The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-06-06
National GUARD FORCES Of UNITED
STATES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION

to the front unquestlondpiy ehoy WIN
20 in divisions, but the advance ere
alton of these divisions has been DIM
cult, owing to the limited control OF
the federal government In the prem
ises, the varying conditions obtaining
In the different states. the fact tnat
in the general case several states com
pose a single divisional district, ana
the fact as the current report OF lhe
chief Of the military division sa!''
that no regular army officers nave
been available for working on 'ne
problem. The division formation no"
ever, unauestionably will be the forna.
ton of the National Guard for tacticai
purposes in case they are ordered in'o
the field.
As has been said. the regular arms
forms the first four divisions in'
Fifth division, geographically spea
ing includes the New England states
The other divisions In order ana INC
states whose troops will go 10 ioim
their units are: Sixth, New iolh'
Seventh, Pennsylvania; Eighth
ginia, West Virginia. Maryland, D
ware. New Jersey; Ninth rioiiua'
North Carolina, South Caroiiha'
Tenth. Mississippi, Alabama. Ienhes
see. Kentucky; Eleventh. Michigan anu
Ohio: Twelfth, Indiana ana liiihoIo'
Thirteenth. North Dakota. South D"'
to,a Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin,
Fourteenth. Kansas, Colorado wy
ming and Nebraska; Fifteenth. LOUISE
ana. Arkansas, Texas. Oklahoma ne"
Mexico and Arizona: Sixteenth Juan
Nevada California, Oregon. Washing
ton, Idaho and Montana.
Under a law recently passed by con-
gress and approved by the president.
Il will be easier to take the Nauona'
Guardsmen of the different states INTO
volunteer service than ever before. IL
tbree.fourths of the members OF
state regiment express their Wiling
ness to enlist the organization at once
can be sworn into the volunteer ser''
ice, and the deficiency Of enlisted men,
IL any, can be made up by volunteers
from outside OF the organization. IL
will be seen from the table given OF
the twelve militia divisions that the
brigades and regiments forming one
| division will be drawn from nelghpor
| ing states, thus In a great measure
keeping up not only the traditions o
state pride, but of that pride which II
| a good sense can be called sectional
i This sort of feeling Is recognized a.
i being proper, and as stimulant u
j high endeavor.
The National Guard Of every stat
in the Union today is armed with tn
latest model of Springfield rife an
! carbine for the infantry and cavalry
and with the latest type Of field gun
:. for the artillery. The equipment Q
- the other branches, the engineer. sis
nal and sanitary troops, Is also tina
= OF the regular service.
q. Comparisons, as a saying which ma
:, gone into the class Of the bromidi
= has 1t, are odious. and they also ar
a frequently invidious. but the Nations
Guardsmen of some Of the states al
in far better trim for the field than ar
~ their brothers OF other states. Ohc
- in the sevice. however. with the e.
- ample which the regulars set for then
% with the strengthening Of their el
N durance qualities by the open air an
the exercise and with the disciplir
., which In the service rigidly is e
=, forced, It ought not to take long
bring the more backward Of the res
- ments nearly abreast of the others
~ efficiency and to make the guardsmt
NC division units in strength as they a
y, units In organization.
~ A division is the smallest militia
" unit containing all arms Of the SCI
ice and all branches of the stan.
the chief Of the division OF militia
90 fairs puts it, 1T is the smallest mi
~ tary tool box and the smallest vi
us capable of Independent action. A lar
oi' force could not we'll be administer