Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-10
BOOSTS
The MILITIA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1O.-ln MS
annual report. Brig. Gen. R. X. Evans
chief of the division of militia affairs
war department calls attention to the
statement of his predecessor in Of
fee, Gen. E. NJ. Weaver, relative to
the totally unsatisfactory condition
of the armory of the organized mil
tia of the District of Columbia" He
adds that the fact of the national
government in the oen place where it
is to provide armories fails to appre'
ciate the necessity therefor cannot
but have a very deleterious effect
upon the states
Regarding the armory OF the First
battery of field artillery of the dis
trict he report states that it is
owned by private individuals and is
totally inadequate in every respect,
Except that it affords proper protec'
ton from the elements and security
from theft
These remarks follow a statement
that the armories generally through
out the country are inadequate and
unsuited for their purpose. General
Evans says, however. it is gratifying
TO state that there is an awakening
interest in that subject, and that in
a number of states legislative enact
ments have been passed looking to
the ultimate erection of armories.
For Increase Of Efficiency.
General Evans report contains de-
tails regarding the organized militia
Of the states. territories and the Dis
1rict of Columbia. together with nu.
merous recommendation designed to
increase it's efficiency. "As the fed
eral law makes the organized militia
part of the first line" he says, the
federal government must also make it
possible for these militia organiza-
tons to attain a state Of efficiency
that will assure their preparedness
for active field service at mo-
ment's notice. That great improve
ment has been made cannot be de-
MED but that a great deal remains
to be done in bringing these organ
izations, as body, to state of active
field service efficiency is very appar-
ent, and the fact that a few of the
states have excellent organizations
and high state of field efficiency
does not affect the general ISSUE"
Strength Of the Militia.
According to the report the strength
OF the organized militia is 9,172 off,
GERS and 10S,S16 men compared with
9,155 officers and 110,5O5 men re.
ported the previous year. a net de-
crease of 1872. The percentage of alb
sentees in t he entire organized mil
itia of the United States in 1911 was
1858, against 1916 in 1910. General
Evans says that the District oruhniza.
ton conforms strictly to United States
army organization, and is sufficiently
armed, equipped and uniformed.
Needs Of the Service.
General Evans set out at great
length the faults and virtues Of the
militia and describes their needs. The
result is not encouraging to the
friends of the National guard.
Here are some of the things that
General Evans wants: Federal pay
for adjutants general Of the states;
special financial aid by the govern.
m;nr for the field artillery and cav
airy of the militia; more sergeants
in the regular army who may be de-
tailed to duty as instructors to the
the supply by the govern
ment of a limited number Of horses
and forage for the militia cavalry,
and, most important of all. federal
pay for militia service
Nearly all of the "A troops of mil
tia cavalry are unframed in the use
of its mort important weapon-the
horse-and are in fact nothing but
infantry. Touching the proposition
to pay for militia service, General
Evans says it is believed that the
limit Of sacrifice that can be asked
Of the militia under the present laws
and without compensation has about
been reached. AS the people of the
United States are opposed to con-
it would seem to be only
just that those men who are willing
to sacrifice their time in military
service for the protection of the coun.
try should at least be partially COM
pensated.
Reserve Force Recommended.
Called into active service the mil
tia would contain only about ~ per
cent of the war strength to which it
should be raised. showing the need
for a reserve. The United States Of
all the great powers of the world. is
the only one which provides no re-
serves, and General Evans suggests
A scheme for the creation of one
based on an enlistment period of
seven years. not less than two nor
more than three of which shall be
served with the colors.
Even as organized the militia is so
in the proportion of cav
airy and artillery to infantry as to be
of combination with the
regular army in time of need.
Plenty Of Ends.
Mamma" Queri"d small Edgar.
"how many ends are there to stick Of
candy:"
1.-Two. Of course" was the reply.