The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-01-30

why 10 we nave an OTBdnlLeu ullll-
tia?" was the question put to General
Mills one afternoon In his office.
AS viewed from the standpoint Of
the national government, we have an
organized militia to take part with the
army as the first line OF defense in
case of any national emergency" re-
piled the general.
TO maintain ourselves" he contin-
ued, until the great mass of volun-
teers which is certain to be needed to
carry on any war with foreign pow
er can be enlisted, organized, equip
ped and trained.
The organized militia is to be dis
tinguished from the unorganized mill
tia. The latter embraces the man.
hood of the country. Since 1892 every
male citizen of the United States be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty
five, who is physically sound. has been
member of the unorganized militia.
The organized militia includes the
National Guards of the several states.
Its reported strength is 100000 The
law of 1903 makes this more formid-
able arm than its prototype ever was
before. The war department recog
niZes 1t as potent force which, with
proper support by congress, can be
made real national military asset.
Only those elements of the National
Guard which participate in the federal
appropriations and conform in organi-
zation armament and equipment with
what is prescribed for the regular
army are recognized by the war de-
partment as part of the organized
militia, This takes in, however, al
most all the so-called National Guard
organizations in the country.
The policy of the war department
is to make the organized militia an
efficient force for national military
purposes. The department is without
authority to increase the strength OF
the organized militia, it being within
the province of each state, under the
constitution, to determine what sized
force 1t shall have. The purpose of
the department Is to seek to make
effective the intention of congress, as
expressed In existing laws, and assist
the states in so organizing, arming,
equipping and training their National
Guards that these independent forces,
when needed, can pass, without reor-
ganization, smoothly and easily into
the federal service.
THE division of militia affairs is
the machinery through which the war
department exercises its supervision
over and discharges its responsible
ties to the organized militia. The d.
vision is one of the four coordinate
branches of the office of the chief of
staff of the army. Its duties are COM
prehensive. They fall naturally into
two classes. One is administrative
and the other Institutional.
Administrative embraces all the
details connected with the supervision
of disbursements OF federal funds, the
organization of the National Guard
in the various states, and their equip
ment with arms. ammunition, uni
forms and camp equipage generally.
THE aim of the Institutional ef-
forts is to assist the states in securing
trained and efficient field force. I'm.
der the constitution the authority for
training the militia is in the hands OF
the states, but 1t must be of the kind
that is prescribed by congress for the
army.
with this in view, there are as
signed to each state specially qualified
and selected officers to do duty as in
spector-lnstructors assisting the states
in this practical way. and enabling
them in the matter of training to keep
in touch with the most modern meth
DDS pursued in the army
1.-THE result of federal assistance af.
forded the organized militia is that 1t
has greatly increased the efficiency OF
the force. 1t is progressing SO we'll
along these lines that, with continued
assistance by congress and recOgni-
ton Of that assistance by the states,
the nation will have dependable tield
force. certainly one infinitely lAtter
than any new organization. filled up
with unframed citizens, could be ex-
pected to be-"