The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1912-08-02
THE STATE
MILITIA

In times past, Cne members OF the
Militia or National Guard, were sup
posed to drill once week or once a
month, as might suit the fancy of
either the members thereof, or the
officers in charge. For such drill
work, the members received no re-
numeration. Once year, providing
the commonwealth could afford the
expense, the various companies were
gathered together for a week in
camp of instruction. There was
frequent no standard of equipment,
and but little attention was given to
efficacy of the troops, they being
considered more as ornaments than
persons of possible utility.
Today, with the Militia, or Nation
al Guard, as a recognized arm of
the standing army, we find the
parent Government stepping in and
taking a portion of the burden off
the hands of the various states. The
member of the Militia is required to
drill not less than forty times per
year, or twenty times per six
months. For such work he does not
receive thank you" in return, but
is placed upon quarter pay and re-
ceives such wages every six months,
providing he has attended the re-
quired twenty drills within that
time. Once year the Militia troops
are transported to one of the army
posts, where they go into camp for
several days, and are directly assoc
lated with the regulars and are
taught modern warfare in a practi-
cal manner. This attendance is re-
quired, if the militia member antici-
pates wages (1-4 pay, as is that at
time of regular drills.
The equipment of the militia is
the same as that of the standing
army---all modern. In rifle prac-
tice, scores made are compared with
those of other militia organizations,
as well as with those made by the
members of the standing army, and
it has occurred that the militia work
of this kind has been better than
of the regulars.
A militia company in commun-
ity, under the new army regime,
serves to place such community on
the map" If the company excels
in any particular thing it is noticed,
not only by the army itself, but by
those on the outside, and as with
the members of the California Naval
Militia, who made the best possible
score with four inch and four pound
guns, there is a possibility that the
name of the community may be
heralded from coast to coast, thus
bringing it into great prominence.
The young men of Douglas county
now have an opportunity to become
members of al. Organization of this
sort, in which they will not have to
work for nothing; in which they
will be well cared for; in which they
will see something of the outside
word at the expense of the State
and the Government; in which they
will be given opportunity to excel,
with possible prize for such excel.
lence; in which they will be brought
closer together in a social and
friendly way: in which they may
bring their home Valley before the
eyes of those who have never heard
of Douglas county or Carson Valley.
This is an opportunity which offers
but once, and which must be taken
advantage of at once, as other COM
munities are ready and anxious to
get the last company to be assigned
to the State. See DIR. Servoss and
sign the petition for this company.
Col. Reves of Reno, notified DIR.
Servoss yesterday that it was his
desire to muster this company in at
an early date in order to get the
equipment for the five companies at
the same time. The list is growing
each day but should be hurried a.
long and closed up at an early date.