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

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| tons, the invention of intricate and
| powerful new engines OF war; the
need, as revealed by studies and ex-
perience of military sanitation; the
| development of new and swift meth
DDS of transportation-all these have
| changed the character of the soldiers
| business. He must know more today
than he ever knew before. The idea
of the soldier as mere food for pow
| der" long ago became obsolete. A
| higher training is required.
! Our little standing army, therefore,
| is today regarded more as a training
school and model for the larger milf
tary force that will be necessary in
our next war than as the country's
chief land defense dependence. From
the citizens must come the big fight
ing force.
In our every war we have sent I'M
trained citizens into the field at the
beginning. The resulting loss of life.
largely because of the ignorance Of
how to live under military field con-
ditions, has been shocking. The flnan-
| cial loss in prolongation of the war,
in temporary setbacks, in expense Of
improvising field armies from nothing,
in pension rolls, has been stupendous.
Lack Of preparedness was the cause.
Preparedness, then, is the aim and
purpose Of the military authorities OF
the United States. They are trying,
SO far as congress and public opinion
will permit, to profit by the awful les
sons of the past. They are trying to
make the regular army perfect mill
tary force and to make the National
Guard, otherwise the organized mill
tia. just as well trained as any body
of citizen soldiers can be trained.
Results are being achieved.
There has been an organized militia
of sorts ever since this became a
constitutional republic The organic
ing Of it ever has been in the hands
of the states, however. and the states
have had varying ideas of what sort
of military force should be main
tained in the guise Of organized
militia.
The war Of 1898 showed up the de-
fects Of our military system in a glar-
ing fashion. This resulted in the
passage Of the new militia law of
1908, known as the Dick bill, really
organizing the militia force. By this
act larger federal assistance was given
to the militia Of the states and q larg-
er measure of military efficiency re-
Quired Of those forces in return for
that atd.
In 1908 the law was amended and
improved A national militia board,
consisting Of militia officers appointed
by the secretary Of war. was author
lied to advise with the war depart
mont on militia affairs. And also the
division OF militia affairs in the war
department was created to handle the
subject.
It is this division which Brig. Cen.
Albert l. Mills now heads.
Federal aid is now extended to the
organized militia or National Guards
OF the various states to the extent
Of about 5000. 600 q year. OF this
about $500. 900 Is expended for arms.
equipment. camp purposes and maneu.
vers, about $500. 900 for the promotion ..
Of rife practice. something like $780,
600 for ammunition and more than
3. 0O0. 900 for supplies.
The result Of the new laws has been
to bring the National Guard force into
closer and more intimate relation with
the regular army. to make It more
uniform in organization. discipline and |
equipment and to- establish standards
Of efficiency. to which all elements are
working.
General Mills himself. in his erect
carriage, grtzsled hair, stiff, gray. mill
tary mustache, nrm jaw and strongly |
lined mouth, Is the ideal soldier. In |
speech he Is careful and deliberate. in |
action sure. determined, rapid. "A
strong character" is the estimate Of
the observer. It Is q correct esti-
mate. One known, without the study
Of his life and habit Of thought that
demonstrates the correctness of the
theory. that he 10 . man Of high
Ideals. spotless life and simple creed
u right and wrong.
y