Evening star., 1915-12-18
Latest Returns, Compiled by
Gen. A. L. Mills, Show the
Aggregate Strength.
POINTS OUT THE LESSONS
TAUGHT BY EUROPEAN WAR
District of Columbia Force Rated
No. l, Population Considered.
Recommendations Made.

| In his annual report made public to-
day Gen. A. L. Mills, chief of the divi-
sion Of militia affairs Of the War De-
partment, gives mass of information
regarding the organization and condi-
tion OF the organized militia of the
United States. Latest returns, Gen.
Mills states, show that the aggregate
strength of the organized militia is
| S,705 commissioned officers and 120,693
enlisted men, a decrease over last year
| of eighty-seven officers and an increase
of 1,442 enlisted men. Definite progress
has been made during the year. he says,
toward the development of the militia
into an efficient field force, and while
some units have failed of recognition
under the requirements Of section 3 of
the militia law, distinct gains in the
aggregate have been made toward the
model or standard demanded by the
divisional scheme of militia organiza-
ton. On the divisional basis there is
altogether an excess of infantry units,
though not an excess in numerical
strength in infantry, even on a peace
basis. While there have been gains in
cavalry, field artillery and machine
gun units especially in the last-named
element, Gen. Mills says, there are still
serious DEFICIENCIES in those respects. as
well as in engineers, signal and sani-
tary troops.
Deficiency In Coast Force.
On the basis Of coast defense re-
quirements there is a deficiency in
coast artillery militia Of q per cent in
| company units. and on a numerical
basis deficiency Of 3s per cent in COM
missioned officers and 81 per cent in
enlisted men.
An examination Of the reports Of at
tendance at armory drills shows an un-
satisfactory condition. Absenteeism is a
serious drawback to good armory in
struction, but as effective means to en-
force attendance are lacking. the re-
port states, the fault must be con-
sidered as inseparable from the exist
ing militia system.
The great war now raging in
Europe" says Gen. Mills. has directed
increased attention to the part played
by the auxiliary arms in making in
fantry success possible. to the neces-
sity for a larger proportion Of machine
| guns, II not. indeed, for an automatic
rife In the hands of every Infantry
man, and to the magnitude and diff
Guilty OF the task of the supply service
in securing and distributing rations
ammunition and other necessities.
Attention Called to Supply Service.
1T is believed that increased atten-
|
peace, to the organization of the supply
service, and that such organization
should be subjected to the test of
actual service at field exercises and
maneuvers in which the supply fea-
ture is emphasized. . It is prob
ably nearly correct to say that six
months of very active preparation
| would be required to At the militia as
a body for encountering in the field a
well disciplined enemy. The failure Of
certain states to appropriate sufficient
| FUNDS for the proper maintenance of
their respective militia establishments
OF proper degree of field efficiency
Tor the entire body of the militia"
District Militia Rating.
According to the report the militia
of the District of Columbia stands
number one in order of the strength
OF organization as compared with pop
ulation. with a percentage of organ
ized militia of 2.52. the state of New
Hampshire being second with a per-
cen,age OF 1.56 and Hawaii third with
a percentage of 1.49. The great state
foot Of the list with percentage of
/, .28.
| The strength of the organized mill
tia of the District is stated at 1876,
1.-THE number of males available for mil
itary duty as reported by the adjutant
males of military age, according to
the census of 1910, at 7s.349. The re-
Iports of the inspectors show that the
general efficiency in armory inspection
of the Field Hospital Corps, of Com
Ipany K, I'd Infantry, and of all the
o,fo 30 fha let o "a l..