Evening journal., 1907-01-30
MILITIA A STRONG
ARM OF DEFENSE
Necessity Of Equippine State
Soldiers With New
Arms
YOUNG MEN SUPPORT GUARD

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 30.-The |
awakening Of interest in the organiza-
tion and equipment OF the National
Guard is almost universal IN all the
States, and IS calling for the very fav-
orable attention OF Congress. In this
connection the story OF the American
National Guard, from the beginning
will be Of interest TO an readers. II
is the theory Of our form OF govern
mont that In case or war the govern
ment must rely on It's citizen soldiory
for defense. and that a large standing
army Is not. and never can be neces-
sary. That being the theory II would
naturally occur TO the least observant
that the militia should constantly re-
ceive the appreciation and encourage
ment OF the governing authorities.
Until within a comparatively few years
Congress has been very remiss In its
treatment OF the militia. Except IN
most Of the wars with the Indians and
our recent war with Spain, il has been
the volunteers and not the regulars
that did most OF the lighting. not that
the regulars did not fight well, but
because they comprised but a small
portion Of the forces Of the government
III All Allt NfANn Ant government ItNn
been engaged In, Il has been handi-
capped very greatly by the want OF a
we'll organized and trained militia.
Congress as early as 1889 recognized
the need of an organized militia, and
took some steps toward encouraging
such an organization. But, in the early
history Of our government lack OF
means made these steps very small and
inadequate for effective work.
II was not until after the Spanish
American war however, that the people
and Congress took the interest In per-
fecting the organization OF National
Guard commensurate with it's import
ance.
Since 1SOS there has been two funds
for the purchase Of arms-one consist
ing Of the 100000. and its accumula-
tions, and the other OF a changing ap-
propriation for arms for the regular
establishment These two funds have
always been kept separate by the Sec
retary of War, and there was a time
when about the only arms furnished
the militia were those discarded by the
regular army. BY 1897 the government
had accumulated a large reserve sup
ply OF arms and the militia began
clamoring for a better equipment, and
army officers began TO recognize the
Importance Of training the militia &c
use the arms that would be In actual
service in time Of war. In 1897 Con-
gress provided that;
1.-THE Secretary of War Is hereby au-
thorized to issue TO Governors OF ths
several States and Territories sucl
number Of Springfield breech- -loadinl
rifles, caliber forty-fve one hundredth
OF an inch, as are required for arminl
all the regularly organized and equip
ped militia Cgenerally known as tn
National Guard) Of each State ant
Territory that are not already sup
lplied with this arm"
During the short war with Spai
some Of the regiments Of volunteer
raised by the several States havin
taken into the service the arms issue
to the militia, and the government hav
ing retained the arms when the regi
!. ments were mustered out, the War De
partment was authorized TO replac
I such arms so retained, by new rifle
of the same model, the provision of tn
> law being that
ION application OF the Governor q
{, any State or Territory the Secretar
I OF War is authorized 10 replace IN
y ordnance and ordnance stores which Ia
J volunteers from said state or Terri
/, tory carried into the service OF tn
. United states army during the recer
war with Spain, and have been re
tained by the United States"
. After awhile a new model was adoT
: ted by the government for the armin
- Ice los
j again put at a disadvantage. and
q 1908 Congress placed them once moi
q on an equality so far as armameI
u went by replacing the arms issued Z
the close of the war with Spain, wit
rifles OF the new model.
"The Secretary OF War is hereby an
K thorized to issue on the requisition
, the Governors Of the several stat
and territories. or Of the commandir
y general Of the militia Of the Distri
ID Of Columbia, such number of Unit,
Il States standard service magazine arm
as arc required for the arm
OF the United States. for arming q
of the organized militia in said Stat
and Territories and District Of Colun
bia."
Similar authority was given the d
n partment by the act OF 1904 contains
i in the army appropriation bill. 1t pr
,e vided that:
"For the purpose OF furnishing q
,s necessary articles requisite TO ful
=, arm. equip and supply each regimen
=, battalion, squadron. company, tro
battery. signal, engineer. and hospii
:. corps and medical department OF {
y, organized militia Of the several stat
- and territories. and District of Colur
bia, with the same armament a
equipment as are now prescribed
- corresponding branches OF the line
Il. staff in the regularly army
~ the Secretary Of War Is hereby autho
lied. to issue the said arm
'e ment and equipment 10 the organic
militia"
Now that another change has be
~ made in the arms of the regulars. on
x more the old inequality exists as I
militia have the Krag and the reguls
the New Springfield. Model 1908.
ut Is held by the War Department that
az has no power TO issue the new ar
nu to the militia without Congressiol
Cd action. The department recognizes
Importance of exchanging the old Kri
OF Of the National Guard for the n
ed Sprinfields' and is very anxious 10
so.
A law OF Congress provides for
ne annual National Rifle Match wh
Cd teams of the regular army, navy, n
he rine corps and the National Guard co
on pete with each other. and il does
pear that action should promptly
nm ] t.f-.., g.. r.,,t oil branches Of tho 6