An Act to Amend Section 26 of Act No. 2715

February 23, 1918

ACT NO. 2751

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION TWENTY-SIX OF ACT NUMBERED TWENTY-SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE PHILIPPINE MILITIA, PROVIDE FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF THE UNORGANIZED MILITIA, AND THE FORMATION, ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ORGANIZED MILITIA OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," REFORMING THE PERSONNEL OF THE SIGNAL CORPS, CREATING A FIELD SIGNAL BATTALION, INCREASING THE AVIATION SECTIONS, AND CREATING POSITIONS OF CADETS FOR THE AVIATION SERVICE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Act Numbered Twenty-seven hundred and fifteen, entitled "An Act to establish the Philippine Militia, provide for the enrollment of the unorganized militia, and the formation, organization and government of the organized militia of the Philippine Islands, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes," is hereby amended by striking out section twenty-six thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following two sections:

"SEC. 26. The signal corps shall consist of one chief signal officer, with the rank of colonel; one lieutenant-colonel; one major; two captains; two first lieutenants, and the field signal battalion and aviation section hereinafter enumerated.

"The field signal battalion shall consist of one major, one first lieutenant, one sergeant-major, one supply sergeant, one color sergeant, one sergeant clerk, twenty-five privates, first class, one telegraph company, one radio company, and one outpost company.

"The telegraph company shall consist of one captain, two first lieutenants, one master signal electrician, one supply sergeant, one first sergeant, eight sergeants, first class, fourteen sergeants, twenty-four corporals, three horseshoers, three cooks, seventy privates, first class, and twelve privates.

"The radio company shall consist of one captain, two first lieutenants, one master signal electrician, one supply sergeant, one first sergeant, ten sergeants, first class, eighteen sergeants, thirty corporals, three horseshoers, three cooks, sixty-eight privates, first class, and nine privates.

"The outpost company shall consist of one captain, four first lieutenants, one master signal electrician, one supply sergeant, one first sergeant, four sergeants, first class, ten sergeants, twenty-eight corporals, three horseshoers, three cooks, seventy-four privates, first class, and twenty privates.

"The aviation section shall consist of two aero squadrons and such additional squadrons as the Militia Commission may recommend and the Governor-General approve. Each aero squadron shall consist of one major, one captain, sixteen first lieutenants, four master signal electricians, one sergeant major, one first sergeant, two sergeant clerks, first class, one sergeant, first class, one truck foreman, sixteen sergeant mechanics, first class, one sergeant assistant truck foreman, one mess sergeant, one supply sergeant, twelve sergeant mechanics, one sergeant photographer, one sergeant chauffeur, thirty-three corporals, six cooks, thirty-nine privates, first class, and thirty privates.

"The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit in any manner the powers vested in the Militia Commission by Act Numbered Twenty-seven hundred and twenty-seven of the Philippine Legislature."

"SEC. 26A. In order to recruit, train, and qualify commissioned officers for the aviation section of the National Guard, two positions of cadets are hereby created for each position of commissioned officer in the aviation section. Only such applicants shall be admitted as aviation cadets who pass the examination prescribed therefor by the regulations of the National Guard or, in default thereof, by the regulations prescribed for the examination for the aviation service in the army of the United States, and who take the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States and to that of the Philippine Islands, which oath may be administered by any officer of the National Guard. The rank of these cadets shall be between the highest enlisted and the lowest commissioned personnel of the National Guard. The cadets shall receive such pay and allowances as the Militia Commission may provide and the Governor-General approve, which shall in no case exceed fifty pesos per month, with subsistence.

"After two squadrons of the aviation section have been organized, the positions of cadet may be abolished by the Militia Commission, with the approval of the Governor-General, and any commission vacancies occurring thereafter may be filled by privates or noncommissioned officers of the aviation section, on nomination by the commanding officer of the same."

Approved: February 23, 1918.