Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-18
STATE TO REORCAN|zE
VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS
Course Necessary to Comply With
New National Defense
. Arr
PUT ON PLANE WITH REGULARS
Adtutont-General Sale Has Already
Taken Steps to Bring Militia Under
Terms Of the Law-NIen Must Re-
Enlist

Terms Of the Law-Men Must Re-
Enlist.
Entiro reorganization OF the Virginia
Volunteers to compl. with tho pro-
visions OF the Hay-Chamberlain ma
tional defense act, recently passed by
Congress, which, besides greatly in
creasing the militia forces in the
United States, virtually places them
on an equal footing With the regular
army. answcrable at any time to the
call of the President to arms, will be
necessary within short time, If the
men are TO participate at Federal cx-
pense in the annual general encamp-
meHt during August.
Acknowledgement Sale has already
taken initial steps toward bringing his
forces under the terms of the law, hav-
ing prepared and sent 10 the division
OF militia affairs for approval a new
enlistment blank, which will be sent
out as soon as possible Ia the various
organizations, with instructions as TO
how they shall proceed. His office also
has been in communication with the
War Department, with the view Of
getting at the earliest possible mo-
lneDt It's construction of the numerous
sections of the law affecting the or
ganized militia
Captain ]. F. Built, of Big Stone
Gap, ono OF the hest-known lawyers in
The State. and a military man Of ex-
perience, has made an exhaustive
analysis OF the law, and has given il
as his opinion that, unless immediate
Qualification is made, the Virginia
forces Will not be able to get Federal
ray FOR the annual summer encamp-
Iaent. Section 20 of the new act pro-
Ndes that all enlisted men shall sign
contract. containing an obligation to
defend the Constitution of the United
States and obey the orders of the Prcsi-
dent. The, contract under which serve
the Virginia Volunteers does not place
:honl under presidential authority.
MUST RE-ENLIsT
PURSUANT TO NEW ACT
Furthermore" says Captain Built.
IN his synopsis, the Virginia oath only
requires the soldier faithfully to serve
the State OF Virginia in case of war.
etc, and says nothing about serving
the United States II seems, therefore,
clear that none OF the members OF the
Virginia Volunteers will be recognized
as members of the National Guard un-
der the act unless and unit, he shall
have Te-enl!sted under and pursuant
to the act. The Section provides. how
ever, that, upon re-cn!iSting. he shall
be given credit for the period he may
have served under his present enlist
meHt. that IS. men who have served
two years. say, would only have TO
serve actively one year more, and then
three years on the reserve list
Under the new law. Virginia Will he
entitled 70 500 troops for each Con-
gresham and Senator, making 4 total
Of $500. exclusive Of commissioned Of
tcers. rhe whole g he made up within
the next Ave years. Provision is made
for the addition each year OF So per
cent % the number already enlisted.
With an enlistment OF $500 men. the
Virginia Volunteers have more ;haa Is
required for The initial force In fact.
olaEs are already under way which
auEa-sd men within n" next few
months
Steps were taken some time ago fer
-Ee formation e four new companies.
70e each 10y Roanoke. Bedford City.
South sos:on and Newport News.
II At any tine IN addition 10 them.
applications have come - the Adju-
tanr-Ce1erais ONCE from various sec
tons az the State for permission 20
orEa rize companies.
ONLY ONE DRAWBACK
Is NOW FoREsEEN
Fer the present, General Sale an
,.c;pates only one drawback While
ire law provides that Congress ap-
propriate annually all necessary funds
fo' the maintenance Of the National
Guard Including equipment pay TO
officers and men. maintenance and
equipment OF shooting galleries. tar
set ranges. etc." money for arrno-
Ties does not seem 20 be included and
there arc no state funds for that Dur-
pose OrganiZation-&Of companies NAV
not be q very hard matter, but tn.
building OF ar!nor!cs for several thou
sand troops may develop into 4 seri.
GUS undertaking
Officers and enlisted men OF the Ma
t!onal Guard viii. under the new law.
nc entitled 10 Federal pay and TO pen
sl"1s. as are members OF the regular
army. when injured in active service.
Captains Will receive $500 year. frs,
lleutenants, $40; second l.eutcnants
500. and each enlisted man is to re-
ceiNe one-tourth OF the pay of enlisted
Hen o. Ike rank in the regular army
provided he attends as many as TWEEN
t?-tour drills year. If he does not
attend as many as forty-elght drills
MS pay shall he IN the ratio that tho
drills attended bear to fortv-eigh,
drills. The age of enlisted men and
pH!cerS Is not changed. EXCEPT that a
man must have attained the age OF
commissioned.
Enlistment viii be for a term of six
Ysars. three In the active organization
ana the remaining three years in the
National Guard reserve. The reserve
Nl!l be subject to call any time d,,r;n,,
the three years
STRIKING EXCERPTS
FROM NEW LAW
The following are striking excernts
fron the law:
The discipline and training OF IN.
Natona! Guard shall conform to the
system prescribed for the regular
army.
Each company is required to drill not
less than forty-eight times each wear
for period Of not less than one and
one-half hours, and. also. 10 particinata
IN encam pmtnts, etc. at least fifteen
days during the year
Officers and men while engaged in
encampmenta shall receive the same
pay as officers and men in the regular
army.
Section IL! provides that when Con
gress sinai! have authorized the use or
the armed forces OF the United States
other than the regular army for any
purpose. the President may draft the
guard into the service Of the United