Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-12-02

proper commanding officers, station
ed within the district.
In each tactical corps or division
district a central point for a camp
site should be selected, with view
to the convenience and economy OF
easy concentration of both the reg
ular and militia forces in such dis
trict. The regular and militia troops
should be concentrated for inspec-
ton at these points. Such camps
Will answer the purpose OF perma-
nent rbigade posts, 80 far as instruc-
ton is concerned, and the march
ing to and fro from the regimental
stations to such points will bring the
army before the people and more or
less in contact with them.
Should plan be carried out 1t
would be possible to concentrate
about army corps-possibly some
what imperfect and incomplete. In
case the Regular Army alone should
be required IL would be practicable
to concentrate at least complete
divisions at 8 different points, each
division complete in itself for any
possible use as an expeditionary
force. Should a larger force be re-
quired, then the militia composing
the other organizations of each corps
could be quickly assembled at the
concentration points with the Reg
ular Army. Every state should have
young and active officer of the
Regular Army detailed at headquar-
rers, who should report direct to the
corps commander and have general
supervision, under the militia author
tiles, of the instruction of the mi
litia. There should be on hte staff
of each corps commander an officer
of the army. who should have entire
charge. OF all militia affairs in the
corps district. The commander of
each district, in addition to the reg
ulars under his control, should have
general supervision of all the Nation
al Guard troops of the states includ-
ed in his district, and, while in time
OF peace he has no power to issue
orders, he could however, by his
interest and suggestion, be OF great
value TO the militia. He should be
given the power TO supervise the
equipment and instruction of the
troops OF his district and held re-
sponsible for their mobilization and
general condition.
In time, at the points of concentra-
ton In each corps district, there
would be established supply de-
pots so planned that upon the as
semblage of the corps or division
there would be available such equip
ment as might possibly be lacking
in the various states for the equip
ment of their organizations, although
1t is contemplated that the states
should themselves carry all that Is
necessary for at least the minimum
strength required. Az such depots
could also be carried the supplies for
any additional volunteer force, mp to
a moderate number, which might be
deemed necessary TO complete I'm its
entirety the organization of any one
of the various corps
What is greatly needed Is decen-
trali2ation of the powhrs of supply
and initiative. The present central
ization always breaks down the mo-
ment Il Is put 10 the test, and the
peace organization OF the army as it
stands today Is incomplete and Inn
proper for military purposes.
II Is proposed 10 submit such plan
OF organization TO the governors OF
the states, asking their assent there
TO, as all this system, SO far as the
national guard Is concerned, must be
voluntary Upon receiving such as
sents from the governors, the War
Department should designate In each
district the exact organizations. as
signing the various branches OF the
service To their proper brigades or
divisions. While this will neeessar-
lily result in an incomplete organ
ization, as there will be lacking in all
branches OF the organizations both
In the Regular Army and the MI
lltia, still IL will be the first step
toward carrying out this proposed
creation.
There is a shortage of various mi-
lida organizations 10 complete the
proposed corps, In order 20 obtain
there necessary organizations the va
rious states should be urged TO add
10 their National Guard such organ
itations as would be required In each
district
The question OF coast defense aud
ot utilizing the militia IN cOnnec
ti0n with the coast artillery has been
so FAR developed that Il may be as
sumed that the present system viii
be continued until perfected, and Il
is therefore not considered az an ia
the froegoing. which relates only 10
the mobile army.
While. as has been indicated, there
IL In certain districts lack OF for
oes, both In the Regular army aud In
the militia, 20 carry out the proposed