The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-17
THE NATIONAL MILITIA.
Adjutant- General Drums Suggestions for
Improving It's Efficiency.

THE NATIONAL MILITIA.
Adjutant-Gensral Drums Suggestions for
Improving It's Efficiency.
WASHINGTON, Nov. l6.-In his annual report
of the operations OF his Office during the past
space to recommendations touching the improve
ment of the militia. Referring to the reports of
the inspecting officers, made public recently he
Gays "While just but kind, criticism points
out many defects none that cannot be remedied
by the men exhibiting the military zeal and
pride that animates the State militias), the re-
ports Enthusiastically evidence slowly aturing
temper and character designed to still more
closely mite the regular army and the militia
the twin parts Of the defensive power of the gov
ernment."
The Adiutant general then makes the follow
Ing recommendation: State eEcampments, to be
Of absolute benefit, should at lesst be of ten
days duration, and while established at con-
venient points, looking to economy in the con-
centration of the troops, should be a sufficient
distance from the homes of the members of the
command, in order to overcome business and so
eial influences, which seriously affect efforts at
imparting instruction and holding the men in
hand for drills. Camps should be Invested of
every appearance of holiday character. The pro-
Rramme of military exercises should exclude
elementary company drills, and the time
of the encampment should be devoted to
instruction and practice in ekirmish and
battalion drills and guard duty. AS most
of the fighting in the future must be done in
open order, thorough acquaintance with the
skirmish drill is of the highest Importance.
Officers should be required to recite upon the
duties of guards and sentinels, and instruction
In guard duty be given the men in the armories.
So far as fatigue uniform. or dress for field
service is concerned, it would be Of advantage
Cor the authorities of each State to prescribe
simple. plain, but serviceable fatigue uniform
for all its troops, to which companies might
gradually conform within limited time, say
one year This Is not intended to interfere with
the right of each command 20 wear such full
dress uniform as it may have selected for wear
on reviews, parades. and other occasions of pure
ceremony. Obsolete arms and ammunition in
the hands Of State troops should be replaced by
improved guns of the same pattern as in the
hands of the regular army, and suitable ammu-
milton provided. Exhibition drills. while inter-
estng, as showing to what degree of mechanical
precision a body of men can be trained to attain
in movements and motions. are an undesirable
feature of military camps. In many instances
the development of extreme smartness in drill
involves the neglect of some of the most impor
tant and solid parts of a soldiers training.
The report on the target practice at the Maine
encampment is most creditable to the troops par
tcipating, and demonstrates what results can
be obtained from careful instruction and prac
teal discipline in this important exercise The
great want is thorough, systematic course of
instruction, prescribed from State headquarters
and rigidly insisted upon, and the establish
ment, in each State, Of an examining board be-
fore whom ignorant and incompetent officers
could be brought with view TO their elimina-
ton from the military service of the State.
Every officer elected should before appointed,
be subject to examination by board of officers,
of which. if possible, the regmental and bril-
gade commanders and the Inspector general
should be members.
The material composing the militia of the
several States Is generally excellent, and zeal
and intelligence the rule; but the former must
be wisely directed and the latter systematically
cultivated.
The Acknowledgement says .aat the reports of
the army officers performing the duties Of pro-
fessors OF tactics at military colleges show a
steadily growing interest 10 military instruction,
evidenced by the increased percentage of
students attending drills ETC.. and the degree of
appreciation of the value of the system the
part of the college authorities The aptitude of
American youths for military exercises is I'M
donbredly good The Adiutant general says
that in order to be thoroughly efficient, officers
detailed as instructors in military science shodld
be made members of the faculties of the institu-
tions with which they serve.
Attention Is called to the loss to the govern
ment arising from the frequency of applications
for discharge from the army, and the report sug
gests the proprlety of enactng legislation max
ing discharges conditional on reimbursement to
the government of the expenses of recruit
ing and transportation, except in cases
where the long and faithful serv-
ice of the applicant constitutes
an element of favorable consideration
Touching the removal of charges of deser.ion.
the report states that at the close of the war
there were $50, 900 men against whose names
the charge of desertion had been entered Prior
to the passage of the law for their relief 100 900
applications for removal had been presented for
action. and up to Oct l. of this year. 81, 354 APP
plications had been received under the law.
There still remain SO 900 men charged with de-
serton who have DOT filed applications, but it Is
presumed that nearly all will do so. The report
closes with recommendations that the employ
ment of twenty five additional clerks be author
tied, and that number of clerks be employed
outside of Office hours at extra compensation; to
copy the dilapidated official muster-rolls of the
department.
In a report to the acknowledgement of the
army, Adjutant general Drum expresses the
opinion, based upon examination of reports,
that the present voluntary school system in the
army is a failure, and from inherent radical
defects will remain so. Those of the men who
are most ignorant. and therefore in the greatest
need of instruction, are the most averse to at
tending school. The attendance of this class Of
men, he says, should be made compulsory.
CONGRESSIEN'S SALARIES.