Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-07


 foreements, or recruitment, It is an outpost upon which will fali the brunt of the first attack in ease of war.
 The historical policy of the United States of carrying it's regiments dur ing time of peace at half strength has no application to our foreign garri- sons, During the past year this de- feet has been remedied as to the Phil ippines garrison. The former garrison of twelve reduced regiments has been replaced by garrison of aix regi- ments at full strength, giving fully the same number of riflemen at an eSti- mated economy fn cost of maintenance of over $1,000.0Oo per year, This gar rison is to be permanent, It's regi- mental units. instead of being trans ferred periodically back and forth from the United States, will remain in the islands. The officers and men composing these units will. however, serve regular tropical detail. as usual, thus involving no greater hardship upon the personnel and greatly in- creasing the effectiveness of the gaFri, son.
 The Home Army.
 Simultaneously with the foregoing steps the war department has been proceeding with the reOrganizat ton of the army at home. The formerly dis associated upits are being united into tactical organization of three divi- sions, each consisting of two or three brigades of infantry and, so far as praeticable' proper proportion of di- visional cavalry and artillery. Of course the extent te which this reform can be carried by the executive is practically limited to paper organiza- tion. The scattered units can be brought under a proper organization. but they will remain physically seat tered until congress supplies the nee essary funds for grouping them in more concentrated posts.
 Regular ArMy Reserve.
 The Hew law provides that the sol dier, after serving four years with eel CTS, shall pass into reserve fer three years At his option he may go into the reserve at the cad of three years, remaining there fer four years While in the reserve he can be called and only in such ease will receive a stated amount of pay for all of the eerisd ia which he has been a member of the reserve. The legislation is inpesfeet, in my opinion, in certain particulars, but it is a most important step in the right direction. and earnestly hope that it wifi be carefully studied and perfected by congress-
 The National Guard.
 Under existing law the national guard constitutes. after the reguial army. the first line of national defense, Its organization. discipline. training and equipment undev recent iegfstatfon have been assiniiated, as far as pessi, bic, to those of the regular army, and its practical efficiency under the effect of this training has very greatly in creased. Our citizen soldiers under present conditions have reached stage of development beyond which they can not reasonably be asked to go without further direct assistance in the fofm of pay from the federal government On ths ether hand, such pay fFem the national treasury would net ba jusH fed unless it pFedHeed proper equiva- lent in additional efficiency en the par of the national guard.
 The organized militia today camel be ordered outside of the limits of thG United States and thus eannet lawful ly be used for general military par poses. The officers and neR are aHahi Heus and eager to make themselves thus avaiiahls and to become an eff eieAt national reserve of citizen sol diery. They are the eaiy force ea trained men ether than the regular army upon which we caR rely, Rhi so called militia pay bill in the fern agreed oR between the authorities ei the war department and the represent atiEes of the national guasd, in Rs opinisa. adequately meets these eoadi tisns and offers a proper return fev the pay which 1t is proposed ts give to ths natieasi gaaFd,
 I believe that it's enactment intR laW would be very leag step ts@aEd PEs Eiding this natiea with g 6rst lsae a' citizen saldieEg, Heea whieA it's maiE reliance must depend in ease of aay national emergency. Plans fer the CT ganization of ths national guard int tactical divisions en the same lines al those adopted for the eegaiar array art being formulated by the war college division of the general staa.
 Peeto Riee.
 Porte Rice continues to ssiaw netahi' progress, both commercially and in tn spread of education, It's external eem meree has inereased F per eeat eye the preceding year. bringing the tota value up to Saa a.93l, ,sa6, or more thaI five times the Va.Ma of the eemmere' l of the islaad ia 1901. During the yea ltg,asY pupils were enrohed in th' auhlie seLss!s as against l4s,525 fol the 9nEeeeaigg gear and as esnPares With g, as.,!g .,sglt.l, tsg ths sHrst gear of AmeEi aaa aamlnistEatlaa.
 Hhe faIiaee thasssaEste grant Ameri gan citizeasAi atiusesrta be the enl. ground af dissatistactien. The bii Ss2kesElsssaeh a.zsas eaR hase pas assea