Evening star., 1918-08-11

k0St. w hSAC "dtCT 10 pumped from
streams or hther open bodies Of
water a centrifugal pump usually 10
the cheapest and best type. Its ad-
vantages are low cost. light weight,
lack of valves and parts that do
not wear out readily. comparative
and relative high efficiency in raising
large quantities OF water through
moderate lifts.
Ky
X
Owing to the fact that the various
state National Guard units were
sworn into the serv-
Militia Fnrce ice of Uncle Sam,
and the fact that
job" at the proper time, when most
needed, much interest is felt through
out the country for the state militia.
In the closing eighties a strenuous
effort was made by the War Depart
ment to assist the militia, by allow
ing portions of the Regular Army OF
certain large garrisons to participate
in encampments with state troops.
This plan of voluntary cooperative
the Regular Army and the militia in
certain sections, was begun and con-
Quoted for some time without any
official formal sanction of either state
or federal law, and went on year
after year. on a more or less limited
scale. without any officially announced
prearranged plans of co-ordinated
effort.
This continued up to the time of
the war with Spain. in 1898. The
militia at that time had no place in
the federal military establishment.
rwtS n .
called forth as q constitutional in
strumentality to preserve the peace
locally or nationally to resist inva-
sion by foreign foes.
Congress, doubtless realizing that
something ought to be done toward
helping to place the states militia
upon a higher plane of national use
fulness. broke away from time-hon-
ored traditions and restrictions and
passed two separate money-gtving
laws, allotting 81 100000 of federal
money annually for the supply OF GER
tain articles to the states militia, and
another appropriating the lump sum
of $2o00.OO0 for the procurement OF
certain articles of armament and
equipment for the militia without
raising any question as to commensu-
rate cooperative state appropr1a :
tons These two federal laws. cal
culated to stimulate the state militia,
constituted a most important prece-
dent. in SO far as. apart from the
original 100000 annually allowed,
they were the first donations made
toward the support OF the states
militia, and opened the door Tor those
more extended and more lloeral 90
nations Of later years =.
I'd to January 81. 1908. however. 1t
must be borne in mind that there was
no organized militia in the United
States. as we now understand the
term. BY whatever name the states
militia had previously been called,
thew were nothing more nor less than
local state soldiers. The militia act
passed by Congress in January. 1903,
marked the beginning OF new llfe lot
the active militia which hencetoreh
was to be officially designated or
ganized militia" of the United states;
Iater Congress passed another bill
providing for the calling OF q oettef
trained and organized militia into the
service of the United States when re-
ouired for constitutional purposes
Congress, in that act. exercised lts
constitutional power TO Ifoy,,d,es I9,on,n,snins tos :
the militia" by a series of provisions
designed to promote the strength
eficfency and prosperity OF these
militia organisations to make them
with the Regular Army. homogen-
eous force. -,.,,
To accomplish tne en
the act provided that the organfza-
tion. armament and discipline OF the
organized militia should be the sans
aa that prescribed for the Regular
Army. It authorized the Secretary OF
War to issue to the militia, at tne eA-
pense of the national government. the
same arms, ammunition and supplies
which are provided for the Regular
Army. It authorized the participa.
tion by the organized militia In joint
maneuyers with the Regular Army
and provided that in such cases the
organized militia SO participating
should receive the same pay. suosiss- s..
ed bv law for the officers and men OF
the Regular Army. to be paid out OF
the regular appropriations 1or the
support of the Army;
Congress also provided for separate
state encampments of the ORGANIZED
militia by ailowiag o 01f doo % for an militia
n,,rnoses. to officers and enlisted men
engaged in such encampments the
same allowances made for the 1olnt
maneuyers with the Regular Army. II
proyided for detailing ohcers OF the
Army to attend state encampments.
upon request of the governors OF the
states. to give instruction and infor-
nation, and for detailing officers to
report to the governors as military
advisers for duty generally with the
militia. It provided further for the Sc
curing of list Of persons specially
ouaIified to hold commissions in any
voluntary force which might be call
ed out.
In the fifteen years that have elaps-
ed since the passage of the militia act
of 1903 there has been steady i'm
provement in the efficiency of the or
ganized militia. At times, Army officers
say, Improvement seemed slow. but
the ultimate results have been most
gratifying. Especially when the boys
given that sitter training which has
SO admirably prepared them for the
splendid work that. they are now
doing.