The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-11-15
ApyuIANT GENERAL S REPORT.
Recommendations CONCERNING the Regular Arn
ana H4afn M;l;t{a

Recommendations Concerning the Regular Army
and State Militia.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-In his an
nual report to the secretary of war, Ad-
jutant General Drum says that during
the past summer and fan the army Off
GERS inspected militia encampments
in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hi
nois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan ::Mineso-
ia. Nebraska, New Hamphsheir, New
York, North carolina, Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania and Vermont. The regularly
organized and uniformed active militia
of the several states in which in 1885
aggregated 81, $50 reached 81, 734 in 1888,
and increased to 100, 1897 in the follow
ing year and July End, 1888 represented
an available force of 1O6 ,914 men.
General Drum says: The personnel
of the inspected organizations is excel
lent and no better material could be
found any where to make good soldiers.
The officers are generally intelligent
and fairly up in the tactical know
ledge, while q general desire is shown
to learn. Discipline is fair, in some
parts excellent. Equipments except
in few instances are ex-
cellent, but not of uni
form pattern. a very serious
defect with regard to arms-but which
it is confidently expected, will be re-
medied in the near future consequent
on the largely increased appropriations
of congress. Much attention should
be given to company and battalion
sKirmish drills obviously impractie-
| able except at campS) as while
movements in masses will of course be
always required in active service be-
yond the range of musketery the
battles Of the future will be fought
necessarily in open order formation.
For the greater comfort of the men in
| drilling and marching it would be
well if q suitable shoe of a uniform
pattern were made part Of the equip
1 Inent to be worn OILY when on mill
| tary service. Instructions in military
signalling should be made a part of
the education OF the troops. The use
1 Of the flag is easy of attainment and
the instruction of q small squad, say
two non com niSSioned officers and
four privates In each company, would
prove of much practicable advantage.
In small encampmeDtS 1t is suggested
that two guards mounting dailv
| twelve hours each, would afford
greater opportunity for instruction in
this portion Of the duty.
Touching the reports Of the officers
detailed as professors of military
science at the colleges and universities
the adjutaut general says: While these
reports are gratifying in showing in
creased results from the labOrs Of of.
fcerS detailed as military instructors
the full measure of benefit will not be-
reached until military instruction and
drills are made part of the Curriculum
OF studies. Notwithstanding the in
crease In the average number of stu
dents during the past year the per
centage of students attending infantry
drills, which, for the ear ending June
80, 1887. was not quite forty-nine Per
cent, reached 3 fraction over fifty-one
! per cent for the last scholastic year.
| The report contains recommends
| tiOns for reducing the term of service
| in the army from Ave TO three years,
/ which will operate to discourage de-
sertion. The adjutant general renews
his recommendation that the pay of
non-commissioned officers be increased
so TO range between 825 aud $50, ac-
cording to rank. The report from the
military prison at Fort Leavenworth is
generally favorable, showing large
amount of work performed.