The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-12-13

has assumed that at the outbreak or
war our regiments would be imme-
diately 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
I neglected the lessons learned by other
nations The new law provides that
/ the soldier. after serving four years
with colors. shall pass into a reserve
! for three years At his option he may
| so 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
member OF the reserve. The legisla-
ton is imperfect. in my opinion. in
certain particulars. but 1t is most
/ important step in the right direction,
and | earnestly hope that II Will be
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, IS far
as possible. 10 those Of the regular
army. and its practical efficiency. I'M
der the effect Of this training. has
very greatly increased. Our citizen
soldiers under present conditions have
reached q stage Of development be-
yond which they cannot reasonably be
asked to so 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
it produced a 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 Off
GERS and men are ambitious and eager
10 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
-. arr1AH he
tween the authorities OF the war de-
partment and the representatives OF
the national guard in ny opinion ade-
ouately meets these conditions and
offers q proper return for the pay
which II IS proposed TO give 10 the
national guard. believe that its en-
act11ent into law would be a very
long step toward providing this ma
ton with q first line OF citizen sol
6!ery. upon which its main reliance
must depend in case Of any national
emergency. Plans for the organiza-
ton OF the national guard into tao
teal divisions. on the same lines as
those adopted for the regular army,
are being formulated by the war col
lese division Of the general sta1,
National Volunteers.
The natioanl guard consists Of only
about 10000 men. In any serious
war IN the past it has always been
necessary. and in such war in the
future i doubtless will be necessary,
for the nation to depend, in addition
70 the regular army and the national
guard. upon 2 large force Of volun-
teers. There is at present no ade-
ouate provision Of law for the raising
OF such force. There is now pend
ing in congress, however, bill which
makes such provision, and which l
believe is admirably adapted 10 meet
the exigenCies which would be pre-
scented n case OF war. The passage
OF the bill would not entail z dollars
expense upon the government at. this
time or in the future until war comes.
But i war comes the methods therein
directed are in accordance with the
best military judgment as 10 what
they ought 10 be. and the act would
prevent the necessity for DISCUSSING
OF any legislation and the delays in
cident 70 its consideration and adop-
tion. I earnestly urge its passage
Porto Rico. NJ. Taft says, contin-
ues 70 show notable progress and ne
urges the senate 70 pass The bill grant
!-- the Porto Rtca-s American citizen
snip.
Philippines.
= bill Is pending 7 congress. con
r.1uas the message, which revolution
ICES the carefully worked out scheme
OF government under which the Philip
pine islands ara -ov governed and
which proposes 20 render than Tir-
tually AUTONOMOUS a. olce and ALSO
luteIy independent Il eight years.
Such q proposal can only y founded
on the assumption that We have 1ov
discharged o-- ---steeshiP 20 he III
ip,no people and c-- responsibility .o-
them 70 The world. and thar they are
now prepared for selt-goT=-11=1- Is
well as rational sovereignty 4 -15r-
ough and unbiased E-oalsdge q -1=
facts clearly shows that -E=zs zsE-ZV-
tons are absolutely with .-s.-1-z-ic--
As TO this. I believe r1z. I1s-= : =
substantial difference o. or--c-
among any OF hose vEo have I'D -
responsibility OF facing Ph1l5r51-s
| problems Il the administrator q ~
islands, and I believe ttz- II czs 2
I -.ho-, 81, E,--r.-- --==