The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-31

j 'Hul0 laSat1ve-tonlc that you can Duy
4 II any druggist at fifty cents or one
/ If the guardsmen officers profit by the
instruction they will receive-ana they
can not fail to learn much to their
advantage will be taken at
! once to put into effect vast scheme
which will reach every bank clerk and
workman now enlisted In the militia
Of the several states.
Capt. Matthew e. Hanna, aide to
Major General Wood, has undertaken
the burden of working out the details
OF the scheme in Massachusetts. This
state, in which the militia has reached
degree of efficiency, has five regi-
ments and two cadet corps of infantry,
divided into two brigades; four troops
or one squadron of cavalry; three bat
/ teries or one battalion of field artil
| lery; company OF signal corps and
| a field HOSPITAL. Thus the state forces
4 comprise complete army unit, all
4 arms of the service except the engi-
neers and coast artillery being repre-
sented
This winter, Capt. Hanna has made
monthly visits to the Massachusetts
militia headquarters, and held con-
ferences with the field officers He
has discussed with them the problems
which they had received from him to
be solved during the month previous.
Following each conference, he has
sent fresh problems for the officers to
work out. Their solutions have been
! sent in to him, and he has reviewed
their answers and returned them with
corrections, to be discussed at the next
each month problems for the company
officers of the state organization, who
have submitted their solutions to the
field officers of the state. The COM
pany officers, in turn, have received
from Capt. Hanna problems to be
worked out by the non commissioned
officers Of their organization.
/ Next month the last of these con-
ferences will be held, after which the
Massachusetts militiamen will have a
two-months respite from their studies.
In July according to present plans,
they will meet Capt Hanna in camp
for Ave days, to receive instructions
in the field. In August, the entire
state force will be assembled In camp,
and there the officers and men will
try out what they have learned dur
ing the winter.
ic fb1} 49, SOD - -
system will have been extended to sew
eral states, and ultimately, all the
states and territories will be inclrded
The work will be carried on in the
manner proposed By Captain Hanna,
through the regular army officers to
be detailed to the militia, by the pro
visions OF the extra officers bill pass
ed by the last Congress.
One of the most important means
by which the General Staff of the army
hopes to increase the efficiency of the
militia, and also reward the personnel
for the hard work they will be re-
auired to do Is the militia pay bill
This measure failed of passage at the
last Congress, but it will be introduced
again
On the other hand, certain reforms
in the organization of the militia, and
especially in its relation to the federal
government, are contemplated, in
order that Uncle Sam may be assured
Of a definite value in time of war in
return for the money and energy be
ing spent upon the National Guard.
Chief among til steps to this end
sought by the regular army is legis-
lation which will make it certain be.
yond doubt, that the militia VIII re-
spond when called to arms by the
President. War Department legal ex-
perts have ruled that, under the pres.
ent law, which requires the President
to summon the militia through the
governors of the states these officials
are not obliged to transmit the call
to the state militia officers. They can
not be coerced into action and thus,
in an unpopular war, might deprive
the federal government Of large forces
of troops
Army officers also assert that under
the existing law, the personnel of the
militia organization might be changed
over night. Through loose laws gov
erning designations, discharges and
appointments Of officers, it is asserted
the militia which responds to the call
to arms might easily be very diiter-
ent body from the organization which
turns out for drills and parades. and
on which objection to the existing law
is that the United States is required
to accept the services of those ans.
werng the call, and claiming to be
the militia.
AS final protection to the federal
government, and to insure the regu-
lar army of aid which will be effective
and not hindrance, the regular Off.
GERS are striving for legislation which
1 will require the militia organizations