is EN-.
cheney IN war From what has been salo, "
Is evident that under the present system
neither would be fully efficient when the grea'
test came, nor have they any means OF recup-
Grating after sustaining loss from batlie or
disease. Within one month after LANDING III
Cuba tn. Regular army was complete "rech
and 1t did not entirely recover from thiS
short campaign for several years. The CON
dtion of the Volunteer army az to armament
equipment and health, and Its degree OF NJ.
moss for field service In the latter part OF
August, 1903, three months after muster in'
Is not yet ancient history. No further arau.
ment Is required to convince the thoughtful
reader OF the necessity for trained reserves.
both for tho Regular army and for the
organized militia.
The opinion seems to be very gradually
held that the National Guard constitutes the
first reserve for the army. The AdJutant-
General OF one OF the great States In the
eastern portion OF the Mississippi Valley
writes. under date of November 20. 1905 ~
Ia my opinion that any scheme which would
In any manner eliminate or interfere with the
present arrangement which makes the Ma
tional Guard the fret reserve would meet
with strong opposition from the Guard"
number Of others could be quoted to the
same effect
Bearing in mind the definition Of tho reserve
as given herein. 1t Is evident that this con-
ception Is erroneous. The organized militia
never has been. and never can be, reserve
for the Regular army. It was not called out
In 1893 because under the Constitution 1t
could not be expected TO leave the limits OF
the United States. Even II laws were en-
acted permitting men to be enlisted In the
Regular army and organized militia at the
same time. would Private William Johnson
OF Company A, Seventy fourth Regiment,
y. G. n. Y, bind himself by an oath to report
for duty as private, Company A. First United
States Infantry. at Fort Porter. upon receipt
Of a call?
Neither can the National Guard be con-
sidered tactical reserve. The Regular army
Is so weak numerically that regiments OF
organized militia, or volunteers raised there
from. will have 10 be employed side by side
with the Regulars In the first line, even In
small wars. as was the case In Cuba and
Porto Rico In sos. Furthermore. no General
would think Of forming his reserve. the body
of which Is to make the decisive attack en-
tirely OF militia or volunteers. unless they
were equal to or better than the Regulars.
The strength Of the reserves required for
the Regular army Is easily calculated by
taking the difference between peace and war
organization. as follows
Infantry. thirty regiments s.................2s,2s 2s0
Cavalry. fifteen regiments nts................... b.oi0
Field artillery, thirty batteries"........". 1900
Engineers, three battallons 72o
Total i......................
Allowing a small margin for sickness and
also several thousand for depots. we find
Sc, 900 as the minimum necessary.
A careful estimate as to pay. clothing and
ba ,nI OF ohO,
$40 per man. Whether Tvs inducements held
out are sufficient is not certain. but 1t Is GER
tain that doubt on this subject will not be
removed until We try II and make our first
experiment in modern military organization.
As to a reserve for the organized militis
1t will be soon enough to begin discussion
| when this body has been placed on proper
| footing. 1t Is to be observed, however. that
many regiments. for example the Sixty-ffth
| and Seventy fourth New York, already have
a plant for producing soldiers costing about
| 81 ooO. 900, which If worked to full capacity
would serve for the instruction Of large regi-
ments and occasional musters of their
| reserves.
The difficulties OF the militia in performing
| their labor Of love are fully appreciated; !;
| the results they accomplish under all sorts
| OF discoura cement are wonderful their
| aspirations are indicated by the adoption Of
| the name National Guard" They cannot.
| however. become efficient as national troops
as long as they are commanded by forty-fve
Governors and supported or neglected by as
many constantly changing Legislatures
! The militia system dates from an ge when
| communication was reckoned by months
! instead Of minutes. The attempt to adapt
| II to modern military requirements is ike
treating new diseases with old medicine.
| Wien the militia is supported and controlled
| by the nation. with authority for local use
| by the Governors, uniformity and efficiency
will be attained. The formation Of limited
reserve composed OF men who have COM
pleted their military education could then
be undertaken and would present no serious
| difficulties j. 7. D1CKMAN.
Captain. Eighth Cavalry, L. S. A.
| WAsHINGToN, Feb. 20.