The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-05


spend money elected 0e leutenants,
captains, majors ana coiorels, aud though there
is preteDce OF examining THESE candidates
election, political influence usually successful
in securing tneir COMMISSIONS To be sure there are
exceptions this rule but they are very lew. IL
oilen happens that officers IN his way "a pro-
motion their seniors in rank, not because they
are better officers, but SIMPLY because they have more
money or political influence Instances could be gwen
whore second heulenan,s and FIRST sergeants have
been made captains over officers who were better
fitted Tor the position BY long service
experience; captains have been made neutens nj
coonols over majors who have nad command OF
their regiments before the election. All this IS
wrong. The colonel OF a regiment should oe held
responsible for his officers he should required
10 but good officers are selected by the
companies That Is done several Of the regiments
already and 10 this Tact aione these orranzations
their high state OF discipline and efficiency
The State should organize board Tor me examna-
ton Of Candidates Tor promotion, and none should DO
commissioned unless The, are capable OF passing sush
examination IN a thorough manner. VITA sucn sys-
TEN much OF the evil attending elections wall be
remedled, tor when company regiment
ignorant csnaidate, Will select who obtain
the coveted commission. Then We snail have body
oil officers who educated in their profession, and
when the hour comes tor service the whole body OF
troops Will DO ofte times value than at present.
Officers holding commission under such regulation viii
know the lui extent oil their responsibility ioai
thai they hold command because they nave been found
capable 10 40 50.
The me th0d OF eplistng Tor tue National Guard,
as at present carried out. is also radically wrong Re
cruIls usually procured by members under the
that ~ great fun and without
No matter how liberal the State may ITS support
OF the National Guard II should be understood
belong the mili,ia calls for good deal OF real hard
work way drill as we'll ''iun" IN the way Of
social pleasure while there must be some expense.
But the expense should DO greatly lessened by the
State properly supporting It's troops. The Tact is
thousands VI young men ia every State natu
rally fond military lie who under properly
gnnized system, would be ead 10 devote their spare
time such service and thus swell the militia ranks
to their iu capacity. Why should the State expect
these young TO telray their own expenses las
they great part really do) and be ready 10 re-
spond 10 any call When the peace OF tue State ID IN
danger?
The First DIVISION is composed OF nine regiments Of
infantry, regm ent OF cavalry aud Two bat
neld artillery, the infantry beng divided into
three brgades. Tho cavalry Is OF no Use IN case oi
riot CITY, except, perhaps, TO Ruard tho Inherent
arn,ories Ia absence OF the infantry. They arc
useless not TO be expected that horscnea
who can scarcely preserve decent alignernent
parade and have knowledge OF the Sabre exercise,
would be able to make decided stand before mob.
Their horses are unframed and unaccuslomei ued
scrv ce, and II cavalry were ordefed
mounted--wnich, by the way. never occurs
any ordinary mob would find no difficulty
in stampcding them. On the other hand, the artillery
is important element IN the elective bgning
Tine Sepoy Occurred OH Staten Island
eighteen years ago the Washington Grcys Troop,
then, now really line body OF cavalry, marched
to staten Island With their regiment, the Eighth
howtZer battery the men dragging the pieces aud
with aud drilled OF howtzcrs they would
use, and repay in time the money expended
bv the State for their support IL will thus
that the National Guard strength Tor active service in
sudden emergency ats tho artillery infantry,
there ore these arms should be encouraged and Der
ally supported
HOW TO INCREASE THE MILITIA
Now let look at tie present siren tn of the FIRST
Division shown by tho demand m ade upon
According Major General Snacrs report appears
thai The enrolled strength of the nine regiments OF
infantry Is about Ave Thousand eight hundred officers
uud men which oil course includes tho field music,
leaving the actual number or combutents about Ave
thousand six hundred. OF these fully threellths re-
ported Tor service the FIRST day. thus showing how
eager were the men perform duty, and during The
TWO days the number present July tour ,hou-
sand muskets. The artillery were prompt IN their
response These figures show clearly That all oil the
regiments are composed OF good material, and
there Is no reason why each command should
its rolls 900 men, three rs oi whom
could be relied upon to report for instant at al
hours notice, toe remaining fourth oil absent
other justihable causes With each regiment fully up
to its standard tho elective strength OF tho divon
would be doubled the only expense being for the
| equipments aud uniforms. Il the state would appro.
