Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-19
Has More Enlisted Men in Pro-
portion to Population Than
Any State.
SUITABLE ARMORY URGED
BY GEN. ALBERT /. MILLS
Chief of Division of Militia Affairs,
War Department, Cites Need for
New Buildings.

According to Gen. Albert L. Mills,
chief of the division of militia affairs.
War Department, the organized militia
of the District of Columbia stands No. l
in tables showing the proportion of
the strength of the organized militia of
all the states to the number of male in
habitants available for military duty.
New Hampshire stands No. 2. and Loui-
siana is No. 4s, the foot of the list. TAX
ing the latest annual return of the adj
jutant general, District Of Columbia mi
litia. and the census of 1910, the District
militia has strength of 1,78O out of q
total of 7S,349 males of militia age from
eighteen to forty-four years, inclusive)
or a percentage of 2.24. No state has a
percentage over 1873 CNew Hampshire)
and all but seven states fall below
per cent in militia strength on the basis
of available population. Maryland
stands No. Il, and Virginia No. "a.
The strength of the District militia.
computed from the organization records
submitted to the federal inspectors at the
time of the annual inspection made jan
uary 1 to May 81, 1918, is stated at 139
officers and 1.704 enlisted men, gain Of
five officers and Ill enlisted men as COM
total strength of the organization in 1903
is stated at 1.294, and in 1913 at 1,646 an
increase of 352. In 1910, the total
strength was 1,645, or one less than in
1913.
Married Men Number 476.
Out of a total enlisted strength of
1907. 1t is stated that nineteen appar-
emily do not conform physically to regu-
lar army standards. The number of mar
ried men in the ranks of the District
militia is stated at 476, and seventy-two
of the soldiers have served more than
ten years.
With other new legislation urgently
recommended by Gen. Mills Is provision
for the erection of a suitable armory in
the District of Columbia commensurate
with the Importance and standing of the
National Guard.
There is says Gen Mills. nothing
new to be said on this subject. The need
is still felt and will continue to be so
until the want is supplied"
In an accompanying table regarding
armory facilities Twenty-Five organiza-
tons of the National Guard of the Dis
trict We're reported on. In the case Of
eight Of that number it was found that
the drill halls are Inadequate for indoor
instruction; that two armor.es do not af-
ford United States property proper pro-
lection from the elements or security
from theft; that three are not equipped
with facilities for indoor gallery prac-
tice. and that twelve are not located,
constructed or equipped SO as to en-
courage enlistments or re-enlistments.
Little Improvement in Year.
On the general subject of armories Gen.
Mills says:
..rhor 49,, A.... - ,..l,- $1,000, =.
provement during the year. The last in
spections made by federal 4. inspectors
show that about one-fourth of the COM
halls which are too small for proper in
door instruction, that about one-tweifth
have armories whose use for non-military
purposes tnterferes with proper instruc-
ton, that nearly one-fourth have no
equipment for gallery practice and that
about one-tenth afford inadequate protec-
ton to the government property stored
therein. The importance of this subject
is such as to entit4e 1t to the most seri-
Gus consideration Of the authorities of
each state The large proportion of in
adequate armories now existing prevents
the proper amount and kind Of instruc-
ton being impaired and also gives con-
siderable financial annual loss in prop
erty.
'-The importance of this subject is one
WHICH S1oulu Uldh6 IL receive Tie SeIlOus
consideration of the authorities of each
state. with a view to the Incorporation
in the military policy of the state of a
definite system looking to the gradual
construction Of suitable armories. 1t is
realized that the construction must be
gradual, but it should at least be con-
slant When 1t is remembered that the
greater part of the instruction must be
given in armories, it is evident that much
Of the inefficiency which may be found
in an organization can be traced to lack
Of proper facilities for indoor instruc-
ton"