Evening star., 1914-11-13
The War Department Sounds
Warning to Organized
Militia of the Country.
REGIMENTS IN STATES
LACKING IN EQUIPMENT
Gen. Mills Calls Attention to What
Might Happen in Case
of War.

Should the organized militia be
called into the United States service,
the troops would be sent to mobiliza-
tion camps without sufficient uniforms
to provide each soldier of the minimum
strength with one suit of outside
clothing"
That is the warning sounded by the
War Department in. circular just di-
rected to the national guardsmen by
Brig. Gen. \. L. Mills. chief of the di-
vision of militia affairs. The circular
recites that at the latest inspection
this year. nine states did not have
sufficient clothing to provide one uni
form for each of the 100 enlisted mi
litiamen required to be maintained for
each senator and representative. Thir-
ty-nine states did not have sufficient
clothing to provide one uniform for
each enlisted man of the minimum au-
thorized strength, the authorized
strength being formerly fifty-eight
men for each infantry company, which
is now to be increased to sixty-five. A
number of other states did not have
sufficient arms and equipment for their
minimum authorized strength.
Clothing Unfit for Winter.
Moreover. many of the uniforms now
on hand are of cotton and inadequate
for cold weather, and should the militia
be called out the War Department
would be obliged to ship supplies and
clothing and arms to fifty or more diff
ferent points, located in many cases at
long distances from the depots.
Unless the deficiencies of uniforms,
arms and equipments are corrected"
says Gen. Mills, the deplorable expe-
riences of 1855 will be repeated. Con-
sideration of the welfare and interests
OF the nation well as the health,
comfort and even the lives of the or
EaniZed militia, call for correction of
these various serious defects before
the next inspections in the first quar-
ter of 1915.
~ hen the inspections are made in
1915 all property must be actually ex-
hibited to the inspecting officers In or
der that they may count and inspect
it and report the quantities on hand.
Comments on Dereliction.
the several states to present all gov
ernment property in their possession
to the inspectors in prior years the at
tention of those concerned is particu-
larly invited to this requirement. No
ported by the. states unless its exist
ence is certified by an inspecting off,
Ger, or unless it has been ordered is
sued by the War Department. The in
ventories and certificates of inspecting
officers and approved acquisitions will
constitute the only evidence that will
he accepted as to the availability of
the property mentioned in paragraph
IL of this circular.
THE inspections will be made during
the months of January, February and
March, 1915, and will be completed with
out exception not later than March 81,
1915.
THE inventories will be complied and
after the completion of the inspections
and prior to June 80, 1915, inform each
of the several states
"ta) Whether the state shall be en-
titled to the benefits of the appropria-
lions apportioned it under section 1861
Of the Revised Statutes, for the fiscal
year 1916.
'Cb) Whether the state will receive
clothing allowance under section 10 Of
the militia law for the fiscal year 1916
"tc) Whether the disbursing officers
designated by the governor may receive
ami disburse funds appropriated by sec
tion 1861, Revised Statutes, during the
fiscal year 1916.
What the Requirements Include.
1t should be noted the foregoing re-
CCi oments include only the minimum
t.cles of a personal character, omit
t.nG all organizational equipment ex-
ccpt tentage for shelter and field
ranges for cooking.
notice is hereby given that the fore
going requirements apply only to the in
spection of the organized militia under
section "A OF the militia law which will
he made during the first three months of