is in charge of a major-general, and the departments are each in charge of a major-general or of a brigadier-general.  The commands which correspond to each grade are:  major-general, four regiments; brigadier-general, two regiments; colonel, one regiment; lieutenant-colonel or major, a battalion or squadron; captain, a company.  As now organized, infantry regiments consist of 12 companies, of 65 men each.  Cavalry regiments contain 12 troops, each having 65 enlisted men.

The Navy.—­We are told by competent authorities that one of our best means of preserving peace with foreign powers is to maintain a strong navy.  This has become much more necessary since the United States has begun to acquire insular possessions.  Although the construction of the modern American navy was not begun until 1883, there has been a notable advance within the past few years.  In 1910 it was estimated that our navy is excelled in strength only by that of Great Britain.  Congress, in 1910, continued the policy of “adequate preparation” by authorizing the construction of two battle-ships a year.

Names of Vessels.—­A ship of the first class is given the name of a State; one of the second class that of a principal city or river, and the names for ships of the third class are selected by the President.  The navy now contains 312 vessels.

Officers in the Navy.—­The titles admiral and vice-admiral, corresponding to the grades of general and lieutenant-general in the army, were created by act of Congress to be bestowed on the following men as recognition for distinguished services during the Civil War:  Admirals Farragut and Porter; and Vice-Admirals Farragut, Porter, and Rowan.  Admiral Dewey was granted his title by a special Act of Congress after the Battle of Manila.  The officers of the navy ranking with major-generals, brigadier-generals, colonels, and so on, in the army, are rear-admirals, commodores, captains, commanders, lieutenant-commanders, lieutenants, masters, ensigns.

The Militia.—­With but little opposition in the Constitutional Convention, Congress was given the power to make provision for citizen-soldiers as follows:—­

Section 8, Clause 15. To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions.

Clause 16. To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.

Number of the Militia.—­All able-bodied male citizens of the United States and males between eighteen and forty-five years of age who have declared their intention to become citizens are regarded as the militia force of the country.  As a matter of fact, there are at present only about 100,000 men enrolled in this service.  But in the case of an emergency the President may compel the governors of the various States to furnish the troops needed.  The militia may thus be called into service, under their own State officers, for a period of nine months.  The War of 1812 and the Civil War furnish the best illustrations of the enforcement of this provision.