The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-06

Contentious made by William H.
Thompson, United States senator from
Kansas, and supported by statesmen
all over the country, that the national
guard should be better equipped and
that it's appropriation should be en-
1arged, is meeting with the hearty
ence, including army officers, national
guard officers and ex-arDly officers,
in Topeka. The movement, # ap-
proved by congress, will give Topeka
and Kansas chance to develop in
a new role. While local experts be-
lieve that the standing army should
be made larger they also advocate
the increase OF the national guard in
proportion, using the regulars as
staff of instructors.
There is no reason, officers point
out, why Topeka should not become
the home of the largest and best
trained body of national guardsmen
in the state, providing of course con-
gress sees fit to let the militia go the
limit toward efficiency and size.
Topeka could easily support bat
talon of 400 infantrymen-that is,
the city could furnish the men," said
C. 1. Martin, adjutant general. Mod
ern armories would he needed 1
have always advocated that Topeka
should have at least a company of
infantry besides the battery.
Building Armories.
I'm New Mexico, South Dakota.
Arizona and other states, the state
government is encouraging the train
ing of citizen soldiery, by building
&rmories in different cities within
their borders. In other cities the city
and county governments are erecting
buildings"
Recent developments in national
guard affairs have started Topeka on
a new road in training her young
men to fight for their country, mill
tary men point out. A new armory
for Battery A. is practically assured
$4,000 building is planned. The
battery has been reorganized and
newly differed 1t is the present
plan to recruit it's ranks to IT'S men
war strength.
Besides four companies of infantry
and the battery, Topeka is an excel
lent location for signal corps. Sew
era1 times the heads of the national
guarl have come near planting such an
organization in the city. Topeka has
mechanics and electrical experts by
the hundreds and those professions are
the backbone of such an organization.
Cost of Maintenance.
The cost of maintaining battalion
of infantry in Topeka would be about
$4,000, according to General Martins
estimate.
While General Martin believes that
military training camps for business
men are lacking in several ways, he
is an advocate of the movement, in
view of the fact that such camps will
make the country realize just what it
takes to make a soldier. 1t has been
demonstrated that it is just as easy
to teach a ten-year-oId boy all about
astronomy in two weeks as it is to
teach a rocky the art of killing in the
same length of time.
''If an appropriation for such camps
is made by the government" says
General Martin; kansas will get her
share and has a chance of having a
training camp at Leavenworth or Fort
Riley next year.
Takes Time to Learn.
"It is impossible to teach man to
fight in a short length of time but it
will wake the country up to what
ails it.
1.-The national guard will be the sal
walton of the country when the coun-
try needs soldiers" says General Mar
tin. THE trouble with the average
person is that he does not take a SOL
der seriously when he is not seriously
needed. In time of war, it is just the
other extreme. What is needed is tn
obliteration of the extremes and good
sound practical training. The nation
al guard of Kansas is well trained now
practically as highly trained as pos
sible al this day-but more of such
ORGANIZATIONS as we have are needed