Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-14
Muster, Next Week.

from all parts of the State Let US
hope they will be received and greet
ed with the respect to which they are
entitled
In the first place the City of Au-
gusta must forget the prejudices ac-
quired in the old days of Muster
jubilee and grand whoop-to do. The
muster of today is a widely different
proposition. 1t is no longer a social.
but has become "a distinctly business,
organization. The greater number Of
these men are coming from a deep
senEe of duty. 1t is a sacrifice Of per-
sonal interests to fulfill this public
duty. They are entitled to some de-
gree Interpretation. - lis remem-
Der that during their stay
From the Kennebec Journals stand
point we believe it would be not only
@ courteous but an entirely appro-
PIRATE and appreciative act for bust
ness houses and residences to hang
out their flags next Monday morning,
and keep them out during the ten
days which the soldier boys remain.
So much pride exists among officers
and men Of the National Guard today,
in their organization that they court
the presence of visitors and full in
spection. Every courtesy will be ex-
tended by officers and men to the peo-
pie of Augusta or from any part of
the State, who may care to visit the
Muster Grounds in the next ten days.
The drill and the discipline Of today
are for real business. The old days
of fun and frolic have given way to
sober attention to good hard prac-
tice, to learn all that is possible Of
the military game; to perfect an or
ganization that could give a good ac-
count of itself on necessity.
A Portland contemporary recently
9aid:
In the East the Militia has not been
called out often enough to keep order
during strikes to create prejudice
against it on that account, and the
only thing the organization has to
tight against in this section is the i'm
preston that the members are play
Ing soldier, for the fun of it. There is
some reason for this, for until by au-
thority of the Dick law the National
government assumed measure of
rtci- -
was simply what it has been accused
of being. social organization. The
members received slight military
training, but what they got amounted
to little or nothing and it is probably
true that citizens without any military
experience at all, could with a few
weeks instruction have been made as
good or better soldiers than the
Militiamen. Some of the old time
members will probably resent this,
but there is good authority for the
statement.
THE present Militia regiments in
the East have. got this to fight against,
for people are slow to forget, but for
that very reason it cannot be i'm
pressed upon the nation too often or
nv ~NAA A~SeiJ' eii1t al oitoSclHcI III.
ferent spirit prevails in the guard at
the present time and has for several
years"
The militia Of today is part of the
reserve army of the nation. The ex-
periences of the Spanish American
War made it apparent to both the
National Guard and the Regular
Army that if the National Guard was
to be an effective military force for
war service it must be organized,
equipped and disciplined the same as
the Regular Army. Also that there
should be some means of transferring
the National Guard organizations to
the United States service without de-
lay incident to re-enlisting or volun-
teering.
After careful study a new militia
bill was presented to Congress and
was enacted into law January 81,
1903. This, with subsequent amend
ments, placed the Organized Militia,
or National Guard, where it was origi-
nally intended to be by the Constitu-
ton. This law recognized the name
Organized Militia or National Guard.
Congress also made additional ap-
preparations for arms, clothing and
equipment. 1t is now as much a
recognized part Of the military re.
snurces of the national government as
is the Regular or Standing Army. 1t
can be called directly into the service
Of the United States by organizations
without new enlistments. The or
CARNATIONS as such can be called for
indefinite service, each officer and
man serving for the balance of the
term Of commission or enlistment. Il
is expected to be in such a state Of
readiness as to be prepared for i'm
mediate, active war service, and, as a
matter Of fact, 1t would form largely
the first line.
The National Guard Of the various
States has become uniform in organi-
cation eouipment ana d;sc;nl,ra nit.