Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-17
SONS OF MARS BY BIRTH.
WONDERFUL APTITUDE OF OUR
pOyS FOR MILITARY DUTY.

WONDERFUL APTITUDE OF OOh
pOyS FOR MILITARY DUTY.
.dit. Gen. Drum Recognizes the Charac-
terIstic in His Annual hepore-A ne
oommendation that Officers of Militia
no Compelled to Pass Examinations
Refore Being Commissioned.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.--In his annual
.o,ort of the operations of his office dur
,n, the past year Adj. Gen. Drum
do,otes some space to recommendations
,oncbiny the Improvement of the militia.
pofarring to the reports of the inspecting
oticnrs. made public yesterday, he says:
awhile lust but kind criticism points out
many defects, (none that cannot be reme-
died bv men exhibiting the military zeal
ord nride that animate the State militias) },
.bo renorts show unmistaKable evidence of
slowlv maturing temper and character
destined to still more closely unite the
vegular army and militia. the twin
narts of the defensive power OF the gov
ernment."
The Adiutant General then makes the
following recommendations:
Stote encampments to be Of absolute
benpft should at least be of ten days du-
ratIon. and, while established at conVe-
nient points looking to economy in the
concentration of troops, should be at
suficient distance from the homes OF the
members of the command to overcome
bnsiness and social influences, which Sc
riously affect efforts at imparting fnstruc-
tion ard holding men in hand for drills,
target practice, guard duty, etc.
NOT A TIME FOR PLAY.
i:amns should be divested of every APP
rparance of a holiday character. The
4 nrogramme of military exercises should
exclude elementary company drills, and
II the time of the encampmeDt be devoted
Il TO instruction and practice IN skirmlsh
and battalion drills and guard duty. AS
H most Of the fighting in the future must be
done in open order, thorough acouaint
ance with skiTmish drill Is
Of the highest Importance. officers
n sbouId be required to Tecite upon the
duties of guards and sentines, and in
struction in guard duty should be given
TO the men in their armOries. So far
as fatigue uniform or dress for
4 field service Is concerned, it would
be of advantage for the authorities
II of each state to prescribe simple, plain
Il but serviceable fatigue uniform for all it's
4 troops, to which companies might gradu-
ally conform within a limited time, say
one year. This is not intended to inter-
fere with the right of each command to
wear such full dress uniform as 1t may
have selected for wear on reviews,
parades and other occasions of pure
4 ceremony.
OBSOLETE ARMS
Obsolete arms and ANN unition in the
hands Of State troops should be replaced
by improved guns OF the same pattern as
are IN the hands of the regular army, aud
suitable ammunition provided. EXhibi-
ton drills while Interesting as showing
to what degree Of mechanical precision a
body Of men can be trained to attain in
movements and motions, are an unde-
slrable feature of military camps. In
many instances the development of
extreme smaTtness in drill in
wolves neglect of some of the most
important and solid parts of a soldiers
training. The report on the target prac-
tee at the Maine encampment is most
creditable to the troops participating and
demonstrates what results can be OBJ
tanned from instruction prescribed from
State headquarters and rigdly insisted
on, ana the establishment in each State of
an examining board, before whom Igno-
rant and incompetent officers could be
brought with view to their elimination
from the military service or the St2p.
EXAMINATIONS FAVORED.
Every officer elected should before ap.
pointment be subject to examination by
board Of officers of which, if poss BILE,
tne fegimental and brigade com manders
and inspector general should be members
Inc material composing the militia of the
several states Is generally excellent, and
zeal and intelligence rule, but the former
must be wisely directed and the latter
Systematically cultivated.
lhe AdJuant General says that tie re.
ports OF The army officers performing the
uutles OF professors of tactics and military
science at military colleges show q
S.eadily growing interest in military in
euucton as evidenced by the increased
yeieehtage OF the students attending the
drills, ETC., and great degree of appre.
cldtOn OF the value of the system on the
part OF the college authorities.
APTITUDE OF AMERICAN YOUTHS.
The aptitude OF American vouths for
military exercises is undoubtedly good
auu "nen supplemented by frank anC
.uu recognition on the part OF the severa
,aacuIVles That military training beyond
'ae enforced physical exercise it gives is
posillVe service to the student in the
Wulnary avocatiOns of civil life will real
ae an tne practical advantages result
lux from course of obstruction. enforc-
ment ~ "0PN
ha 40 reap, however, the full benefits o
w Ie Id" authorizing the detail OF officers
% tle army as military instructors, it is
"n ,~s serH,lVe that the professor OF tactic
%n pnu military science be a recognizec
,uenloei n, -li oil the faculty Of the institution
vo, "1lch he is on duty with an equa
0y ana mat military instruction bI
avtn @ coordinate position with otheI
apartments Of study.