Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-17
THE RaGULAss Axp TIE MIirrIA.
Adults NJ General Drusn's Reeommsn-
dssions for Improvement or ths
Asyvtce.
~ tat IN, N Tfapotrh-r

WASHISGToS. November l6.-In his an-
rupi report 81 the operations OF his Office
curing the past year Adiutant-General
Dlum Gevo,es some space 90 recOmmenda'
lions touching the improvement Of the mi
litIs. Referring 10 the reports Of the in
specting-o Ulcers made public yesterday, he
Sans:
While lust bur kind criticism points ont
many defects, there are none that cannot be
enefIed 10y men exhibiting the military
zeal ana pride that animate the state mill.
liza. The reports give unmistakablc evil
dencc a q slowly IN turing temper and
character destined 30 still more clos, ~
unite the regular army and mliitia-t siu
parts 81 The defensive power OF the Govern
mout.
The Adiuiant-General then makes The
follow ing recommendations Stgte rH-
equipments 20 be Of absolute benefit sh0u 4
at least Doe 4 ten day. duration. aud whit.
established Of convenient points looking o.
economy in concentration Of troops, should
De at 81, Gicicnt distance from the homes c.
meml ers Of commands u overcome bl-.-
ness ard social influences. which seriously
affect the Efforts at imparing inStruc ion
and holding the 'meu in hand for dril.
target-rractice. glard-duiy, DC. Camps
should be diye,tcd Of every appearance Of
| holiday character. The programme OF mill
tary exercises should exclude elementirv
comrany-drl!s and the time Oi the eueimp
| mont be devoted 10 in-tluction and practice
| in skirmish- ana battalion drills aud guard
| duly. ~ most OF the fighting in the future
must be done in open Ord,r, thorough A.
| quainlarce with sklruish-driil ia OF the
| highest importance. Officers should be re-
| Quired to rrciic upon the duties OF guTt-
| and sentiDel-. and instruction in guard
! duty be given TO the men in the armorios
so far IS fatigue uniform or dress Tor
| feld service i concerned, II would be oi
| advantage for the authorities o. each state
| 10 prescribe s simple, plain. hut seryiceablc
| fatigue uniform for all lis troops, 10 which
| companies might gradually conform withi1
| a limited tilne-say one year. This j. not
intended 10 interfere with the right OF each
conn and 10 wear such iuli-drcss uniform
as II may have selected FOR wear on reviews
| paladcs, and other occasions % pure cere'
| monV. Obsolete arms aud ammunition 30
| tie hands of state troops should be r.
| placed " improved guns Of the same pat
| tern rs those in The hands OF the REGULAR
| army aud suitable ammunition provided.
Exhibition drills, While interesting a
| showing To what degree OF Mechanical pre-
| cisiun 4 body Oi men can be trained 10 nj
| tain I'm move meui- and motions, are an Un
| desirable feature Of military camps. u
many instances the Development VI extreme
,mariucss n drill involves the neglect o
.Cmc Of q most important and solid paris
| 81 q soldiers training.
TIE report on the ,arCet-practice az th'
| Maine eucampucnt j. most creditahie C
! The troops participating, and demon
states what result. can lie obeaine
from careful instruction prescribed Iron
STATE headquarters and ri.ldiy in
sisted on. and the establishment l.
each SAFE of an examining boar,
before whom ignorant and incompetent
officers could be brought with q view q
their elimination from the military seryic
OF the State. Every officer elected shout,
before appointment be subject o. cXam'na
ton by hoard II ofhcer,. OF which, il pO'
sible. rcgimcuLal and brigade commander
and the iuspcCiOr-gcncral should be- mem
hers. The material composing t.e miii,i
Of the several states j. generally eXcelcE
and intelligence rules; but the former M.
hc wisely directed, aud the latter -y,temat
ca'ly cultivated.
! The ACiuian; G. neral says tia, tho -
| port % the army officers performing th
| duties q professors 81 tactics and militr
science n mil'tarv colleges show q s'eId,i,
growing interest in military instruction. o
evidenced by the increased percentage q
! students attending drills. DC and the o..
| gree OF appreciation 81 the value Of 30
system on The part 81 the college author
tics. TIE aptitude Of American youth
for military exercise i undoubtedly good
and when supplemented by frank al
full recognition on the part II the seyera
faculties that military training beyond I'll
enforced physical exercise II gives /,
positive service TO the student in the ord
nary ayocalions Of civil life, will realize q
practical advantages resulting from cOur-
| ~ Instruction enforcing manllness G
character and department. To reap, how
| ever, the fun be.Iefit- ~ the law authorizin
2 detail Of officers Of the army a. miliiar
instructors. II j. imperative that a prOie
sor Of tactics and military science be
recognized member 81 the faculty ~ IN
Institution. and that military instru"tio
bc given a coordinate position with Il
| otL,r DEPARTMENTS Of study.