Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-16
MEN NREADYT0 DO ANDDIE
CITIZEN SOLDI~RY SHOW UP
WELL AT IN PECTION.


r,r,n IN Each SsAte-Recommen mendationR
Concerning Inspections.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15-The Adjutant
General has made public number of re-
norts from army officers who were de-
,ail,d TO attend and inspect the annual
.ncampmeuts and evolulions of the mill
,ia NJ the States Of Alabama, Maine, Mich
Igan. New Hampshire, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,. New York, Ohio. Kentucky, Penn
svlyauia. Iowa, Illinois, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, Indiana, Kansas,
Connecticut and Dakota. The Inspec-
tjops we're confined to the States above
enumerated, for the reason that the
Governors OF other states tailed
to request the War Department to
detail officers 10 visit the en-
,amnments in their States. While
cr1tic,zing the details Of the various Or
rsuizations, such as lack OF uniformity
In clothing. poor attendance at roll calls
md A disposition to shirk guard duty and
other onerous duties OF soldier life, the
reports are unanimous in pralsing the
pbysjcal qualifications OF the men who
make up the militia, their excellence In
drill and tactics, aud the earnest, manly
Efforts OI Tue W iuIplOfe tuelI
commands aud maintain high standard
Of discipline.
POORLY ARMED.
General complaint is made OF the poor
quality OF the arms furnished the militia,
consisting in great part OF old, badly
worn and unserviceable Springfield and
Sharp rifles. Most Of the organizations
showed much interest in target practice,
and tie Maine militia Is espe cially COM
mended for its marV lOus skirmsn firing.
Several reports speak Of the crying need
Of thorough, systematic instruction. The
material is said TO be splendid, aud zeal
and intellAeuCe rule, bat lack direction.
It's suggested that the War Department
should etall officers to report o the Gov
ernors of the various States, to be as
signed To duty as Instructors solely, with
no command whatever; and If this plan
should be adopted it is thought that tn :
result would be of great value to the
States.
INTERSTATE VISITS.
1t is recommended that closely neigh.
boring States accredit visitors officially
to State encampments, whose duty u shall
be 10 take notes and report upon matters
Ofinlerest 10 the militia. More study was
found 10 be necessary by subalterns, and
the use OF dummies or blocks in tactical
studies is urged,
Capt. Howell, OF the Second Artillery,
In bis report OF a visit to Camp Seay, near
MoOil 10 inspect the First Regiment of
Alabama troops, calls attention 10 toe i'm
perfect arms and tneir bad condition. The
muskets were old pattern Springfield
rhed muskets, and nearly all showed
great lack OF care. probably fifty OF
them," Capt. Howell says. "were almost
totally uDserViceable from neglec'. This
was specially noticed in company from
Evergreen.
DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
"Out oil probably zen that / ex-
amlned In tnIs company there was not a
single gun that | would not antici pate un-
fortunate results from ia case it was fired,
and tDis in consequence principally OF
tle guns being eaten up with rust. The
lOea oil service In the delG seems to have
considerable weight with this command.
lue guns and accOutr ments, faClgu. uni
forms, tents and sufficient ammunition TO
meet sudden emergency are kept con
eVaully al the armory, and q system
aIIdh- ed Tor assembl NJ promptly. There
ID III le or no camp equlpage on hand be-
sue lehts, OF which each company is the
owner OF lar supply, exclusively wall
NnIs' win the exception OF two COM
pdnles that nave no Uniform tit for rough
service the regiment could take the field
VI ie" h0urs' notice and ia pretty lair
condition Tor service.
AN EFFECT OF PRIZE DRILLS,
lhefe are many points of course, in
"uIch lnsy would be greatly delec tive;
UIslnauhs III llm ted opportunities, the
ecauV support they receive from the
otate and United States and the system
"Alcn obtains IN many, il not all of the
'"p pouIes OF wasting time IN endeavOr-
7'h mechanical precision ia GER
@ .olu directions while neglecting what
TToulo De ,uore Useful in actual service.
hu's precision on drill ana parade in con-
iIgcIoh with snowy uniform is calcu-
1u 11aseu 70 win tue admiration OF the popu-
i"'E, ii"oe, "hlch Is the reward that is CHIEFLY
IVoAeu forward 10 and is the iuducement
"oo'e al others that keeps up aud gives
i'oIl,! 10 the orSanization. Such things
a' are not conducive 10 this end are most
seueIdlIy neglected"
WONDERFUL PRECISION.
On this Subject Cant. Hawaii savs.
lue majority vi tue infantry companies
rpPgar 10 be we'll up in squad and COM
Rany uillls. Some OF them snow tnat mucn
NJ ',u care nave been successfully eX.
Sr H va III perlectlns enselVus in these
Ga.' dItalhlng precision OF movement
g. udNe never Seen surpa sseu. Toe tn-
NJ ''ou' however, has extended but lit
lyGeyohd THIS. Skirmisn and battalion
AIM, ana target practice have bee n
4 TOoV ehtlrely neglected"
tii" cohciudlng Capt. Howell makes the
sdv,"inS Communications: al think 1t
mo m'.aaoie mat companies should ali nave
t,ahe uniform, IN SO ar ut least as the
h ne.ue uniform, or dress tor field service
saso cerned. AT present such is not the
iatigroA simple, plain, but serviceable
lbe ss,ue Uniform might be prescribed by
Tbi'n'' authorities tor all it's troops to
orm companies might gradually con-
NUN limited time, say one year.
g, FAVORED BY THE OFFICERS.
tho ualAed with several OF the officers on
Jeo -, ,0Jee~ and they strongly favored the
him t"common Uniform for ali. | also
hshu,,, ~ euVisaoie that il instead OF estaD. |
dlals tuese encampments in the imme- |
lers of f'T,thully " tue bones OF the men, |
sone nc 'ne command they be located ~ |
ls,i. moIe Instant point, say at least one |
ADJ 'naioh, IL would resultin very great |
and sn'e' Ia this case the business |
tverv 'Sl HS influences that now hamper |
| eoulJ mort at impartlng instruction |
hon noIe easily be overcome and tbe
oriii "lu 10 hand for practice ia battalion |
w,r5 ahNltlnish drill, target prActlce. |
| hssr, uuV and many other tblnss 40 |
. ilce.p 'n1 success OF troops In SER |
NaNa