The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
N. G. READY FOR
BORDER SERVICE
Militia of United States Can Go
at Once.
Executive Committee Tells
President of Conditions.
GUARD NUMBERS 12O,693 men
Small Amount of Supplies
Needed in Case of War.
General Martin Among Adju-
tants at Washington.

Washington, April 1.-The eXecutiv
committee of the national guard has
. informed President Wilson and the
war department that the organized
militia is in readiness for patrol duty
on the north side of the Mexican bor-
der. 1t is known that the war depart
ment is still carefully considering a
call to this arm of the service.
The organized militia in AZ states,
| Nevada alone having no force,
amounts to S,705 officers and 1869
enlisted men. All are armed AMI
equipped except for a few supplies
which it is thought readily can be fur
nished The division of militia affairs
assured inquirers today that Cover
nor DUNES fear that the unprepared
ness days of 1898 might be repeated
are unfounded.
| The volunteer army act of two
years ago was intended to facilitate
the raising of volunteer forces from
other than the organized militia, stip-
ulating only that in the raising Of
troops for foreign service the existing
forces should receive preference.
Previous Legislation Helps.
| Previous legislation aiming at the
promotion of eff -iency on the part of
the militia included the act of 1908
| by means of which the existing
forces are made subject to the call of
the president. BY amendment it was
| issued through the governors and the
time limit of nine months previously
! imposed was removed.
This makes it simple for the presi-
| dent in the face of an invasion or
threatened invasion to summon into
service within the borders of the
| United States, but not beyond, the
troops for almost immediate duty.
The chief groups that would be 50
| assembled follow:
Medical department, officers, Sos;
enlisted men, $3.50; engineer corps,
officers. 6s; enlisted men. 1893; sig
nal corps, officers, 70; enlisted men,
1,433; cavalry, officers, 1874; enlisted
men, 5.112; field artillery, officers,
$40; enlisted men, 7,4SS; infantry,
officers. 500; enlisted men, 94,917.
Guard Much Improved.
The war department feels that great
1915 by the introduction of much
| closer supervision over the state
| troops. The increase in numbers was
not great, and there was an actual
reduction in the number of units re-
! corded amounting to five regiments
of infantry, but these scattered reduce
| lions were looked on as desirable in
1 the maintenance of the general stand
ards of efficiency
f DEFICIENCIES are felt to exist in
many quarters, chiefly from divis-
! ional basis, which makes for a large
| excess of infantry units, cavalry
amounting to only a little over eight
regiments. The recommendations of
| year pointed out the needs of the
militia with a fair degree of pre-
cision and urged quick action by
/ congress.
Guardsmen Could Volunteer.
The mobile army within the United
States, now about $4,000, may be re-
cruited to some 81, 900 under the
resolution recently passed by the
| house and by the senate. The 1923, 900
militiamen would raise this force to
/ $50, 900, or two-thirds the total force
which the war college plans desig-
nate as needed for the complete paci-
! fication of Mexico.
| 1t must be remembered, however,
| that the national guard unit cannot
as such, be ordered across the border
under any conditions. The only way
/ in which the men could cross the
! border would be by individual enlist
ment in the United States volunteer
force, into which a given regiment
of guardsmen could be absorbed as a
unit. On the other hand, the act of
1908, with its amendment, makes it
compulsory for each member of the
national guard to go to any point
within the borders as directed by the
president through the governor