The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-05
MEW ENGLAND
NAY INCREASE
HOME GUARD.

Norfolk. Aug. 5.--Are the New England
states willing to increase their national
guard?
VIII they cooperate with the army to-
ward the organization of ''home defend
ers." permanent armed bodies OF Infantry
to serve as supports to the coast artillery
forts in the rear. where the fortifcations.
,impregnahle as they are toward the sea,
are now defenceless?
These questions will be put this fall to
the governor OF Massachusetts,, and to the
governors and legislatures of other New
England states.
Recent plans for coast defences formu-
lated at the war department, indicate that
the United States government means
business, that the Atlantic seaboard Is 20
be put In state of defence. and that II
the states Will cooperate a condition will
be brought about under which the men In
the rifle pits will be the defenders of their
own firesides, lighting on ground with
which they are so familiar that they
know the location OF every stump, tree
and stone. The lessons of Lexington and
Bunker Hill are to be put to practical
demonstration.
MIMIC WAR.
This is what the series OF joint militia
and army manoeuvres on the seaboard
this summer means The present work is
preliminary to greater idea. The plan
is the idea OF Brig. Gen. Arthur Murray,
chief of artillery of the army and will be
tried first in New England. II may require
the addition OF many men to the state ma
tional guards. but It will put the coast de-
fences in such condition as TO absolutely
protect the great cities like Boston.
Stretching from Portland, Me-, TO New
York is a chain of fortifcatlons around
the hig harbors. They are not the old
fashioned square forts, with walls on all
sides, but are simply lines OF works.
mounted with artillery. These guns can
keep an enemy's feet at bay as long as
the feet remains in front.
But II the enemy sends 500 or GOO men,
say from in front of Boston. 80 miles up
or down the coast, lands them, and
marches them around the fortihcationS
the enemy would find them unprotected
and defenceless. Gen. Murray knows this.
and the war department Will try to I'M
prove conditions by the aid of the states.
Under the plan which will be submit
ted to the governor of Massachusetts In
the fall the defences of Boston would be
protected at all times by permanent
body of infantry support minute men
i'm the truest sense of the word.
Gen. Murray will ask for one regiment
Of infantry. Is machine guns and four
field guns for the defepce In the Boston
district. The guns would be supplied oy
the government.
He will ask for one regiment of infan-
try, IA machine guns. four field guns and
TWO six-pounders at Portland; one battery
At Portsmouth and one regiment. six ieid
guns and 16 machine guns at Earragan-
sett.
"In time OF war" said Gen. Murray,
discussion the plan yesterday. the young
men. the fellows who love adventure and
want to see foreign lands enlist to go TO
Cuba, or the Philippines. or other places
I'm this scheme OF coast defences we want
10 secure the services of the married men.
he business men who cannot give up their
business to go to war, but who would
De glad to fight for defence OF their own
ZONES They would be home guards
"If the states are willing TO co-operate
With the army, we cannot organize the in
'antry supports / shall ask for. Every
summer these men will so into camp In
he same place. near their own homes.
Year after year the supports" Will prac-
ice, every company on the Identical spot
Zach year.
Every man will become familiar with
lis ground He will know every stump, tree
md rock In an emergency every man.
ordered out on a moments notice, can 20
straight to his post, and when he gets
here he will know his ground as no SOL
lier ever knew 1t.
These supports will be the rear guard
defenders of the forts. They will repulse
anding attacks made by landing parties
" from 200 to 500 men. III larger numbers
" troops are landed, say 10000 or $1,000 |
men, they will be dealt with by larger |
sodies of troops which the army will mo-
,ilize at central camps some distince In
,ilize at central camps some distance IN
ated as conditions warrant.
I'm the fall I will submit the plan TO |
Ne governor OF Massachusetts,, and the |
governors of other states. 1t may be |
necessary to increase the national guard. |
I may be possible to organize the sup |
,orts Independently. II may be possible |
o, utilize certain parts of the militia as |
llready organized. These are details TO |
,e worked out"