Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-01
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Report of the Adiutant General
of the Army. ....
MILITIA OF THE COUNTRY
Many Organizations Not in Conform
ity With Regulars.
SOME VERY FREE CRITICISM
Made by Inspecting oficers-Need Of
the District Body, According
to Col. Brett.

OF the greatest interest to the friends OF
the National Guard throughout the country
is the annual report of the adjutant general
of the army dealing with the militia of the
United States.
The adtutant general says he has had
much difficulty in securing from the state
authorities the information and reports re-
ouired by law in order to enable the War
Department to properly alot among the
states the appropriations made by Con-
gress for the maintenance of the National
Guard and otherwise to insure Its conform
ity with the regular army organization as
required by the Dick militia law.
The strength of the organized militia at
the end OF the last calendar year, as re-
ported by the various militia adjutants gen.
eral is placed at 11O995. The great total
OF 1881 600 males IS reported available for
military duty, but unorganized. The re-
ports of the United States inspecting OFF,
GERS, however place the total strength OF
the organized militia at 105,213, which Is a
decrease of II. 334 men compared to the
militia strength In 1903.
Non-Conformity With Regulars.
AS a result of the decision Of the judge
advocate general. that the militia organiza-
that of the regular army in order to secure
the benefits of the national militia act. the
report states that many of the organiza-
lions formerly reported as meeting the con-
ditons are this year found to be In non
conformity. In most cases that can be
remedied by executive orders, but in some
states and territories legislative action Is
necessary. The actual deficiencies in arms,
uniforms and equipments are found TO be
much less than those existing In previous
years.
The reports of the army officers who in
spected the state militia organizations are
full of pithy criticisms. though there was
no disposition to withhold praise where II
was due. Nearly all of them unite in de-
mand for better armOries, the existing
facilities in that line being inadequate. In
each state and territory, excepting New
Jersey and Rhode Island one or more or
CARNATIONS had more than % per cent OF
its strength absent from inspection, the
principal causes being sickness, absence
from the company's stations. employment
at night residence at a considerable dis
lance from the companys stations. In
practice marches twenty-three organiza-
lions failed to report, and there was an IN
sufficient number of rendezvous drills IN
cases of 155 organizations. The explana-
tons made by the state militia authorities
have been accepted by the War Depart
ment as satisfactory it being evident that
an earnest effort was made by all to live
up to the requirements of the militia law.
The report showed little Improvement over
the preceding year in regard to target prac-
tce, similar conditions with respect TO lack
of range facilities obtaining.
Some Very Free Criticism.
Capt. Melville S. Jarvis, 4th Infantry,
who inspected some of the Illinois militia
men, made this very free criticism:
The National Guard of Illinois. SO far as
observed is not an efficient military force
and cannot be made so under present con-
ditions What is required is more money
iudiciously expended. = . From what
has been seen Of other states, It is thought
that the militia Of Illinois Is probably con-
siderably above the average. but 1t Is not
and disciplined troops, approximately in
equal numbers, without the certainty OF
disaster The material is excellent, but the
training is lacking. The remedy, of course,
is to pay for military training, and that
fact should be recognized and provided for
lied militia for immediate service in the
event of war.
Mai John c. F. Tillson, 4th Infantry,
who inspected the Kentucky militia, seems
10 agree with the above criticism in a
measure, for he says, for the tremendous
undertaking of instructing $4,000 organized
militia IL is suggested that a bureau of the
War Department be created with lieuten-
ant general at its head. to deal exclusively
with matters relating to the militia. .
Further, that skeleton regiments of infan-
try be organized throughout the United
States with two non-commissioned officers
| TO each militia company, and one commits
| act as instructors: these skeleton regi-
! ments to be part of the United States Army
| and to be the nuclei for complete organi-
! cations in time of need.