Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-10-28
Legislature of
Late Congress Reviewed
fligi sat

VI younS nlcu lIOm every SecllOn Oh tHe
country, unframed in military affairs
and Ignorant of sanitary precautions,
might have been spared the horrible
deaths which occurred in detention and
mobilization camps.
1t remained for the present congress
to realize the importance of the reor-
ganization of the army and the rehabil-
itatiOn of the organized militia of the
country along lines of modern military
requirements. AS the first and necess-
ary steps the National Defense Act of
June, 1916, was passed. 1t is not en-
tirely as it ought to be, but it places
the regular army upon a safe and sane
basis for any ordinary military contin-
gency and undertakes, whether success
fully or not, to federalize the National
guard and make it more effective as a
military force in time of emergency. Ex.
perts in military science and tactics
claim that so far as the regular army
is concerned this act is the best piece of
constructive legislation that has ever
been passed and they hope that the at
tempted liberalization of the National
guard will eventually result in more
efficient volunteer force.
In order that it may be seen what this
act does, as briefly as may be call at
tention to its provisions. Under it the
peace strength of the regular army is
approximately 1l,000 officers, not to ex-
ceed 10000 combatant troops, and ap.
proXimately 10000 noncombatant troops
including the unassigned recruits, the
war strength about 10000 officers, 1885,
600 cOmbatant troops, and about 10000
noncombatant troops. The regular ar
my is made up of 60 regiments of in
fantry, 25 regiments of cavalry, 81 regi-
ments field artillery, regiments of en-.
gineers, battalions of mounted engi.
neers, 1868 companies of coast artillery,
signal corps, enlisted men of the medi-
cal department, the quartermaster corps,
and the Philippine scouts.
| The organization of infantry and cav
airy regiments has been changed by the
introduction of three new companies,
/ the headquarters, supply and machine
| gun companies. These companies have
heretofore existed as provisional organi-
cations, but the personnel therefor had
| to be taken from the other companies
of the regiment. thereby depicting the
ordinary companies and at the same
time not making the provisional com
! panies as efficient as they should be.
/ Each regiment of field artillery has
been increased by headquarters and
a supply company for the same reasons
AS now organized they represent the
very latest improvements known to mill
! tary experts.
The increase in the regular army is
, made in five annual increments but in
case of emergency the president may in
crease it to full strength or more rapid
| ly than by one-fifth each year.
The enlistment period in the regular
( army is for seven years, three With the
colors and four in the reserve, with a
I provision that at the end of one year s
service any enlisted man within the
continental limits Of the United States
may be discharged if he becomes pro-
| ficient soldier in that time. Postmast-
ers of the second, third and fourth class
es are authorized to recruit for the army
| and enlisted men in the regular army
reserve are to be paid $24 per year to
enable the government to keep in touch
with them.
| An Officers reserve corps is provided
which will authorize the commissioning
VI ClNlildHS up 10 anu lHcluulnR lHe
grade of major. These reserve officers
are to be selected and trained in time of
| peace, and the officers so obtained will
be far better prepared than any volun-
teers that could be raised hurriedly at
the outbreak of war. In order to obtain
many of these officers a reserve off.
GERS training corps is authorized, to be
composed of units at the various col
leges, academies and universities throu-
ghout the country where military in.
struction and training will be given,
and these students may be given six
weeks field training each summer in
addition.
An enlisted reserve corps is authoriz.
ed for duty in engineer, signal, quarter
master corps, and ordnance and medi-
cal departments, which win provide rail-
way operatives, chauffeurs, hospital at
tendants, nurses, bakers, cooks, tele.
graphers, etc, for the balance of the
army mentioned.
Training camps to be conducted by
regular army Officers are authorized for
civilians who are unable to secure mill
tary training otherwise. All the expen-
ses of such camps are borne by the fed
eral government, including transporta-
tion, uniforms, subsistence, and equip
ment. The period Of training may be
for not TO exceed 30 days in a year.