The Portland daily press., 1888-06-19

exercise of proper care of the State property in
the possession 9i tne e, several companies. Expert
mandng and inspecting officers to companies
tends to correct errors that exist, and are liable
to escape the notlce , oi company commanders that
States In the reports Of inspecting officers who are
sent into our encampments by the General Com
tend TO encourage company Commanders their
officers and men, and give them confidence in the
correct performance of their duties, and keep up
The militia is part and parcel Of the State gov
ernment and needs support and encouragement
as much as any other part or branch of the State
government, yes, and very much more, for all of
ncers and men are called upon to give their time
without pay, except when ordered on duty, there
fore, the service must be kept interesting and at
tractive in order to induce officers and men to go
TO the expense and give the required time for the
proper performance OF the duties; and further,
are looked upon and regarded as men of honor
and OF standing and that their rights as
Scfticers, soldiers and citizens are 70 be
in order to keep them interested In
the service. All there is to work for is the knowl-
credit due for services well and faithfully DONE If
the system OF instructions are not kept up with
the requirements of the times, and there is fail
ure to give due credit for faithful services what
can there be in the service to attract our young
men TO enter it? There Is as good material in
this rs. state and ,ia IL our militia mi for
any State in the Union and feel that officers mad
men now in the service are deserving of much
credit for the present good condition of the ser
vice and the duties performed in the face of the
many discouragements that they are compelled
TO contend with.
1t would in my opinion, be of great benefit to
the service If the regulations that have been es-
tablished by the commander-in-chief, In general
orders, from time to time since 1880, could be
revised and printed in such form that they could
be read and understood and placed within reach
of both officers and men. fully understand each
order that has been issued and what orders are
now In force, for have been in the service since
the most Of them have been issued, but officers
who have lately come into the service require in
structi0ns from one who has made himself familiar
with all orders before he can understand what are
in force and what orders or parts of orders have
been revoked. How can instructions be given
without inspections?
In order to remedy the defects In the service
as noted 10 the report of Capt. Edward Field of
the U. 5. Army, during the encampment of 1886,
ISSUED printed circular containing instructions
in general duty, etc., and issued Sufficient num-
Der to the several companies so that one could be
placed in the hands of each officer and man for
his information and study. This circular con-
talned ten printed pages, and If each officer and
man in the service observes the rules quoted and
printed therein, feel sure that the report of the
next encampment of the Brigade, will show a
great Improvement in the duties noted as well as
in other duties that will be performed in camp.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY L. MITCHELL,
Brigadier General, First Brigade,
NJ v. M.