New-York tribune., 1878-11-25
DETAILS OF REORGANIZATION


THE FEELING UPoS WHICH THE CHANGE Is BASED
FEATURES OF THE PLAN-CoNDirIoN OF lhE
MILITIA THROUGHOUT The COUNTRY.
4 meeting of prominent military officers,
representing the Army andthe National Guard Of New
York and other States was held at No 2OS Broadway
on Saturday 1t was resolved that until general con-
vcnion Of the representatives OF The Nauohal uuIu VI
the country could called for e purpose OF FORMING
regular organization, an executive committee hhouu
he appointed to arrange the preliminaries
Of plan "to render the militia systems
u, tbo different states what they should be-" Letters
wero read from Maior-Generals Schohcd, Crittenden
and r. W. sherman United states Army and from
hundred or more leading militia officers OF the dheren
States approving of the plan. AdjutantGeheia SiyAe
of New.Jersey, was elected charman General d. N
Ccucb of Connecticut. vice chairman; General u. '"
Wingate secretary and Colonel Rodney T. ward treas
prer Generals Woodward, Wingate and Ward, ana
Colonies Kingsbury aud Il. c. Ward were appointed
committee 10 confer with the Congressional Committee
on the REORGANIZATION OF the Army to explain inc On-
iects of the association
For some time there has bceu felt among the
leading officers OF the Army, the militia officers OF the
several States and even among the executive aulhori-
tes that in ths present condition OF Civi affairs more
efficient MILITARY force IL for the government
OF each state An article written by General Theodore
F. Rodenbough, II the United States Army and pub
lshed in The National GUGr6Sman on this subject ms
resulted in the formation OF committee representing
the states IN the vicinity Of NewNork. This committee
has drafted a plan OF proposed reforms, which
is now being circulated among the Governors andIeadns
military men Of the several States and OF the Regular
ARMY II has received favorable notice from the sccrc
tarv of War Generals Sherman and Hancock and many
Others Among tho committee are Ajutant-Genefai
Franklin Townsend. InspecorGenera j. Il. Woodward
Inspector OF Rifle Practice g. W. WlnSaie Col
opel Rodney C. Ward. LleueuantColoncl LOUIS fltz-
4 or New YORK Allu-
tant-General W. b. FrauLlin and Quarterma,tcg-tien-
cral d. " Couch, Of Connecticut: AdjutantGeneral W.
L. stryker and Inspec0rGenera ~ Rife Practise W. H.
StcrIing Of Nev-Jer-ey; AdiutautGontral Isaac T.
Kngsbury and InspectOr-Gencral +. &. stevens, OF
Massachusetts,.
The principal points in the plan proposed are rs
follows: An annual appropriation by Congres, Of
Il 900 600 to be dStrbutel pr0raa among the TcsU-
ary orranizad militia Tor The purchase of arms anIu-
milton and other ordinances aud quartetmasicr, stores
the President appoint board OF ohirrri from the
army and militia 10 prepare military code; cach state
10 provide it. soldiers with a complete service dress and
camping c1uipmentl the usual local full dress 10 be
authorized for n other occasions. each to have
A. least rr range aud the SECRETARY "i War u" Toe
authOrzetto offer annually Tor competition among 'ht
mlrtia OF each state, numbering at least 1000 men,
prilr not TO exceed 500 iu value, aud team IrZ'
Of II Oo0 open % competition 'y thr mh oi "Ii 'nr
states. the three divisions OF the Army, Navy
ana cue , Qua, ne The bt,h"st s.nrrs. the t"II'
on and other nerc,s lry expense, be- paid from
the Appropriation the Government 10 Oier annually q
s,aud Gf color, to the rcgtIont OF miua which shall
show the best record for dn and disc plne during the
wear; the PrcsiIent 10 detail competent onrciS from
The retired i-t uot exceeding eH To net ,ctOrs Of
mitin and be authorized to detail rctir,d officers oi
The Army adj ants of rrgimeuts when app'icd for
Nothing in tie p,an Is 10 give the President any
authority over The militia than &c has a. present.
TALK WITH GENERAL wINCATE.
