1903 witnessed the most important national militia legislation since the original militia act of 1792. By the “Dick law,” with amendments added in 1908, the militia really became a national force, with clearly defined liability of service; and the name, National Guard, was officially conferred upon it. Nevertheless Massachusetts continued to call her citizen soldiers Volunteer Militia. 1904 brought the adoption of magazine-rifles. On Nov. 1, 1905, the regiment was redesignated as the “Corps of Coast Artillery,” a title which has been used by anticipation at various times in this book. Behind the change lay the fact that the War Department had been testing militia heavy or coast artillery; and the latter, in the estimation of the Washington authorities, were not found wanting. A regiment is a closely united body, and is supposed to operate as a unit. A corps, on the contrary, is a group of smaller units associated for administrative purposes, but acting more or less independently in warfare. Tactically a corps is not a unit; each of its members is. Inasmuch as few forts require so much as a full regiment of coast artillery to garrison them, it was deemed best to organize the artillery in smaller units, in companies, better suited to the needs of the average fort. Companies are combined in fort commands of two or more each. Moreover, by 1905, a clear distinction had arisen between coast artillery and heavy artillery; and it was necessary for organizations to decide which branch of the service they would choose. Heavy artillery follows a mobile army, and is used to batter down fortifications. Coast artillery mans the guns and submarine mines of our coast fortifications, and is not a mobile force. A moment’s consideration will convince anyone that the Massachusetts men chose the more exciting branch, when they became coast artillery. The heavy artillery fire from great distances, while themselves entirely out of range of any answering shots, and fire at fixed targets. The coast artillery fire at ships, moving targets possessing the ability to return our shots, who will certainly and quickly “get us” unless we “get them” first. An increase of interest in the scientific side of artillery work immediately followed, and stimulated every officer and enlisted man to do his best. Companies were no longer termed “batteries,” but were given numbers, the designations indicating seniority of charter. The band continued to wear the old regimental number “1” on their uniforms.