Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-21
FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
More Than Thirteen Million
Men Available.
STRENGTH OF THE MILITIA
Over liz, 600 in the Various Organize
lions.
DISTRICT NEEDS NEW ARM0RY
Recommendations Of Major Brett
Summary Of Reports Of the
Adjutants General.

States are available for military service.
according to the report of the military
secretary of the army concerning the
militia. which has just been made public.
OF that number 1880 men are organised
in state militia. ready for immediate mill
tary duty.
New York leads the list in the number of
men available for duty, having 1891 900
such citizens. Ohio is second with 1885,
no. Illinois comes third with 1,OSi, $50 and
Pennsylvania fourth with 1917. 200.
In the aggregate strength of its organized
militia New York leads with 14,711. and
Pennsylvania is next with $3.50. Illinois is
third with 8613.
The total strength OF officers and enlisted
men of the organized militia of the Dis
trict. according to the inspection last
spring, was 1.27S, exclusive of the naval
battalion, of about 200 men. decrease Of
234 since the last previous inspection. The
total number of males in the District avail
able for military duty, but unorganized, Is
stated at $1,000. including IA officers and
1917 enlisted men Of the naval battalion.
Major Brett's Recommendations.
Included in the recommendations and re-
marks relative to the militia made by Of
ficers Of the regular army is the following
statement by Major Lloyd M. Brett, LIST
Cavalry, in regard to the militia of the
District of Columbia:
1.-THE buildings now In use as armories
are unsuitable and inadequate. Within
cure, and they do not offer proper facili-
ties for military work. They are the best
accommodations that can be secured in
the District.
passed the militia act Of 1903, 1t assigned
to the National Guard Of the country an
important place among Its military forces,
and the National Guard will have to work
hard to realize expectations. It would ap-
pear to be the part OF wisdom for the
general government to set the example to
the states by housing the National Guard
of the District OF Columbia, for the main
tenance Of which It alone appropriates the
funds, in an armory that will stand the
scrutiny Of the many visiting guardsmen
and that will serve as model for the
states to follow"
District Artillery Organizations.
In order that the \, ar Department might
be advised as to the needs Of the militia
artillery organizations. and the facilities
provided for the proper care and preserva-
ton of artillery material, the officers de-
tailed by the War Department to inspect
the organized militia were directed to make
inquiry concerning, ana 10 report upon, the
condition Of the field batteries with regard
to armament. personnel. efficiency and
armory and storage facilities. The follow
ing Is summary of the Information con-
tanned in the report regarding LIST Battery
Of the National Guard of the District:
Armament and condition. breech-load-
ing rifles, caliber 3.2. model 1897. service
able; carriages with limbers. serviceable;
4 caissns with limbers, serviceable: 1 wagon,
forge and battery. serviceable. Charac-
ter of personnel-Personnel is good cap
tain Is energetic and intelligent, ably as
sisted by his two lieutenants; target prac-
tice at annual encampment first in history
of battery. Armories-The building which
answers the purpose Of an armory is damp;
but the guns and other property stored
therein were In good condition; government
property receives good care"
Readiness to Respond.
No occasion for calling any bodies Of mi
litia into the service Of the United States
has arisen during the year. says the mill
tary secretary, but in a number Of cases the
states made use Of their troops to subdue
uprisings or to protect life and property.
From reports made by the inspecting Off
GERS 1t Is estimated that about 80 per cent
Of the organized militia would respond to q
call for troops to repel invasion or suppress
insurrection against the authority Of the
United States. This percentage is greater
inspection made during the year 1905. from
which it was estimated that about IS per
cent of the organized militia would respond
to a call for troops.
disposition on the part Of the state authori-
ties to continue their efforts to bring their
militia to a state of discipline and efficiency
that shall conform as nearly as practicable
to that of the regular army. 1t also APP
pears from those reports that the interest
of the younger men in militia affairs has
continued. and that the morale Of the mill
tia organization is improving.
The inspection reports show that of the
2.169 organizations inspected, 1855 were
fully armed uniformed, and equipped for
field service at any season of the year; that
134 were fully armed. uniformed, and equip
ped for service during summer only; that
212 were deficient in articles of clothing,
camp equipage, kitchen utensils, or ord
nance and ordnance stores, and that 487
were not sufficiently armed, uniformed and
equipped for field service.
1t appears that since the militia act Of
1908 became operative there has been de-
crease of over per cent in the total
strength of the organized militia. That
or reformation of organizations that were
reported by inspecting officers to be ineffi-
cient.
Allotments Inadequate.
In some Of the reports Of the adjutants
general to the governors of their respective
states 1t Is stated that the main cause Of
the insufiiciency of equipments Is due to the
inadequacy of the allotment of the annual
federal appropriation for the support of the
militia. and to the inequitable distribution
OF that appropriation under the present sys-
tenn of distribution according to representa-
ton In Congress as required by law. Some
of the adjutants general suggest that a
more equitable distribution would be one
made on the basis of the number of officers
and enlisted men enrolled in the organized
militia of the respective states, territories
and the District Of Columbia.
Storage Of Camp Equipage.
The War Department has approved the
practice of keeping tentage. camp equip
age and kitchen utensils In storage at state
capitals. or other proper and readily ac-
cessible places. because the organizations
generally have no facilities for the storage
Of unch articles which can he tCc1od vuho,,