pirate sufficient money every yeur tue al
iowances Tor .ch einuer there could be no difficulty
securing recruits, the INDIVIDUAL expense be-
Came lessened the held Tor recruiting would be
widened. Besides, win thousand members the
expense per Tor maintaining The social aud
prvaie expenditures that are, u0ubt, unavoidable,
would just half what IL Is now Tor costs, tor
instance, just as much 10 support Uand for rcg
| mont 500 would Tor one thousand strong
COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM WANTED.
This part OF tie subject might be pursued almost in
definitely. The more 1t Is considered the stronger 10
the argument IN iavCr OF liberal and strong support
| oil the National Guard by the State Make IL a COM
| pIafive,y II, Expensive pleasure 10 be member and
the whole difficulty OF aniaining full enrolment Is
Overcome. Then. with complete equipment In tho
way Of knapsacks, overcoats. blankets, canteeus,
| haversaeks, tents, camp kettles and thoroughly
| organized oommissar!a, and quurtcrmasters depart
ment INC State could annual nelu eneanpme uts
by DIVISIONS or brgades, anu make the entlrc
strong, Elective and valuable BODY OF soldiers,
! ready at all times for any emergency ana a real pro-
| tection TO the State Ia her nour trouble
What has been SAID oil the First DIVISION is also perth
ncnt to tho other four In Brooklyn Inc Second
In
their New York conirades Yet both organiz .tons
possess sucn vitality That they are today tho PRIDE OF
the pcopc. IL remains TO be seen II the State Leg
ture will recognize their claims next winter 10 the
GENERAL suALER's VIEWS.
The space allotted for article viii not permit
alluslon 10 many o.ner matters tnal should
tcntion, but they are so clearly stated In General
Shalers report that We cannot do better than APP
pend them here complete summary OF what The
Sia,e National Guard needs:--
.iermiJ mo, closing this report" says tho Con-
eral ''to invue your attention to must con-
siuered by every officer oil experience imperative
need 10 tue National Guard o, This CITY md WINCH ina
necessity Tor calling them to other paris of tho
state mas made so apparent refer 10 their compete
Quilt ior deid service. The cost of keepng nand,
ready Tor hours notice. wool bla cts hav
crsacSs and caneens, would be quite inconsiderubie
10 the losses which might ensuo If
II the movement oil troops was delayed 10 procure
outfit knapsack anu an ov.rcoat Is about as neces
sary TO infantry soldier as a cartridge box or
par o. trousers, aud tney should be furnished him
he enrols 1t may be necessary, IL probably
wi sooner or later, 10 call some portion, least,
the FIRST division TO a field encampmen ana, IN tho
absence OF fun supply OF tents, very unneces-
sary suffering ana Sickness would result would re-
spectiuy urge, therefore, that immediate Steps be
TAKEN to procure and keep IN store sufficient cumn
cqupasc cooking utensils for least oue-ali vi
the organization IN my command sub peru
tive, II possible, ~ necessity Tor an sun
pay OF medical ores. The infantry aud cavalry are
ordered practise rifle shooting, and the
expected to accompany them rhey require Tor thus
service ana SHOULD each receive forthwith stocked
hospital kpapsacK, including vi surgical nstru.
meats Al medical supplies so lar used ny thy sur
gcons OF the First DIVISION have been contributed py
tLenselves. 1t hot reasonable Tor the State re-
qure The services OF professional expect til EN-
to furnish supplies gratis aso." General Shuler IN,
like all solacis TOO modest in his demands IL the
OF New ork Is 10 do anything for the National
Guard IT should do more than tie General suggests
IL estimated that the State troops number rs
paper. lhls means 200 Tor actual service II the
S,atd docs du,y there can doubt but that In
less than two years fully 1000 trained soldiers
iounu the National Guard. The concu flng SEN
tencc General shalcr's report tells the wnoe story
The state must dcay the legitimate expenses OF the
National Guard II II expects tO find In It's militia
a IA "A m