The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-13


; ing of volunteers provides that such
organized regiments Of the National
Guard as volunteer may be taken over
into the service Of the United States
intact and not merely as individuals.
1t will be seen. therefore. that un-
der the Constitution there IL contefn-
plated two kinds of military forces
one 4 national force raised and main
tanned directly by the acts OF the Ma
tional Congress. and the other force
| raised entirely by the States. to be
governed, differed, and trained by
them. and ito be available to the ma
tional authorities in certain specified
instances.
II the determination arrived at by
, those whose knowledge. skill, and cx-
perience makes their judgment prac-
ticaily conclusive is accepted. we
should have in this country a force of
Mt least 100000 men ready for instant
response to call In the event of war,
yor the irnminence OF war. 1t is surely
not necessary to state that many rea-
sons why this force may not be sup,
piled by regular standing army Of
) that number constantly under arms.
For reasons which have Just been
pointed out, it Is equally Impractical bile
to suggest that this force should con-
sist solely of the National Guard ex-
banded to that number. There il no
legal way that the National Guard
can, in time of peace, be governed.
Differed, or trained by the National
Government: and there is no legal
way, excepting by volunteering. that
it cen be made available to the nation
In time of war to any greater extent
than specified In the Constitution,
which confessedly falls short of the
necessary uses to which an army may
have to he put in the event OF a war
with a foreign nation.
1t becomes necessary, therefore. TO
devise some method of making avail
able for the use of the nation in time
of war n national force In supplement
Of that part OF the national force, to
wit, the Regular Army. which is con-
stantly under arms; part of the
army, in other words. to be raised and
maintained by Congress and governed
in all respects in accordance with its
directions. When this system Is de-
yised and made operative, the nation
would militarily be In this situation:
II woul have, as the Constitution pro-
vides, an army raised and maintained
by It, composed of a certain number
constantly under arms, and very
much larger number definitely iden-
tilted in personnel, provided with
equipment and organization. possessed
OF same training. and subject to in
slant call. The States would have the
Organized Militia, developed with Fed
eral assistance to the highest prac-
ticahie point OF efficiency. availa Bile
for the purposes specified In tho Con-
stitution, and 80 circumstanced that
In the event of war with foreign
nation they could. by their own Volt
ton. Immediately take their place
with other military force of the ma
ton.
Having reached these conclusions,
we approach the question of their
practical application.
Our Military Needs.
Our military responsibilities include
not only continental United States. but
also the Philippine Islands. Hawaii,
Porto Rico. and the Panama Canal.
On the military side, as distinguished
from the naval side. there Is necessity
for provision not only for mobile army
troops--that is, infantry. calvary and
field artillery-but for coast forti-
fications and troops to man them.
At the present time appropriations
are available for the maintenance of
an army and all Of the accessory en-
ployes thereof. aggregating 5.o23 Of
ficers and 102,aS6 enlisted men. OF
these $1,000 men are mobile army
troops, 20. 900 are coast defense troops.
and the balance are Hospital Corps,
auarrrmaster men. and other en-