The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-21
CRITICAL DAY FOR
NATIONAL GUARD
New law Regulating Militia Of Va.
rfaus States Goes into Effect
To-day-ereat Change.

ny O'uOm A0ooCtaSCU TTSoost
Washington, Jan. 21.--To-day is a.
critical date in the history OF the Ma.
tionsl Guard of the various states and
territories. as the Dick Militia law
now becomes opcrst tive, and hereafter
70 portion OF the money APPROPRIATED
Ey Congress for the support. of the,
militia can be paid 10 any organ;2a.
ton which fails to conform to he
standards OF the regular army. The
,cl law 1908, original prescribed
a period Of FIVE years for bringing
aiedt the considerable changes nee
ssa.y 10 place the guards men in uni
t.lnity OF organic alton and equipment
with the regular soldier But as, that.
time limit approached, it was found
,fat very few of the States had been.
q 2 20 conform 50 an extension was
granted until jar. 81, 1910. Through
'ts system of iDsreetion of militia or.
r'nizations by regular officers. the
Va Department is in possession OF
MS derable information regarding
'''c conditions. The detailed results
we're made public in the annual report
- Col. F. NJ. Weaver, chief of the
'ivision of militia affairs. 1t may be
stated that on the whole the War De-
partment expresses great satisfaction
in the prospect, and the apparent sue
cess of the workings Of the Dick law.
This year, for the first time in its his
tory, the militia will he found armed
with the latest pattern of military
rifles, clothed from head to foot in
regular army gear; supplied with all
regular equipment and with ranks
sled to the requirements of the law.
The Improvement ~ conditions has
been general but markedly so in the
South.
The strength of the organized mill,
tin of the United States was fixed at
1896 officers and enlisted men, ae
oOrding to the annual report of Col.
Erasmus M. Weaver. chief of the hi.
vision of Militia Affairs Satisfactory
conformity with the Dick Militie law
by today. so ps to enable air the
States and Territories to share in the
7mounts appropriated by Congress for
enc maintenance IF the orgonizad nil.
tin, was r'eIic' ed bv Col. o. r.
''hn-> " "rnri~o- that tNo r-rariza.
ton % tie militia -~rst q the Same
IS that of the regular army.
The Division Of Militia Affairs is
ed a circular announcing that the
Secretary of War had taken a definite
stand in regard to the Incomplete reg
'ments under the new law which is
2" 90 into effect today. The circular
says:
1.-THE laws of the States must pro-
vide for a twelve-company regiment
ana IL is expected that the States will
undertake to maintain such an organi-
cation. The Secretary will, however,
under the authority given him, au-
thorize temporarily, an exception to
the standard organization in cases
where the States find It impracticable
~ once to complete AMI nairtai., al,
twelve companies. IT will be neces.
sary for the States to make. clear in
each case that the laws contemplate
a twelve-company organization, and
that 1t is the intention of the States
to maintain such an organization, and
to request the Secretary, under the
discretion that rests with him, to au.
thorize, temporarily, the continuance
Of the regiment with fewer than
twelve companies. On the receipt Of
such a letter 1t viii be submitted to
the Secretary. and his action will be
conveyed formally to the military au-
thorities ofsthe States"
2 gs. $500