Show ENGLISH MILITIA land artillery which might well be imitated here numerically england has a militia force which is far ahead of that of america though it is to be remembered that the united states has a volunteer reserve of able bodied men who could lie called out in case of an emergency this reserve consists of or 8 and it has been shown that it can fight rather there are however says leslie weekly many points about the british volunteer militia which it seems tome might be incorporated in our own service they hae for instance what is failed a land artillery which has reached the enormous number of 46 men and which is as thoroughly trained in rifle exercises in arching drilling and the handling of big guns aa the regulars pi the artillery are composed to a large extent of men in the laboring classes officered by gentlemen of leisure who go into the militia from mothes of patriotism once a week in the summer months the artillery go to the nearest forts for target practice every year big detachments tach ments from each battalion go to for prizes 18 ranges varying from 1000 to yards the artillery full dress uniform is a very handsome one clack with red facings silver ornaments and white cross belts the men are armed with a short carbine and a sword bayonet |