Evening journal., 1914-08-06
TO REORGANIZE
THE j. 5. militia
Chamberlain Bill Provides
for a Great Army
Reserve
STATE TROOPS TO
RECEIVE MORE PAY

WASHINGTON Aug 6. Alarmed at
the small size Of the trained lighting
force Of the United States and impress
ed by the European war OF the neces.
sity for greater army reserve, the
Administration yesterday caused to be
introduced bill providing for com.
plete reorganization Of the national mil.
itia.
This is the most sweeping measure
Of il kind ever given serious considcra-
tion by Congress. 1t was presented by
senator Chamberlain, chairman ii the
Senate Military Affairs Committee, after
II was prepared By the War Depart
ment
All able bodied male citizens Of the
United States, as well as those who
have declared their intention Of hecom-
ing citizens, are to be members of the
militia OF the State in which they re-
side, according to the terms OF the bill
The bill is popularity known as the
Militia Reorganization and Pay bill, and
provides, among other things, for the
pay Of enlisted men and officers Of the
organized militia, for the creation Of
militia reserve and for the transfer OF
the organized militia to the regular
army for service in foreign lands II
necessary, in time OF war In its pres
cnt form the bill has the approval Of
the Division of Militia Affairs and War
College, as well as the approval Of the
National Guard Association
While all able-bodicd male citizens are
declared TO be members Of the militia,
only the regularly commissioned and
enlisted men of the State National
Guard and members Of the reserve be.
tween the ages Of IS and "a are con
verified into the organized militia. as re-
cogni2ed by Inc bill An others are IN
what is styled the "unorqanized mill
tia,3 where they are subject to draft |
or TO enlistment in the volunteer SER
vice
The bill authorizes an annual appro
priation Of slG.45000O for the militia. OF I
which amount Sl0000000 shall be ex (
pended for pay Of officers and enlisted I
men during time of peace. The pay ct /
enlisted men, in time Of peace, shall be
= per cent. Of the regular army paw.
commanding officers viii receive 20 per
cent Of the regular army salaries. gen
efai officers. > per cent, and other regi
mental officers, - per cent AIlitiamen
will receive this schedule Of peace pay
only in the event they participate III
not less than - drills a wear. and their
will be proportionatelv rel
lluccd for non-attendance. No pay what
ever will be allowed whore they fail to
attend at least 20 drills per wear.
OF the total sum named. So 500 900 an
nually will be upprotioued to the States
for purchase 81 rs and equipment. and
H3,91ONOO IS 10 ~ expended for horse
hire. purchase OF forage, etc
The militia reserve. created bv the hill. I
is 70 consist of men who have served AZ
least one full enlistment IN the State
militia, and have been honorably dis
'harged, but provision also is made for
.aking into the reserve naturalized
'iti2cns who have had war service in
oraign armies, and have been honorablv
discharged by the governments under
which they served abroad The militia
cserve Is TO be utilized in time OF war
n recruiting organized militia companies
md other units up TO their full war
trength.
The president is given authority.
the United States IS invaded
'r threatened with invasion bv a foreign
lower, TO call ont the organized militia
on q period not exceeding two years,
md when SO called and mustered into
erviee. officers and men will receive
ocular army pay. The bill does away
With general staff officers in the militia
bove the grade Of colonel