The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-30
MilitalylFoTeet 70
Be Augr1le 1lted
PLANS FOR GREATER EFFlciEN
cY I'm THE NATIONAL
GUARD.
NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF MILL
TIA Is TO BE IN
CREASED.
STATE TROOPS TO RECEIVE
TRAINING FROM REGULAR
ARMY OFFICERS.

] (BY CHARLES BROOkS Sml H.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 30
1t has probably been forgotten by the
readers OF this correspondence that
the information was given them a
number Of months ago that the army
officers in charge Of the militia OF
the states were engaged at work upon
plan to reorganize the reserve serv-
Ice by putting it on a basis as near
that OF the regular army as 1t was pos
siple to do that: that the plan con
templated large increase in the nu.
merlcal strength of the states guard
and providing such military training,
under regular army officers and dis
cipline, as to render its efficiency de-
cidedly much more satisfactory than
1t now Is.
At the time of that article General
Elliott, then in charge OF the Ma
tional Guard Of West Virginia, was
spending much OF his time in Wash.
inRton In conference with members of
the war college and general stat.
There were conferences almost daily,
and General Elliott made more than
one visit to this city to discuss with
the army officers the business they
had in hand. namely. providing
large and dependable reserve force
from the militia of forty-eight states.
which was anything but large and
dependable at that time, or this.
Now comes the sequel to all this
work which began in the months OF
last summer, in the shape OF tenta'
tive plan which has been worked OUT
and practically decided upon as one
10 be recommended by Secretary OF
War Garrison in his forthcoming re-
port. II has not been formally MAD"
nublic by the officers responsible for
It hut It has been ascertained from
a thoroughly Trustworthy source what
the main provisions OF the plan formu
lated are. In the first place. the put
ting into effect of this plan Will re-
quire little, If any. legislation on the
part of the Congress, and Its approval
by the administration will doubtless
render useless the present labors OF
the not a few members Of Congress
who are known to be busy at the pres
ent time preparing schemes emoodieu
in their own resolutions for strenetn
ening the land defenses.
The plan that has been decided on
nv the members of the war college
and general staff, as briefly outlined
to your correspondent by one VINO Is
FIN position to speak with authority Is
to take steps to place the militia on
a nroper footing both as TO numerical
strength and military efficiency. IL
does not contemplate any increase IN
the regular army. It is proposed 70
huild up the size OF the reserve force,
or the militia, from 12s,o4S CAS- states)
to 500, 1000, and to attain this strenstn
each state is to be allotted q quota
based on It's present enlistment. mus
West Virginia, which is now credited
with a guard numbering 1921. would
he expected to increase that to 6,326-
and other states in proportion. To
accomplish this, as well as the sue
cess of the plan in its entirety, the
government will invite the co-opera'
ton of the states In an effort to en-
courage a greater degree Of interest
In the Development and efficiency OF
this branch OF national defense.
1t is believed by the officials OF tho
government that patriotic appeal to
the young men of the country to vol
unteer for training in the army viii
enlist the cooperation Of men In all
walks Of life.
One OF the details Of the new plan
contemplates the establishment OF a
government training camp in each
state during a period Of from four
10 six months every year. These are
to be run on a uniform schedule OF
training to conform to the methods
Of the regular army.
The army officials make no denial
NJ the fact that the state militia has
deteriorated both as to numbers and
efficiency, and regret the fact that
this reserve has been permitted 70
depreciate. The experience OF Gress