Arizona republican., 1907-11-07
10 STRENGTHEN THE
 CITIZEN SOLDIERY
Article of Colonel McClintock in the National Guard Magazine For Mo- vember.

The National Guard Magazine, publication for "the troops of all the states" is giving a great deal of space to discussion of the question of ask ing congress for an appropriation of S5.000.000 for the benefit of the na- tional guard. In other words empha- sizing the importance of the work that has already been given a good start, that of making the national guard capable organization that can be re- lied upon from the outset. in time of trouble. To that end the magazine is publishing a series of letters from va rious national guard officers. giving their opinions concerning the move ment Following is an article in the November number by James H. Me Clintock, colonel of the First infantry, N. G. A. and acting adiutant general: Editor National Guard Magazine: "Assuredly I am in favor of an in crease of the federal appropriation for the national guard. I consider it ab- solutely essential to the continuance of the guard. and the guard I consider essential to the safety of the nation. It appears to me that the time has come for far better treatment from congress than ever has been known before. Far be it from me to advocate any system of compulsory military training. but I do believe that the only way out of the present military de- pression of the nation is through the training of an ample force of citizen soldiery.
 Tt is a deplorable fact that the reg ular army is a mere skeleton of what is required. in number of both officers and men. At the Austin maneuvers one of the regular cavalry regiments turned out about 32O strong. which is about three-troop war strength I know of a cavalry troop which has but five men for drill. after necessary details have been made. and of an in- fantry company in the same post where there is joy if as many as four teen can be released for duty Hardly Ia troop or company in the regular army has its full complement of off cers, and more and more officers should be detailed to schools where military training is given.
 q believe the national guard in every state and territory in the union is a far more effective body than before the Spanish War-better drilled. better armed. better clothed. and better in- structed on the target range and in the important work of camping. trans portation. subsistence and sanitation Yet. in many states (and this is true of Arizona). numbers appear to de- crease as nearer approach toward eff ciency is attained. It narrows down to the fact that the average man cannot afford to give up as much energy. thought and time as is required in the guard in these latter days. when the regular army is the standard of eff ciency set.
 "Of course. each state should have keen interest in the guard as a police force. ever effective in ouelling inter nal disorder. But. to my mind. the guard should be considered primarily as the main body of troops for the defense of the nation. Not only should it be armed and equipped with the best. but every enlisted man (possibly every cfficer) should be paid for the time consumed at drills.
 out here in Arizona there is cost be- yond that known in the east. Subsis- tence costs more. Transportation to
 
 of funds. is a serious matter. One of our companies had railroad travel of 505 miles to camp. over four separate railroads, and the least distance trav- eled by any company was 106 miles. The railroad bills are enormous, nec- essarily, and cut deeply into the allot- ment.
 The present appropriation for the
 
 and outfit a moderate sized cruiser The s5O0O,OOO you suggest for the guard, in ybur last issue. would do lit tie more than provide another battle ship. Yet, the safety of the union better could be assured by an expan- sion of the guard in numbers from its present force of about 12O, 900 to a half million officers and enlisted men, even