Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-07

the uniform and the VarIOuS brancneS of the militia are assimilated as far as possible to those of the regular army
 Under the militia law, as the consti- tuition provides, the governors of the states appoint the militia officers, but by appropriat atfons from congress states have been induced to comply with the 4 rules of assimilation between the reg ular army and the militia, so that now there is force, the efficiency of which differs in different states, which could be incorporated under single com mand with the regular army and which for some time each year receives the benefit of drill and maneuvers under conditions approximating actual mili- tary service under the supervision of regular army officers.
 In the army of the United States, ill addition to the regular forces and the militia forces which may be summoned to the defense of the nation by the president, there is also the volunteer force, which made up very large part of the army in the civil war and which in any war of long continuance would become it's most important constituent. There is an act which dates from the civil war, known as the volunteer act, which makes provision for the enlist ment of volunteers in the army of the United States in time of war This was found to be so defective in the Philippine war that a special act for the organization of volunteer regiments to take part in that war was adopted, and it was much better adapted to the necessities of the case.
 There is now pending in congress a bill repeating the present volunteer act and making provision for the organiza- ton Of volunteer forces in time of war which ts admirably adapted to meet the exigencies which would be then presented The passage of the
 bill would not entail a dollars ex-
 pense upon the government at this time or in the future until war comes,
 but when war does come the methods
 therein directed are in accordance with the best military judgment as to what they ought to be, and the act would
 prevent the necessity for the discus
 sion of new legislation and the delays
 incident to its consideration and adop-
 ton. I earnestly urge the passage of this volunteer bill.
 I further recommend that congress
 establish a commission to determine
 as early as practicable comprehen-
 sive policy for the organization, mob ilization and administration of the reg ular army, the organized militia and
 the volunteer forces in the event of
 war
 Need For Additional Officers.
 One of the great difficulties in the
 prompt organization and mobilization
 of militia and volunteer forces is the
 absence of competent officers of the
 rank of captain to teach the new array
 by the unit of the company the busi-
 ness of being soldiers and of taking care of themselves so as to render eff fective service This need of army officers can only be supplied by pro- visions of law authorizing the appoint ment of greater number of army of-
 licers than are needed to supply the
 co1nmands Of regular army troops now
 enlisted in the service.
 There are enough regular army ofa- cers so command the troops
 listed, but congress has authorh and the department has followed the example of congress and exercised the authority conferred by detailing these army officers to duty other than that of the command of troops.
 For instance, there are large mum. Der of army officers assigned to duty with military colleges or in colleges ta. which military training is given. Then large number of officers are assigned so general staff duty, and there are various other places to which army officers can be and are legally assign ed, which take them away from theh regiments and companies. In order that the militia of each state should 1 be properly drilled and made more like the regular army. regular army officers should be detailed to assist the adjutant general of each state in the supervision of the state militia, but this is impossible unless provision is made by congress for q very consid. erable increase in the number of com. pany and field officers Of the army. A bill was pending in the last session Of congress for this purpose, and l ear nestly hope that in the interest of the proper development of a republican army, an army small in the time Of peace, but possible of prompt and ade. quate enlargement in time of war. ! shall become possible under the laws of the United States.
 4 bill, the strong argument for which can be based on the ground 1 quite similar to that of the increased officers bill, is the bill for the increase of sixty in the army engineers. The ! army engineers are largely employ ed ill the expenditure of the moneys ap- propriated for the Improvement of riv- CTS and harbors. This, in addition to
 their military duties, which includes 1 the construction of Notifications boti | of our coasts and in our dependen
 cies. together with the number used il the Panama canal work, requires i many more engineers than the army has, and this shortness of supply ir ! such officers delays important rivei and harl1or work and important forti i 1eation work I earnestly recommend ! fhp DHsSa ga of tI7iS hill which naSSns