The Ordway new era., 1914-01-30
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why do we have an organised mill
tia?" was the question put to General
Mills one afternoon in his once.
As viewed from the standpoint of
the national government, We have an
organised militia to take part with the
army as the hrst line Of defense in
case Of any national emergency" re-
piled the general.
ITO maintain ourselves" he contin-
ued. until the great mass Of volun-
teers which Ii certain to be needed to
carry on any war with . foreign pow.
ped and trained.
"The organized militia II to be dis
tinguished from the unorganized mill.
tia The latter embraces the man.
hood Of the country. Since 1893 every
male citizen Of the United States be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty
Eve. who Is physically sound. has been
member OF the unorganised militia.
"fhe organized militia includes the
National Guards Of the several states.
Its reported strength 10 10000. The
law Of 1908 makes this more formid-
able arm than Its prototype ever was
before. The war department recog-
nizes 1t n . potent force which. with
made real national military asset.
Only those elements Of the National
Guard which participate In the federal
appropriations and conform In organi-
cation. armament and equipment with
what 10 prescribed for the regular
army are recognized by the war de-
partment ~ part Of the Organized
militia. This takes In, however. al
most all the 'so-called National Guari
Organizations In the country,
The policy Of the war department
u TO make the organized militia an
efficient force for national military
purposes. Tho department 10 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 II shall have. The purpose Of
effective the intention Of congress, ~
expressed in existing laws. and assist
the states in so organizing. arming,
equfrping 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 II
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 co-ordinate
branches Of the ONCE of the chief Of
star 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.
"Ths aim Of the Institutional Of
forts Is to assist the states in securing
/ trained and efficient field force. I'm
der the constitution the authority for
training the militia il in the hands Of
the states. but It must be Of the kind
that il prescribed by congress- for. the
army.
with this in view. there are a.
signed to each state specially qualifled
and selected officers to do duty az In
spector.instructors. 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.
THE result Of federal assistance AZ
forded the organized militia is that II
has greatly increased the efficiency OF
the force. It is progressing SO we'll
along these lines that, with continued
assistance by congress and a recoRni-
tion of that assistance by the STATES,
the nation will have dependable fleld
force. certainly one infinitely better
than any new organization, filled up
with unframed citizens. could be en-
| pected TO be-"
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