The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-01-23
NATIONAL GUARD
INTEREST CROWS
Home SoIdiery Waking Up to the
Possibilities for an Efficient
Militia Force Here.
tFrOm Saturdays Advertiser.)

That interest in the work of the Ma
tional Guard is growing by leaps and
bounds among the members thereof is
the report made to The Advertiser by
the officers at headquarters. The good
news to the effect that the federal gov
eminent intended to give the Territory
land for an armory, published some
weeks ago, and the fact that the local
government will have money for fine
building to be put thereon some time
this summer, has so stimulated interest
in National Guard affairs that those Of
ficers who have been the mainstay of
the little force for number of years,
and who have had in the past much to
discourage them, are themselves re-
awakened to the possibilities for a
splendid militia in Hawaii.
Colonel Jones, the adjutant general
of the militia, believes that the day is
near at hand when Hawaii will have q
full and efficient regiment of National
Guard. 1t is agreed on all hands,
among both army officers and those of
the territorial force, that regiment
at full war strength is a goodly number
for these Islands, but it is pointed out
that in some of the smaller States of
the mainland, where the population Is
not greatly in excess of the census re-
turn in Hawaii, one, two, and even
three regiments of militia are maintain
ed in first-class order. And, it is urged,
in these States there is not the incen-
tive and encouragement to join the To-
cal forces that there is in this Terri
tory.
Captain johnson, of the United
States Army, who is detailed as inspec
tor.instructor of the guard, believes
that the quartering of large bodies of
regular troops here, along with the visit
of the fleet, has had much to do with
arousing martial spirit among both
the officers and the men of the guard,
as well as generally creating an interest
outside the organization. Anyway, the
result has been that during the past few
weeks such interest in all matters con-
nected with the force has been mani
tested that those at the head are more
pleased by the prospects. Drills are
better attended than they were ever be-
fore, field problems are studied more
earnestly, and interest in general mill
tary matters is higher than in times
gone by.
AT headquarters weekly bulletln Is
now issued. 1t contains matter not on
ly pertaining directly to the National
Guard and its welfare but has much in
formation regarding orders, equipment,
and the like of the regular service.
This bulletin is studied weekly by the
officers and men who assemble at head
quarters, and they are thereby enabled
to keep in touch with matters of in
terest to regular and guardsman alike.
According to the bulletin, the new
infantry equipment, of the model of
1870 is not now being manufactured in
sufficient quantities by the United
States government to permit of the is
suance of complete sets to the organized
militia; but in the matter of intrench-
ing tools, model of 1910, and carriers
there is a supply sufficient to
meet ali ordinary demands.
1t is expected that the new Colts
pistol will be issued to the
Guard some time during the coming
perhaps in August. This arm
is of calibre As, and will be exchanged
for the .3S's now in use without any
cost to the Territory. Until the new
equipment is issued, LIST. sergeants of
infantry, and of troops armed as infan-
try, will carry the revolver only.