The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-21
MAY BUY HORSES
FOR ARTILLERY
Government Asked to Help
Militia-Artillery Branch
Must Be Fostcred.


Local artillerymen are much IN
terested in the recommendation that
the government supply horses ior tne
use OF mounted militia ORGANIZATIONS,
as made by General A. l.. Minis. cnief
of the Division of Militia Affairs.
War Department. in his annual re-
port. Just Issued. IL sustains the con-
IGNITION of artillery people that the use
of horses is essential TO proper tram
ing. -.
1.-The question OF providing horses
for mounted organizations. says
J General Mills has long been vcxed
one. due to the expense. ana the re-
suit il that these organizations are az
present mounted on name only IL
is as Impossible 10 obtain enlclency
without horses ia a mounted orgahl-
cation as IL is to learn TO swim without
going near the water, and no general
efficiency can be expected IN sucn
organizations until some provision 10
made for horsing them Cnder the
: law as IL now stands Federai appro-
priations are not available 70 pay Tor
horses forage, etc. except during
the short encampments. The law
should be so amended as 70 enable the
States having mounted organizations
TO permanently and continuously pro-
vide a nucleus OF horses.
( Would Amend Law.
ANmember. OF the organized miittie
/ sometimes provides his own saddle
horse. but there Is no case on record
here where an artillery driver has pro-
vided his pair. Even were he TO do So
he could not count on driving them
as he must also perform the duties
OF a cannoneer. The material OF
/ battery costs about 81. 600. IL cannot be
moved from the armory except by
horses: being a iong-range arm, ~
does not lend itself to instruction ex-
clusively in an armory: in other words.
Al ND
icannoneers horses are essential 10
I securing efficiency. The amount OF
/ field artillery in the organized militia
in proportion TO It's infantry Is greatly
! below what Is universally recognized
as necessary AS similar condition
exists in the regular army. the great
importance of steps being taken to
{ increase this arm in the organized
/ militia is manifest. II is believed that
T provision for a nucleus of horses and
their maintenance would be a great
help for the State in this matter
General Mills recommends that the
militia law be amended to make the
appropriation available also for the
purchase OF a limited number OF horses
conforming to the regular army stand
ard to remain the property OF the
United States and be used exclusively
for mounted organizations OF the
organized militia. and for the pur-
chase OF forage and bedding. cost OF
shoeing. veterinary service and main
tenance. and also for maintenance Of
horses belonging 10 the states
Must Increase Artillery
The deep interest taken by the War
Department in increasing the number
of field artillery So shown In another
past of General Mills's report, in which
ne says
..lhe problem of securing an ade-
ouate and efficient aeld artillery con-
n
solve With the single exception OF pay
for the organized militia, the question
of field artillery is also the most I'm
+ portant problem TO solve. Looking al
: the question from the Federal point OF
view and this contemplates the use OF
the organized militia by tactical oivi-
sions or larger units. large part OF
the infantry now maintained at con
siderable cost will lose very materially
{ i'm efficiency unless accompanied IN the
field and supported in action by vastly
more field artillery than 10 now IN exist
ence. Nor can the deficiency in this
arm be made good by hastily created
/ volunteers after the outbreak or wal
a realization OF the length OF time
necessary to secure efficiency in this
arm with its present gun. coupled with
{ the growing Importance OF the arm. Is
probably the factor that has decided
All nations except the United States to
overwhelmingly increase their field
artillery relative 10 the other arms
As there is no possibility of the field
artillery component OF the troops being
reduced. but on the contrary there Is
great probs ability Of its being increased.
The attention of the organized militia,
irrespective of arm. corps or depart
ment. il earnestly invited to the neces-
SHY OF fostering the field artillery
The infantry, above all other arms. Is
interested in shis problem. for without
more feId artillery part OF the infantry
could not be maintained in the field
against a force of anywhere near the
same size adequately provided with
field artillery