The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-10
MILITIA FOR COAST DEFEND
Have Proved Very EIicient. says toionci
Weaver. VINO Praises the Dick Law.

To THE Enron OF THE sUN-Sir La.
ferring TO an editorial under the heliI, d,
THE Militia in Joint ManUuvres," In Inn
SUN Of August &. In which you quote from tho
press dispatches a reference made by NJ,
to the performances OF the Massachust'i,
militia In ths recent Joint army and mi.,,,
coast defence exercises In boston harbor I
beg that you will make a slight correction tn
my remarks.
What I said 10 the gentlemen Of the prc,S
In reply to the question AZ to how the Ms,ss.
chusetts troops had performed their dutisa
In the recent coast defence exercises VA.
that In my opinion they had lone admirah,y
we'll: the Coast Artillery supports had met
most creditably all demands MAIDS upon
them. and the Coast Artillery Reserves VI
Massachusetts were In my opinion better
trained In the duties OF coast defence than
any other body OF the militia. and this vrs
to be expected In that Massachusetts was tie
first to take up coast defence work along mod
ern lines. and had maintained IL since 1873.
While all the Massachusetts field troops
are very well trained and disciplined al
equal In my opinion to thu mobile troops ~
any other State. I did not say that the Mas-l-
chusetts militia a. a unit were superior to
the troops OF other States. My comparison
referred to the performance Of coast artillery
work by the massachusetts Corps OF Coa-t
Artillery. ! know of no troops which have
In ther organization as a CORPS Of Con-,
Artillery. and In their practical training IN the
armorics and at the coast forts. exhibited -
high a degree OF efficiency In coast artillery
You make reference In your editorial al,,
to an article OF mine entitled An Army Er-
serve which WINS published some time hark
In the journal 81 the Military .Serrice I"j-
tuition. 1 would like to make clear that tha'
article referred primarily TO mobile troops,
not to those assigned TO the passive. more
restricted special work connected with mar
ming the fixed coast defences.
II In thought that State militia are particl-
larry INDICTED as the appropriate troops for
coast defence work, Il seem; desirable H..
troops that reside in the vicinity ofthe works.
by troops that in time OF war will serve m
the immediate defence Of their own homes
The Chief OF Artillery has recommended
troops proper and oil the Coast ArtiIlc =
supports (coast defence Infantry be- supplied
from the organized militia of the coast States.
II this be done IL will release all other troops
to the uses OF the mobile field army.
Your editorial might be construed 70 srr-
gest that | am not In sympathy With the
provisions of the Dick law. ] would like 10
correct any such impression II exists
doubt a great Improvement on what existed
prior TO its passage. II is thought, how
ever, that it il susceptible OF Improvement
along the lines indicated in my article on
An Army Reserve: that is to say. that while
the officers should be appointed by Governors
of States, the training, discipline and use Of
the militia should be controlled by the War
Department; and that the United States
it now provides other public buildings, snd
furnish directly all supplies and equipment
10 the militia. as 1t does now to the Regular
troops. +. NJ. WEAVER
ant TO Chief Of Artillery.
WASHINGTON, August 2.