The Bozeman courier., 1921-09-07
SHERIDAN PLANS
FOR MILITIA HERE
Spent First of Week in BOzeman
Talking With Men Available
For Company

Adj. Gen. Charles Sheridan of the
Montana State Militia has been spend
ing a few days in Bozeman discussing
the organization Of a troop Of malit-
it here From the interest shown by
men with whom he talked, it is prob
ably there will be a company formed
during the fall.
Companies are being formed in all
parts of the state and it is the plan
Of Mr.. Sheridan to build up the Nat
iOnal Guard Of Montana to a point
where it will meet the plans of the
ward apartment. The continental area
Of the United States is divided into
nine corps areas. Each of these will
consist Of one regular army division,
two National guard divisions, and two
divisions of organized reserves. The
National Guard will bee organ
ized eventually to a full peace strength
Of % men and three officers. The re-
serves viii consist only of reserve
officers who viii be residents Of the
reserve area and they viii be assig-
ned 20 the national army division in
war time.
In the formation Of the local com
pany VIII be necessary to have at
least 30 mon and three officers to
obtain fcderol recognition. When or
Canized the company viii be furnish
ed all cquipm mt, ccnai- ing Of arms,
clothing and practically place the
company in the anne position in this
respect as the regular army.
1t is the plan Of the war depart
ment to organize all the war time di-
visions Of the national guard and in
this manner provide for the training
Of practically half a million men who
viii receive ali the regular army train
ing which they would receive if in the
regular army service. This area will
consist Of the 18th regular division
and the doth, 41st national guard di-
visions, also the Goth and 91st ma
tional army divisions. The reserves
= :ssil. only be a skeleton division, con-
sisting Of officers only to be filled out
in time of war.
The war department believes that
the thoroughly organized and trained
national guard of the 18th division, to
reinforce the small regular army
any emergency can be met in an eXpe-
dent manner. Past experience has
demonstrated that men who hay
been trained during peace time are
much better able to take care OF
themselves in any emergency than
those only partially trained. The
world war demonstrated that those
men trained in the national guard adj
vanced more rapidly in the regular
service, also that there was not the
heavy death losses in battle among
them that appeared in forces only
partially trained.
"The national guard has another
side to it that is worthy Of beins
considered and that is the benefit tn
training gives to the average NAL
who enlists. Not only is the militar.
training useful to him, but the exer
else Of one Of the things that will he'll
to keep the member of the organize
tion in good physical condition. Tn
training is valuable in time of need o
the county for service, and the ma
who enters the national guard has tn
opportunity Of recenving that train
ing at home" stated Adjutant Ger
eral Sheridan "and in addition
that he receives pay while on a tw
weeks vacation from his usual occu
nation. During the encampment c
the company, the man belonging t
the national guard receives just Ell
ough drill to keep him fit and with a
equipment furnished he really has
worry in respect to having enoug
furnishings along Then, too, it pr'
vides a means whereby man ca
perform a patriotic duty without an
inconvenience to himself"
It is the plan of Adjutant Gener'
Sheridan to return later and take tt
matter up more thoroughly with tt
men in Bozeman. There are me
enough here to form a good compaI
and there are also many who were
the world war who will enter the nj
tional guard company as soon as q
plans are completed for organizing