The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-21

ability. Such an association properly con-
stituted, and with clear and high aims.
might oonooivably be Of much utility.
An American Camp or MaaOuvre.
While the leading nations Of Europe arc
intent on the annual autumn manoeuvres Of
selected portions Of their armies. II may be
worth while to consider whother an snalo-
goue system. on . smaller scale. could not
be established In this country
Tho constant tendency ls to speak Of the
regular army as our main source OF military
defence. and accordingly to lament that 1t is
not larger. As an actual fact, the organized
and uniformed militia to-day outnumbers
tho professional soldiers by four TO one. and
back OF 1t arc millions OF men, war veterans
themselves or the sons OF veterans. who
could DO rolled on to volunteer at oncc for
the protection OF tho country.
But the difficulty with the organized militia
is that 1t is not trained to military manoeu-
vres on large scale, while the difficulty with
the regular officers is that they have no OPP
portunity Of handling large bodies OF troops.
OF course, tho older officers possess plenty
OF experience OF that sort: but we must re-
member that the civil war ended more than
nineteen years ago, and that annually, ever
since, graduates Of the Military Academy
havo been commissioned. Indian campaign
ing may give these young officers an expert
once of hardships and Of bloody fighting. but
1t furnishes no example Of tho pitched bat
ties OF great armies. The extreme subdi.
vision OF commands needed for garrison
duty in tho excessive number cf forts now
occupied prevents most officers from having
practice In anything more extensive than
battalion drill, and sometimes confines them
to company exercises.
Occasionally, however. on Decoration Day
OF other occasions OF public parade. we see
the regulars from tho forts In New York
harbor marching In the same column with
the National Guard Of this city and OF
Brooklyn. The othcr day at Creedmoor
nearly hundred regulars from Willot's
Point and from various neighboring garri-
sons were popping away at the targets In
tho various competitions. This participation
Of regulars In the rifle matches at Creed
moor has been going on almost since the
foundation Of the range. and on two occa-
sions teams from the military divisions
have carried off the HILTON trophy.
II for purposes Of mere parade or OF COM
petition In marksmnnship regulars and mill
tia can be 30 easily combined, why should
they not be brought together for mutual In
struction2 The army would furnish to the
National Guard examples Of exactness and
routine, the fruit Of long experience and
daily practice; the militia would furnish to
the regular officers large bodies Of troops.
with which they could have actual practice
lvp AkA yrtv 10 trtrv md n txvl-
sions. The case, harmony, and success with
which, last month, Capt. RANDoLPH's but
terry Of the Fifth Artillery. from Fort Hamil-
ton, encamped at Peekskill with seven bat.
teries Of the State troops. should teach
lesson on this subject. 1t was very
striking innovation; and this sight Of q reg
ular light battery. with Its pieces, caissons,
battery wagon, forge, and camp equipage
all complete, moving into militia camp,
after a march OF three days. WAS not less
novel than 1t was suggestive OF the mutual
benefit to be derived from the combination
OF regulars and militia. Tho following week
witnessed another phase Of tho same union
OF citizen and professional soldiers on duty,
In the encampment Of the Twelfth Regiment
at Fort Wadsworth, In the Narrows, for
practice with heavy guns.
What was thus done with small organiza-
tions could evidently be accomplished with
larger ones. In New York and Brooklyn
alone there are two divisions Of the National
Guard. It would be easy to select q suitable
ground not far northeast OF the former city,
where the militia OF southern New York,
southwestern Connecticut, and northern New
Jersey could be annually assembled by few
hours railroad journey, and there joined by
the regulars In New York harbor.
Like combinations could be arranged for
New England troops near Boston, for troops
Of western New York, northeastern Ohio,
and northwestern Pennsylvania near Buff
falo, and so on.
Such annual gatherings would present the
army In It's proper light as mere model
aud nucleus. They would reveal to the
militia its true function as the main source
of national defence, and increase popular
respect for 1t and reliance upon 1t. They
might also contribute to the solution Of
actual problems OF scacoast, sound. and lake
defence precisely as the German autumn
man0uvres along tho Belgian, French, Aus
trian, or Swiss frontiers, as the case may be,
are practical studies In strategy and logis-
tics for the particular locality. as well as
general exercises OF the troops.
| The Ways OF Criminals.
The annual report Of the National Prison
Association contains q great body OF ex-
tremely interesting facts concerning crime,
criminals, and prison management. They
are to be found in tho remarks Of prison off,
clals at tho conferences OF the association.
Mr.. CASSIDY, the Warden Of the Eastern