The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-11
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OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD.

OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD.
one of the state Institutions that
is ordinarily but little in the lmelight,
but which at times is the first thought
of every citizen, is the National Guard
or, as it is commonly called, Militia
There are comparatively few citizens
OF the state who know what the Ok
lahOma National Guard is now, and
what il should be. At the present
time the Oklahoma National Guard
consists of one regiment of infantry
OF twelve companies. one each at
Tulsa, Chandler, Shawnee, McAlester,
PaWnee. Muskogce, Ardmore, Durant,
Alva, Enid, Antlers and Oklahoma
city; a signal company at Blackwell,
engineer company at Lawton, and
field hospital at Oklahoma City.
1t will be remembered that the Ma
tlOnal Guard of the various states
'"'' d uOublt uuNN W PEI lol III, W 'HO
state on one hand, and on the other
hand the Federal Government Its
duty to the state is in strikes, race
riots and kindred things. In other
words, it is the police force of the
state, called into action upon the fail
uro of the local authorities to handle
any situation that may arise. 1t
should be called into service only
when the power of the local authori-
ties is exhausted. The duty of the
National Guard to the Federal govern
ment is as part of the first line of
defense, with the regular army, in the
event of war. 1t is called into active
service for that purpose Immediately
after the regular army.
Much of the greater part of the
training of the National Guard is
along the lines of national defense,
and the National government is con
stantly placing upon the guard ad-
ditional requirements and burdens
in that respect. For that reason the
position is taken by National Guard
officers that large portion of the
expense of the guard should be as
sumed by the federal government,
while the state, for services rendered
to il, should pay certain of the eXpen
ses, such as armory rent, etc. In this
state, about two-thirds of the cost of
the National Guard is now borne by
the Federal Government. In addition,
there is now pending in congress
bill providing for pay for the men for
attendance at drill or equivalent mil
itary duty. This, if passed, will mean
that the federal government will eX-
pend in this state in pay for the men
about $4,000 per annum, without
cent of additional cost to the state;
and if the guard of the state is in
creased to brigade as indicated be-
low, the amount received would be
about $25O0O0 per annum.
As the national guards principal
duty is in the line of national defense,
it is therefore of interest to know
what, in a general way, should be the
strength and organization of the ma
tional guard in this state. 1t is be-
ieved that an ideal organization
would be one brigade of infantry,
with such auxiliary troops as go to
% make up a well-balanced force,
ready to take the field for active SER
vice. A brigade of infantry consists
)f three regiments, and the auxiliary
roops required to balance ii would be
me battalion, (three or four batter
esq of artillery, and one squadron,
three or four troops) of cavalry. The
resent organization of the signal, en-
sneer and hospital troops is suffi
lent for a brigade.
1t is not contended that it is practi-
should be organized at the present
ime, but only that such an organiza
ion is believed to be an ideal one
or this state. This is predicated up
IN the fact that the national guard
Exists very largely for national pur-
roses, and the organization should
therefore, answer these purposes. This
{ is believed could be accomplished
With comparatively slight increase
in appropriations ON the part of the
state, which would be more than off
set by the benefits derived by the
state from the federal government,
Tor the reason that all the equipment
IS furnished by the federal govern
ment, and much OF the other expense
borne by it, and the pay for the men,
lnder the above mentioned pay bill,
would be from the same source.
VIM. HUTCHINSON.