The Elbert County tribune., 1912-12-13

has assumed that at the outbreak of
war our regiments would be imme-
diate1y raised to full strength But
our laws have provided NO means by
which this could be accomplished, or
by which the losses OF the regiments
when once sent to the front could be
repaired. In this respect we have
neglected the lessons learned by other
nations. The new law provides that
the soldier, after serving four years
with colors, shall pass into q reserve
for three years. At his option he may
| go into the reserve at the end Of three
years. remaining there for four years.
While in the reserve he can be called
to active duty only in case Of war or
| other national emergency, and when
so called and only in such case will
receive a stated amount Of pay for all
of the period In which he has been a
member of the reserve. The legisla-
| tion is imperfect, In my opinion. in
certain particulars, but 1t is most
important step In the right direction.
carefully studied and perfected by
| congress.
| The National Guard.
| Under existing law the national
guard constitutes. after the regular ar
my, the first line of national defense.
Its organization, discipline, training,
and equipment. under recent legisla-
ton. have been assimilated, as far
as possible, to those of the regular
army. and its practical efficiency, un-
der the effect of this training. has
very greatly increased. Our citizen
soldiers under present conditions have
reached a stage of development be
yond which they cannot reasonably be
asked to go without further direct
assistance In the form OF pay from
the federal government. On the other
hand, such pay from the national
treasury would not be justified unless
1t produced proper equivalent In
additional efficiency on the part of
| the national guard. The organized
militia today cannot be ordered out
| side of the limits of the United States,
and thus cannot lawfully be used for
| general military purposes. The on
| GERS and men are ambitious and eager
| to make themselves thus available and
| to become an efficient national re-
serve of citizen soldiery. They are
| the only force of trained men, other
than the regular army. upon which
we can rely. The so-called militia
pay bill, in the form agreed on be-
tween the authorities of the war de-
partment and the representatives of
the national guard. in my opinion ade-
| quately meets these conditions and
offers a proper return for the pay
which 1t is proposed to give to the
national guard. l believe that It's en-
actment into law would be a very
long step toward providing this ma
tion with a first line of citizen sol
diery, upon which its main reliance
must depend in case of any national
emergency. Plans for the organiza-
! tion of the national guard into tao
| tical divisions, on the same lines as
those adopted for the regular army.
are being formulated by the war col
| lege division of the general staff.
| National Volunteers.
| The natioanl guard consists of only
about 10000 men. In any serious
war in the past 1t has always been
necessary, and in such war in the
future 1t doubtless will be necessary.
for the nation to depend, in addition
to the regular army and the national
! guard upon a large force OF volun-
teers There is at present no ade-
| quate provision of law for the raising
of such force. There Is now pend
ing in congress, however bill which
makes such provision, and which
believe is admirably adapted to meet
the exigencies which would be pre-
sented In case of war The passage
of the bill would not entail dollars
expense upon the government at this
time or In the future until war comes.
But IL war comes 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 DISCUSSING
OF any legislation and the delays in
cident to Its consideration and adop-
tion. earnestly urge its passage
Porto Rico, Mr.. Taft says, contin-
ues to show notable progress and he
urges the senate to pass the bill grant
ing the Porto Ricans American citizen
ship.
Philippines.
A bill Is pending in congress. con-
tinues the message, which revolution
izes the carefully worked out scheme
of government under which the Philip
pine islands are now governed and
which proposes to render them vir-
tually autonomous at once and abso-
lutely Independent in eight years.
Such a proposal can only be founded
on the assumption that we have now
discharged out strusteeship to the Fill
ipino people and our responsibility for
them to the world and that they ara
now prepared for self-government as
well as national sovereignty. A thor
ough and unbiased knowledge OF the