St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-10
CITIZEN soLDiERY.
Adjt. Gen. Drum states What is
Necessary to Put the National:
Guard in Good Shape.

Adjt. Gen. Drum states What is
Necessary to Put the National
Guard in Good Shape.
WASHINGTON, Noy. 9.-In his annual
report to the secretary of war Adjt.
Gen.. Drum says that during the
past summer and fall army officers in
spected militia eEeanipments in Ala
bama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, In
diana. Iowa. Michigan, Minnesota, Ne
braska. New Hampshire. New York,
North Carolina. Ohio. Pennsylvania
and Vermont. The regularly organized
and uniformed active militia of the
several states which in 1885 aggregated
81, f49 reached %, 7354 in 1886, Increased
to l00,S37 in the following year, and
July 2, 1883. represented an availa-
BILE force OF ID6,Sl4 men. Adjt.
Gen. Drum says: The personnel
of the inspected organizations
is excellent, and 10 better material
could be found anywhere to make good
soldiers, The officials are generally in
teiiigent and fairly mp in tactics knoWl-
edge, while general desire is shown to
learn. Drill and discipline, generally.
fair, in some instances excellent; arms
and equipments. except in few instan-
ces. good, but not OF uniform pattern-a
very serious defect with regard to arms,
but which it is confidently expected will.
be remedied III the near future, conSe-l
auently on the largely increased APP
preparations OF congress.
Much attention should be given to-
COMPANY and battalion skirmish drills
lis obviously inpracticeble. except at:
campSl as, while movements in masses
will, of course. be always required in
active service. beyond the range OF
musketry. the battles of the future will
be fought necessarily in open order for
nation. For the greater comfort OF the
men in drilling AMI marching, it would
be we'll if a suitable shoe, of uniform
pattern were made part of the equip;
ment, to be worn only on military: sery-
ice. Instruction in military SignalingI
should be made part of the
EDUCATION OF THE TROOPS.
Acknowledge of the code and use of the
flag is easy of attainment, and the In
struction of small squad-say two non
commissioned officers and four privates
in each company would prove of much
practical advantage. III small encamp-
ments it is suggested that two guards
mounting daily twelve hours eacD
would afford greater opportunity fOr:ln-
Structi0n in this important duty. Touch
ing the reports OF the officers detailed
as professors of military science at col
leges and universities, the adjutant
general says: While these reports are
gratifying in showing increased results
from the labors of the officers detailed
as military instructors, the full measure
of benefit will not be reached until mill
tary instruction and drills are made
part of the curriculum of studies,
and all students of proper age, not
physically disqualified. are required to
attend lectures reeitations and drills.
Notwithstanding the increase In the
average number of students during the
past year, the percentage of students
attending infantry drills (Which for the
year ending June 80, 1887, was not quite
49 per cent reached a fraction ever;5l
per cent for the last scholastic year."
The report recommends reduction of
the term of service in the army from