Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-25
The National Guard


son and his Office force are all pre-
pared to buckle down to the great mass
of official business coming with the re-
turn of the I'd Maine Infantry to the
control of the State militia department.
The indications are that this work will
be endless. under the new army law
regulating the State militia.
The department is already issuing
instructions received from the Militia
Bureau for the discharging and fur
Laughing of the men to the National
Guard Reserve; also the regulations as
to the armory instruction and the in
structions as to the necessary steps
for the companies to receive their drill
pay. Each company to receive this pay,
must drill not less than 48 times each
year (not including time for indoor tar
get practice) for L. hours at each
drill.
The prospect under the new law,
which went into effect on June last
is that the National Guard will have a
far better chance than ever before, be-
cause of the funds coming from the
national government will be far in ex-
cess of anything the State has ever re-
ceived. For instance. beginning July l..
1917, and for a year the amount the
Maine Guard will receive from the
government will be $53,447.97, whereas
only about $4,000 has been the previ-
Gus annual sum. This will enable the
Guard to take advantage of a far
greater amount of rife practice and
other things for the improvement of
the troops.
Again, where the sum received in
previous years had to answer for all
the outlay, the general army fund Will
hereafter take care of many neaVy
items, such as the expense OF the pay
ment of the enlisted men and ofhcers;
TRANSPORTATION and subsistence; the
nav and allowances for selected 9TH
GERS and the same for enlisted men OF
the National Guard while in attendance
and pursuing a regular course OF study
at any military service school OF the
United States, with the exception OF
the Military Academy at West Point,
or while attached to an organization OF
the same arms to which the officer or
man belongs for routine practical In
struction. at or near an army post pc
Rod of field training or other OUTDOOR
exercises. All these things will under
the new law constitute charge against
the sum annually appropriated unoer
Section Ct, Defence Act, June 8. 1915
and not against the apportionment 10
any state.
The $4,000 apportionment will be to
proyide arms, ordnance stores, quarter
masters stores. camp equipage and all
other military supplies for issue 10 'he
National Guard; for the promotlon Oh
rifle practice: hiring horses and oraIt
animals for the use of the mounted
troops, batteries, wagons and forage
for same; for other incidental expenses
deemed necessary by the secretary OF
war: and for other expenses pertain
ing to the National Guard asiare no"
or may be hereafter authorized by law.
This brief statement will give a talnt
idea of the greater benefits to be de-
rived by the Maine Guard under 'he
new law, all of which will be WORKED
out as the Guard gradually reaches the
strength also provided for. about three
times the present number. That Is ex-
pected to take care of itself as time
goes on and shows the advantages u
the new system. 1t also will give
faint idea of the tremendous amoun'
/ of business that will present ltseil ~
the adjutant generals department.