The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-14
new MILITIA Law
FAVORED BY GUARD
Dick Provisions Being Put
Into Effect by Brigade.
CHANGE IN ORGANIZATION
Officers and Men of Local BattaIiOns
Appreciate New Status Conferred
Reserve for the Regular Army.
Work VIII Be Improved.


CARNATIONS Of the National Guard Of the
District are being subjected to a rigid
annual inspection by officers detailed from
the regular army, the commanding gen.
eraI and his stan al militia headquarters
are busily engaged working out the de-
tails OF a plan to put into immediate ef-
feet the recently enacted militia law OF
the District
These regulations are being drawn up
after consultations with the commanding
officers of the infantry troops and sepa-
rate organizations. and when completed
they viii be forwarded TO the War De-
partment, whence they will be sent 10 the
President for his approval
After receiving the sanction Of President
Taft, they viii be promulgated rs the law
governing the organized militia OF the
District. and will make it conform in
practically every detail 10 the Dick law
now governing the regular army.
VIII Bring Many Changes.
The operation Of the present law, which
IS already IN force. and which viii be
added to by the regulations Of the Presi-
dent, viii bring about many changes In
the present organization Of the guard.
New commanders will be organized, and
some Of the present ones may 0e consol-
GATED. Among the commissioned officers
there will be numerous promotions ana
retirements and some designations.
II is not the purpose Of militia head
quarters to make these changes revolu-
tionary. There will be no upsetting or
tearing down or what has already been
accomplished. but there viii be a gen
eral upbuilding along rational lines,
definitely laid down in the law and regu-
latiOns
The new law makes the National Guard
OF the District virtually reserve Of
the regular establishment. The new
status. thus conferred upon the citizen
soldiers Of the District. brings with Il
enlarged responsibilities and far higher
standard of required efficiency
Militia headquarters viii make every
effort To impress this fact upon the OH
GERS and enlisted men Of the brigade. The
commanding general says he VIII not de-
mand more work from his officers. but
will insist upon better work. BY a
process Of elimination only those officers
and noncommissioned officers who are
able 70 play the game" viii be retained
The provisions of the new act. to-
Eether with the regulations of the Presi-
dent supplementary To IL. viii soon he
published in general orders. They pro-
vide that the militia of the District viii
be commanded by a brigadier general APP
pointed by the President. He holds Office
until his successor is appointed, but may
be removed BY the President at any time.
His staff viii consist OF an adjutant
general. with rank of lieutenant colonel.
an inspector general, a quartermaster
general. a commissary general, a chief OF
ordnance, a chief engineer. a surgeon
general, judge advocate general and
IN inspector general of rifle practice, all
Sith the rank Of major.
-Four Afds-de-Camp.
There viii be four aids-de-camp, with
rank Of captain. The commanding general
may appoint a noncommissioned staff.
consisting Of a sergeant major, a quar-
termaster sergeant. a cOmmissary ser
geant. an ordnance sergeant, two STAFF
sergeants. one hospital steward, one color
sergeant, and one sergeant bugler.
The land forces of the organized militia
will consist Of a brigadier general. an
adjutant generals department, an inspec-
tor. generals department. a Judge advo-
cate generals department. a quartermas-
ter's department, a subsistence depart
ment. a department Of small arms prac-
tice, a medical department and hospital
corps, a pay department. a corps OF engi-
neeTs. an ordnance department. a signal
corps. q corps Of coast artillery. two
regiments and a separate battalion OF in
fantry. four companies Of coast artillery,
q troop of cavalry, and one battery Of
field artillery
The President will issue orders provid-
ing for the organization Of each Of the
departments. and also providing for the
recruiting Of the new organizations pro-
vided for in the act and recommended by
the commanding general
The four companies Of coast artillery
will be the first Of the new organizations
10 be recruited. Preliminary work on
this organization will begin at once II
Is the Intention Of the commanding gen
eral 10 have this battalion Of coast artil-
lery recruited from men not now in the
Guard, who are over thirty years Of age,
and whose business connections in Wash
ington viii not permit them TO absent
themselves for a long time from the city.
They will be mostly married men in
business life or in the government de-
partments. who IN case of war would be
sent 20 Fort Hunt and Fort Washington
TO re-enfOrce or relieve the regular troops
stationed there. As soon as suitable quar-
tiers can be found TO house the men and
store the hre-contrOl instruments and
other material that will be issued 10 the
battalion. its recruitment will begin.
The coast artillery companies will be
sent from time to time during the year
TO Forts Hunt and Washington. remain
ing from Friday night TO Sunday morn
ind, and drilling with the guns that will
be permanently assigned 10 them. They
Will not attend the regular encampment
with the rest Of the brigade. but Il Is
hoped to have them sufficiently organized
20 send them to the forts for about
week some time next August
In recruiting this battalion there will
be no transfers from other organizations
in the guard 1t is thought that many
men who have had experience in infantry
drill and who are not now IN the guard
Will gladly enlist in the coast artillery
battalion The signal and engineer COM
panies viii be the next TO be organized.
Signal Corps Mounted.
In the opinion Of the commanding gen
eral. the signal company will be the
corps d'elite" OF the District Guard At
least a third Of its members viii be
mounted. and the company viii be COM
posed Of the best soldiers in the brigade
Every member Of the company will be ex-
pected TO understand visual signaling.
telegraphy and the general principles of
wireless.
The company viii be an entirely new
organization, and viii absorb the present
signal corps now under the command OF
Lieut.. Charles NJ Putnam. In connection
with the new signal work four men in
every company and separate organization
will be expected to have a knowledge of
visual signals. and the qualifications of
ma mill -