The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-07

advantage In each instnce.
 The young men of the country ere
 spirit ih q tsrrins Reai,iiy and ear.
 nestly frto the work of the National
 Guard, and nearly all the State gov-
 ernments are making liberal appropria-
 tions for the better organization of
 the guard, an;s 1t deserves to be placed
 in all respects as to arms and equip
 ments on an equality with the regular Other States have done their full share in this respect and in comparison
 with what the National Governrnent IS doing for the militia of this State. our
 lawmakers should see that the amount IS something in proportion given by the State It must be borne in mind
 makes appropriation are T not reached
 by the money given by the National Government. It's uses being entirely
 separate and distinct from that fund.
 National Guard of Today.
 In connection with the history, as given above. of the early organization of the National Guard it will be of much interest to know It's status today. of the army. just transmitted to the Secretary of War. giving the condi. tions amorg the militia of the United
 States state ,s during ,dns the fiscal year ended soldiery of the nation. According to one interesting table embodied In this
 report, the aggregate strength of the Territories and the District of Colums bia on December 31. 1906. was as fol. lows: Total strength. officers and en-
 cluded forty-six general officers, 9sI general stan o;cers, 2,519 regimentaI officers. 5.2S7 company officers, the to.
 tals including 127 commissioned ofifcers Ax,A Arv a& Nr1r 40 \. ws-l battalion. District of Columbia. The total strength of the forces noted. as shown by inspections made during the
 spring of 1906 was 1o5,6ss officers and
 inhabitants of the country available
 for military duty, but unorganized,
 numbered 1s.2a7 dsl. It appears from
 General Ainsworth,s ,odg figures that since
 tive there has been decrease of over
 per cent in the total strength of the
 organized militia. That decrease is
 due. in part to the disbandment or re-
 reported by inspecting officers to be
 inefficient.
 The inspection reports reviewed byb
 General Ainsworth show that, of the
 2.le9 militia organizations inspected
 during the year by officers oF the army.
 1856 were fully armed, uniformed, and
 equipped for field service at any sea
 son of the year; that 134 were fully
 armed, uniformed, and equipped for
 service during summer only; that PIP
 were deficient in articles or clothing.
 camp equipage, kitchen utensils. or
 ordnance or ordnance stores. and that 4s7 were not sufficiently armed. uni
 formed. and equipped for field service. There were absent from the inspections
 303 officers and 15.3S6 enlisted men, or
 14.s4 per cent. out of a total organ ized strength of 105.693. In the in- spections of 1905, out of a total organ ized strength of 111,313 officers and en- | hzn and in those of 1904. out of strength of 115,266 officers and enlisted men, 21 .02 per cent were absent. From this 1t is apparent that the relative num-
 tia present at the inspections are tn- creasing. From reports received from inspection officers 1t Is estimated that about 80 per cent of the organized mill tia would respond to call for troops to repel invasion or suppress insurrec- tion against the authority of the United States. This percentage IS greater than that estimated from the reports of the inspection made during the year 1905. from which 1t was estl-
 mated that about 75 pc rcent of the or,
 ganized militia would respond 10 can
 '"The reports and returns received"
 says General Ainsworth in closing. show a disposition on the part or tne State authorities to continue their eI- of discipline and efficiency that shall conform as nearly as practicable to that l of the regular army. It also appears
 from those reports that the interest s has continued, and that the morale or the militia organization is improv- | ing"
 The New SpEingfie1d.
 Gen. William CroZier, U. s: A. Chler or Ordnance, announces that instructions
 have been given for e, the issue so o1 n,odni thG
 of 1903. with knife bayonets and mod
 eI of 1905 sights, to the remainder or the troops stationed in the Cnited
 States asps 9ot
 supplied with these arms. The Issues of these arms to the troops stationed in the Departinents of the East sia1d and Armory. and to the troops statlonea m all other departments in the uniteu States, from Rock Island Arsenal. AS d sufficient number of these rifles are now on hand at thse two ordnanace establishments. immediately avaiIapIe for issue, it is anticipated that snip from Jan. IA, 1907. One years supply of spare parts and appendages for the new rifles has beer ordered issued 10 all posts in the united SIateS Eh "neio a,n slings now in use with the rod nayohet rifles should not be turned m; s put should be retained for use. With ieda Teda
 
 ammunition for these new rifles TOT l target practice and the reserve supply ! at posts for the current year, the com, 1 manding officer of Rock Island Arsenal | has been instructed to issue only pail 1 cartrfdges of 2,200 f-c. velocity for tar l get practice; the reserve supply at l posts to be taken from the 2.SOO Is. | velocity ammunition. This course IFS taken because of the limited supply oI Sd | 2,2O0 f-s. velocity ammunition. tne amount on hand in this department
 and at the several posts in the United | States being only slightly in excess or | that required for target practice our- | Ing the current year. | Sold to Militia.
 l The War Department Is issuing some 1 of the new Springfield rifles to the | militia, but is charging the cost aganst | the appro riatIon for the militia Tn the l several States. It is desired to ex- | change the new guns for the hrags' as as | was done when the Krag replaced the old Springfield, and also to provide ] that the War Department can do this 1 in the future without additional leg l islation. It is pointed out by the De- | partment and as advised many times | m the Army and Navy Journal, that ln ] time of war 1t is absolutely necessary | that the volunteer army ana the Reg 1 uIar Army should be equipped with the ] same rifle, as otherwise two Kinds oI 1 cartridges must be manufactured and issued and endless confusion must re- suit. It is also necessary that but one arm can be used in time Of teace, m | order that men can be familiar VIII the weapon they would use in war. II is impossible to remodel the kraS lh- to Springfield.