The following views this subject were obtained re-
Gently in an interview with General Wmsa,s: AT the
t,nFfl fla 4tl1
WinEate General Knox tue first Secretary OF War; was
In favor OF compulsory military service substitute
for the Regular Army but for reasons OF eXpeency his
plan was not carried ont, and the principle of sustaining
email army 10 be reinforced by the militia of tho sew
oral States WIS adopted. The ori zn1l idea that
the militia should lghting force acting for The
defence Federal Government, more than Tor ihe
states. This l. shown by tue laws pa''sn III ISL, py
be allow ed the same pay as thosr III the regular service
G,I, nnrr or urvate failing respond calls Ia duty
y Any I'M o. I aDed nv cHnrt Inari1l I'm 1909 law wa
possed apprOprlstnE S2UOOUO annually from the Treas
m Hry 6 10. bnn 5a1 militia Sine Isi6 the Nitiona Guard
has been left to the control Of the respective
states In states tere existed what was call
general training which, alter the war or j. degenc
rated into farce ami wa finally abandoned The an
fcrcut Eastern states thcn uopleu Itkuar o9
which uniformed permanent militia was created New
York being he pOpu aud weltY took the lead
The aJsurdity Of considering all citizens as part o ne
militia and requiring them To appear annuity LT
parade stll Kept mp ana IN cases oi dclau "lch
were the rule, the dclnquent5 were nnrh tne hnts
golng general fund for the support 9t tho UNI
ftrmpd
| appropriations for this purpose"
FWnnt Is the condition Of militia In tho several
! states M prCseuti"
t@Ss%.9oiR has 100000 militia, probably In better
condition than the troops Of any OthcF STATE, having
| GOOD military code and Dcing thoroughly instructed III
rife practice. This Is matter OF much Importance TO
the militia. a. II gives each man eonhdrnce In his own
skill and makes Tor The discipline Oi regular army
Connecticut has two brigadcs thoroughly equipped,
! one Of which is III camp annu1lly for
| Tbev are also in.trucfcd in rlne practice
ecu -als Franklin and COrch both graduates Of
been reorgaulzcd. and their nuIDher considerably re-
duscI IN the opinion Of many IL ls in chaotic condl-
10 take up rife practice. 1hey have annual encamp-
| ments. permanent pTOInds situated at south IRA
panaed Winter and now consists Of one brigade NJ
! about 800 men. fair Condition Tney have done
nothing in nic practice They received last year an a
since the election Of Governor Mcclellan great I'm
proycnent has made In the National Guard OF New
Jersey He appointed an able STAN Of veteran SOL
ders and gwen gr' at attention 10 the subject The sys
Nsw-Jcrsey aud the Legislature mas made nunihcent
Apr pra'ion giving the Governor inli discretion as to
syvaHa IN bad condit"n. but 1t Is now being re-
IrSa11it i5Sg II sio low task Adutdentr.i Ltt !.
veteran officer Of the rcOcliUn Until the IOt Of lSG7
little mad been done the Western States In regard
tne militia. since then there has been great revival
large force has been organized III OdIO but the organ
Lers have been hamtCFcd by meugre appropriations
And tnIs remark applies as well to all staies e1crJ
Connecticut, Scw-YOrk and ScwJrrsey. These three
nave taken much interest m nne Practice. Ia Illinois
force uf about 5000 beeH raised and
placed under good officers, many OF them vet
rams They have much 10 contend against IN
the Lack Of funds lOr equipment. proper
military code also needed. Minnesota has
force of about 800 IN condition. california
has good National Guard uldef .ne command Of Gen
eral McComb Of Tie Attn California; but for t lack OF
sufficient funds aud proper H Ltary code, and the
difficulty of getting good officers, the organization
NOT as effective the General would wlsn. Tne Cali
forniaus have taken up RHO practice with great yigor
and have Of the best shots IN tho world. UIdcr
hs pressure OF the riots OF 1871 1000 men
utO the state service Of IiuGs. 1hia number
increased 1900. they are without camp gnrri'on
armed. About 5000 have the hr,rn h-loadiug
Springfield rifle, aud The remainder Use the antq Iated
Misunderstanding rifle Their needs % great that
they appealed Congress III October 1877, through
Adutant- General niliard for Increased aDpruprIa
tion To supply thu troops with tue necessary
~. -. IL =