Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1896 — IN THE CASE OF WAR. [ARTICLE]

IN THE CASE OF WAR.

TROOPS AVAILABLE IN THE VARIOUS STATES. Investigation of the Organized Militia of the United State* Shows There Are 8,467,694 Soldiers Available When Needed. t Uncle Sam Connta Warrior*. According to a report on the organized militia of the United States, which ha* just been prepared by the War Department, the United State*, in case of need, can put 9,467,694 men in the field. Copie* of the publication are as scarce as the proverbial hen’s teeth. The public printer has furnished the War Department with only half a dozen copies, and these have been given to the President, the Secretary of War, the Assistant Secretary of War and the general commanding the army. At the close of the year 1895 every State and territory, with the exception of Indian territory and Alaska, had an organized national guard. The total force of the militia number 115,669, of which 102,604 composed the infantry arm, 5,215 the cavalry, 5,267 the artillery, 649 special corps and 1,443 generals and staff officers.' In many of the States last year camps were held, and the attendance upon these occasions ranged from 55 per cent in Mississippi to 95 per cent in Vermont. The total appropriation allowed the militia by the Government amounted to $400,000,' while the States during the same period spent $2,834,974 on these organizations: It is estimated that mobilization of the piilitia could be effected in the different States and territories in from three hours in the District of Columbia to seventytwo hours in Oregon, other State organizations assembling between these two periods. New York is far in the lead in the number of men enlisted in the national guard, its strength amounting to 12,901 officers and enlisted men. Pennsylvania is second, with 8,482; Ohio third, with 6,493; Illinois. 6,226; South Carolina, 5,711} Massachusetts, 5,344; California, 4,364; Georgia, 4,355; New Jersey, 3,938; Alabama, 3,120; Indiana, 3,026; Virginia, 3,006; Texas, 3,000; Michigan, 2,875; Connecticut, 2,740; Wisconsin, 2,640; lowa, 2,398; •Missouri, 2,107; Minnesota, 2,027; Alaryland, 1,885; Louisiana, 1,883; Kansas, 1,815; Mississippi, 1,695; Oregon, 1,530; District of Columbia, 1,471; Kentucky, 1,409; North Carolina, 1,403; Tennessee, 1,389; New Hampshire, 1,380; Maine, 1,337; Washington, 1,184; Nebraska, 1,187; Florida, 1,088; Utah, 1,003; Rhode Island, 979; Arkansas, 974; West Virginia, 845; Colorado, 833; Vermont, 800; South Dakota, 798; Idaho, 535; North Dakota, 525; Montana, 510; Arizona, 500; New Mexico, 470; Wyoming, 450; Nevada, 439; Delaware, 427, and Oklahoma, 153. It is estimated in this publication that in case of necessity, Illinois could place 852,625 in the field; Pennsylvania comes next with 771,874, and Ohio third with; 650,000; New York, 560,000;' Indiana,' 481,192; Kentucky, 361,137; Missouri, 850,000; Massachusetts, 339,391; Wisconsin, 306,343; Texas, 300,000; Virginia, 295,440; New Jersey, 284,887; Georgia,; 264,071; Michigan, 260,000; lowa, 245,-( 899; North Carolina, 240,000; Mississippi,; 228,700; Marylind, 205,816; Arkansas,! 205,000, and the remainder of the States below 200,000 each. In about two-thirds of the States, thej publication says, the militia is armed with; the Springfield rifle and carbine of various' patterns. A number of the artillery mili-l tia regiments are provided with Gatlingj guns and 3.2-inch breech-loading rifles,' but a large proportion of the artillery arm-j ament consists of 12-pounder Napoleons,; 3-iuch muzzle-loading rifles, Parrot rifles; and other obsolete ordnance. The aggregate of small arms ammuni-j tion held in reserve in addition to that in the hands of the troops is not far from 3,000,000 rounds. States having Gatling! gun batteries keep on hand a limited snp-j ply of ammunition for these guns. Tha supply for field guns is very limited, and) the quality by no means the best.