Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-27
HGRTIGAN APPEALS TO STATE
Adjutant General Says Cash for Guard
is Imperative.
LIMIT OF PROGRESS IS REACHED
Under Present Conditions NothinE
More Can he Done 20 Keep To-
Eether Effective Force Of
Fighting Men.

In an appeal TO the state for better IA
ciuties for the National guard. Adjutant
General John G. Hartigan declares the or
SANITATION Of militia has reached the limit
Of its advancement until the state gives II
proper recognition in the way Of 8ppro-
prlauons to pay its expenses and guard its
property.
General Hartigan delves into history for
the Instances where unframed troops have
been victorious and finds them almost en-
urely lacking. The United states. he finds
has succeeded in its great wars only when
the trained men were put in the field.
Great generals like Washington and Grant
suffered from incompetents and protested
against them in the army. In the Spanish
American war it took sixty days to equip
1900 men for the field.
At the battle Of Santiago the Spanish
lost through absolute incompetency Of
their commanding officers in failure to
place their available men.
The Nebraska military head quotes Bis
marcKs famous statement: God took care
Of fools and the United States" after he
recites some Of the military blunders Of
the north in the civil war and shows that
500 10000 was paid by the United States
for bountes during the civil war.
situation In state.
Upon the Nebraska situation. Adjutant
General Hartigan says
Pursuant to the demands OF the federal
government the work of raising the stan
dard OF the National Guard has pro-
crossed Notwithstanding the constant fin
ancial strain to which its organizations
have been subjected; it now consists Of
Loo officers and men, khaki-clad heroes
who are struggling to prepare themselves
TO make their lives valuable to their state
and country, both as citizens and soldiers;
preparing themselves to some day become
| the military protectors Of lot Of intellec-
tual pee-woes who now stand on the side
walk and scott at their efforts Prepar-
Ing themselves to reflect glory upon the
state which now flOuts them and laughs
at their struggles, No proper armories or
stOre-houses are prepared or them or the
property for which they are responsible.
They must drill on the street, while the
state spends thousands OF collars 50 pro-
vide buildings for dress parade VI stud
horse and properly authenticated, bills.
Equal of Any Guard.
Notwithstanding all Of the discourage
ments encountered. the National Guard Of
Nebraska has progressed rapidly and Is
now the equal of any guard in the Coun-
untring energy. answering purpose and
the almost unlimited enthusiasm of the
officers and men Of the various organza-
lions at an expense more than twice as
large as the appropriations, paid by these
patriotic men; q state of efficiency has
been reached second TO no other in the
country. But this cannot be maintained
by enthusiasm alone; officers and men
are growing weary OF the financial strain
,ntailed and the worry over property
responsibility, leave thei service just at the
time they become valuable, and ! believe
the National Guard has reached the limit
OF its Advancement until the state gives
IL proper recognition in the way OF APP
preparations to pay its expenses and guard
Its property.
The National Guard of Nebraska con
sists of twenty-one companions of In
fantry. a hospital corps, q signal corps, an
engineer corps and machine gun COM
pany and the necessary equipment of
officers as required by the regulations to
the total number of 1923 officers and
men. These men are equipped for sum
mer service and before the writer leaves
office will be fully equipped for winter
service. But as the equipment nears COM
pletIon the expense of storing and caring
FOR Il grows until II Is question whether
the present allowances for rent for ar
mories will justify the issuance Of any
more equipment.
Opportunity in sight.
The state is now offered the issue OF
complete modern battery Of artillery, but
Il would seem that the expense of its
maintenance is impossible under the pres