Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-09
OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS.
The Annual Report Of the Adjutant-
General.

General.
INTERESTING REMARKS ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT
OF TIE MILITIA -REcoMarENpATIoNs OF
INTEREST TO TIE NoS-conMrssIoSKD OFF,
CERs-rHE CLERICAL WORK OF HIS OFFICE.
The annual report Of Adjutant-Gener Drum
commences with statement Of the details made
OF regular Army officers to inspect state militia
encampments and the reports Of these inspect
ing officers. Upon this subject General Drum
says:
THE STATE MILITIA.
1.-THE presence ut the several state encamp-
ments OF members Of over 60 regiments, 10 in
dependent battalions, and 20 troops of cavalry
or batteries OF artillery, representing from 70
to 70 per cent Of the total strength OF those
organizations, evidences marked interest
and steadily increasing appreciation of the
value OF, well regulated militia as the main
reliance OF free people for national defense.
Inc regularly organized and uniformed active
nIitia OF the several states, which, in 1885, ag-
gregated S4,7S9. reached 92,734 in 1886, in
creased to l0O,S37 in the following year, and
July 2, 1888, represented an available force Of
106,Sl4 men.
"A careful perusal Of these reports leads me
70 make the following remarks and suggestions:
The personnel OF the inspected organizations is
excellent, and no better material could be
found anywhere to make good soldiers. The
officers are generally intelligent and fairly up
In tactical knowledge, while general desire Ia
shown to learn. Drill and discipline, generally
far, IN some instances excellent; arms and
equipments. except in few instances, good but
not OF uniform pa.tcrn-a very serious defect
with regard to arms, but which it is confidently
expected will be remedied in the near future,
consequent on the largely increased appropria-
tions by Congress. Much attention should be
given to company and battalion skirmish drills
obviously impracticable except at camps), 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 forma-
ton For the greater comfort OF the men in
drilling and marching, it would be well If q
suitable shoe, of uniform pattern, were
made part of the equipment, to be
worn only when ON military service. In
struction In military signaling should be
made part of the education of the troops. A
knowledge Of the code and use Of the flag is
easy OF attainment, and the instruction of q
small squad-say two non-commissiOned officers
and four privates-in each company would
prove Of much practical advantage. In small
encampments it is suggested that two guards
mounting daily Twelve hours each) would al
ford greater opportunity for instruction in this
important duty. With view to the troops in
camps receiving the largest measure of benefit
from the presence thereat of officers Of the
regular Army instructors. l beg to recon.
mend that for large encnmprnents future details
provide one officer to act as assistant adjutant
general to the command and one to each regi-
ment."
MILITARY COLLEGES.
table is submitted giving synopsis of the
data contained in the reports Of the several Of
tcers detailed as professors of military science
ana tactics ut the several colleges and univer-
sites. Gen. Drum says: while these reports
are gratifying in showing increased results
from the labors Of the officers detailed as mill
tary instructors, the full measure Of benefit
will not be reached until military instruction
and drills are made part of the curriculum Of
studies, and ell students of proper age not ply
slcaiiy disqualified are required 10 attend lee
lures recitations, and drills. Notwithstanding
the increase in the average number Of students
during the past year, the percentage OF stu
dents attending infantry drills (Which for the
year ending June 30, 1887, was not quite ~ per
cent? reached fraction over 81 per cent Tor
the last scholastic year"
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
A new edition of the Army regulations is
recommended, as is also the reduction of the
terms Of enlistment from five to three wears. In
regard to discharges from the Army it is suggest
ed that except in cases Of minors or of men who
have served long and faithfully, discharges be
made conditional on the reimbursement to the
Government OF the expense OF recruiting and
transportation. or a fixed sum, say 300.
list showing the retirement of 245 privates
and nOn-cOmmissiOned officers under the act
OF February IA. 1885. ia given, and Of these
only "a have died 30 that on the lat OF October
there were living 223 beneficiaries under this
law. An increase in the pay of non-commissiOned
officers Is advised 80 that the lowest shall re-
ceive not less than s25. and the highest $50 or
$50. General Drum says in support Of this.
that ''the grade Of pon-cOmmissioned officer is
the intermediary between the lowest in the
Army, that Of private and the highest. the COM
IN jssin no lin rT I1,, Il. 4.
tween these three classes should be as strongly
accumulated downward as il is upward. and
this is demanded alike by Justice to the nom
commissioned officers, and proper regard for
the discipline, efficiency and morale of the
army"
THE MILITARY PRISON.
The report says: "The number Of prisoners
remaining in the military prison at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan. June so. 1887. was 1896.
During the year following that date the gain
and loss were represented by $40 and 3J7.
respectively, leaving 4sS in the prison June 30.
1879. The prison statistics for the past few
years indicate that with the Army at it's present
standard the prison will receive from $50 to 400
prisoners annually, unless some means of
checking the crime of dessrtion shall be dis
covered. While desertion, like other crimes.
cannot be entirely Tadcsted punitive
measures can aud should be adopted that. while
marking the Nervousness of the military offense.
will, at the same time. prove reformatory to
the individual. The military prison as ut
present administered probably sccomplishes
this desirable result in the best manner vet
tried, combining, as it does. useful and con-
slant employment. strict, but Just discipline.
with enforced confinement. The work done bv
the military prisoners may therefore be
regarded with greater interest than usually
attaches to such exhibits.
The aggregate number Of days labor per-
formed is 43s, of which 90. $685. days skilled
labor at 80 cents per day. and 1926 DAYS IN
skilled labor, at IS cents per day. were perform
ed for the Quartermaster's Department,
making credit Of s3l.73447 Stores and
equlpage to tho value Of LOO were drawn
from the Quartermaster's Department and
charged against the account for labor which
account, including the earnings offormer years,
showed at the close of the year a credit in favor
OF the prison OF 1882, G03.16. The sum expend-
ed for the support of the prison during the
year was SS3, 327. 49, and the sum Of S75ll 20
was turned into the United States Treasury on
account OF savings OF ratiOns and sales of mis-
cellaneous articles and products.
INSANE PRISONERS
Heretofore it has been necessary to remove
prisoners who became insane to the Govern
ment Hospital for tho Insane in the District of
Columbia for treatment and it appeared al
most certain that in number OF cases the
malady was feigned. in tho hope that it would
afford opportunity for rogaining liberty after
Il brief period of treatm, mt in the asylum; but
now arrangements have been made for the
treatment of these cases Mt the prison in ward
especially constructed for the purpose.
GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.