The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-03-21
6vg. Gene7ziAL.Hilks

"Why do we have an organized mill
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
10 maintain ourselves" he contin-
ued, until the great mass OF volun-
teers which is certain to be needed to
carry ON any war with a foreign pow
er can be enlisted, organized, equip
ped and trained.
The organized militia Is to be dis
tinguisbed 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
a member of the unorganized militia.
THE organized militia includes the
National Guards of the several states.
Its reported strength is 10000. The
law of 1903 makes this more formid-
able arm than its prototype ever was
before. The war department recog-
nizes 1t as a potent force which, with
proper support by congress, can be
made a 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 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 All
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 mako
effective the intention of congress, as
expressed in existing laws, and assist
the states in so organizing, arming.
eQulpping and training their Nationa;
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 It's supervision
over and discharges its responsible
ties to the organised militia. The d.
vision Is one of the four coordinate
Of the Office 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
Of tho National Guard
ID the various states. and their equip
ment with arms, ammunition, uni
forms and camp equipage generally.
'The aim Of the Institutional Of
lorts Is to assist the states in securing
} trained and efficient field force. I'm
der the constitution the authority for
the militia Is in the hands Of
the states, but It must be Of the kind
hat is prescribed by congress for the
army.
with this In view, there are a.
signed to each state specially qualified
md selected officers to do duty as In
observation-disclosures, assisting the states
IN this practical way. and enabling
hem in the matter Of training to keep
n touch with the most modern meth
IDS pursued in the army.
'The result Of federal assistance at
orded the organized militia il that it
las greatly increased the efficiency OF
he force. Il is progressing 80 well
long these lines that, with continued
assistance by congress and a recogni.
ion Of that assistance by the states,
he nation viii have a dependable field
orce. certainly one Infinitely better
han any new organization. filled ND
With unframed citizens, could be ex,
'ected to BE-"