Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-05-22

was . visitor in Deming Sunday OF
his way to California from q month.
sojourn in the Mogollon district
Major Stallcup has been connected
with the United States army since
the beginning Of the Civil War. hav.
ing enlisted as private with a com.
pany Of Illinois volunteers.
For many years Major Stallcup
has served on military boards, and ID
an authority on army laws and reg.
ulations. In speaking Of the probable
trouble with Mexico and the status
Of the National Guard and the rails
ing Of a volunteer army, the Major
said:
"A long step toward military eff
cheney is taken in the enactment of
the volunteer army law, which was
signed by the President on Saturday.
The house passed it early in the win
ter, and at that time, when hostilities
in Mexico seemed by no means immi-
nent, the people endorsed the measure
ent, the people endorsed the measure
as necessary military reform too
long delayed. What it accomplishes
is the working coordination Of regu-
lars and volunteers in time Of war on
n modern basis, and volunteers al
ways have and probably always will
furnish, by far, the largest numerical
ingredient in the armies Of the United
States during hostilities.
The Spanish war brought about
Improvements in the country's mil
itary system. This new law remedies
especially the defects with which the
independent militia Of the several
states have burdened a national mo-
Utilization. A state militia cannot be
used in foreign territory. it has Off
GERS Of its own; it has a term Of en-
listment Of its own. but the militia is
the only body in the United States.
aside from the regular army. The
new law provides for the wholesale
enlistment of the militia in the federal
service; whole militia regiment can
volunteer in a body, and. in volunte-
ering, militiamen will enlist for three
years, or until peace is declared.
Once in the federal service. a volun-
teer regiment will maintain its exist
ence and its ranks will be constitu-
tionally recruited in the field from re-
cruit depots to make up its
losses. This reform is most cx-
cellent, since it will remedy the
serious military evil of the sudden
disappearance of whole regiments |
from the army at the end Of the
term Of enlistment. often a short
term-an experience so familiar in
the Civil war. In the Mexican war
Of ls4S, General Scott lost several
thousands Of soldiers from this very
cause.
The militia regiments once in the
federal service will also be in the
federal control in respect to officers.
The presidents power will be alb
solute TO appoint new officers to re-
place the old ones originally appoint
cd by the governors Of states, al
though the understanding is that no
officers coming from the militia with
the volunteer regiments will be sup
erseded except for inefficiency. Pro-
vision is made for the early promo
ton of regular army officers to the
highest places of command of volun-
teers, and thus that old scandal Of
political generals so notorious in
American military history. would be
il not wholly eliminated.
There are many improvements in
letail effected by the new law. and
me Of these changes still to be noted
: the repeal Of the old requirement
hat no volunteers of state shall
De called for until all Of the state
militia has gone to the front. Here
lfter, volunteers may be recruited for
my branch of the state militia as il
: depleted by the passage OF or
into federal service. 1t
: expected that the new law will
prevent the payment of bounties. rs
I will certainly do away with the
hort term services evil, and drafting
hould be far less probable when long
erm enlistments, by large number
4 men, are made advisable at the
eginning Of trouble.
Volunteer regiments other than
hose coming from the national
uard. Of course. are provided for.
Is in the PHILIPPINE insurrection such
egiments would never have any con-
eetion. whatever, with state govern
,ents. Volunteers Of this sort would
Undoubtedly be necessary in ease Of
ig military operations outside the
miis of the United States. At pres
ut the United States regular army,
and about the continent, has avail