Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-29
pramASsNr oAup NOR WANTED.


nent Camp.
Local members OF the National Guard
are agreeably surprised over the recent an
nouncament OF another government "fnd"
by General r. r. Kennev. The sum of
$40, 200 could be- very well utilized by the
Delaware militia. The question Is asked
however, as to who will! pay for the ex-
pensive ammunition OF the new modern
guns. the artillery alone 1t is understood
would cost 5000.
II will be remembered that during tho
recent encampment, Captain Mitchell's
Gatling gun squad ran short OF anmuni-
ton. They were paying for II themselves,
and at length 1t grew TO bs too much OF a
tax on the soldier boys pockets.
Still, without wishing TO throw cold water
on the interesting new idea OF this added
| martial arm fer DelawIre's troops, the otil-
| mlrd that ours is maritime state and that
the direction OF military effort indicated In
| General Kenuey's movement is an entirely
| legitimate AMI patriotic oae.
| In regard TO the idea OF making perna-
nent camp at Rshoboth, there Is n more
meterializsd opposition In this city. The
! military opponents of the project are not
TO b. classed with the tualienable lovers Of
Camp Phil Sheridan at Brandy wine Springs.
4 Ca the contrary. these opponents are
strictly sgainst the Idea of any permanent
camp at all Ia the State. They a. que ia
the direction outlined by Captain Mvrick,
U, s. A., tho Inspector at Camp Phil Shert-
dan. who said on one occasion (ns detailed
IL EVERY EVENING at the time) that the
main theory or the war department In Its
eDdeevor to affiliate the state sol
dters with the regulars is In order
that on sucn occasions as of a
foreign Invasion or rebellion, In fact In
any emergency when the authorities, either
Federal or State, would suddenly need the
aid OF the militia, some senblaree OF effec-
tive organization and especially centrellza.
ton at given point In Il given time might
be realiz d. This can only be q operiy
geined, under our limited annual encamp.
mont custom, by experience In practical
work Of moving into new quarters. under
nav circumstances and surroundings az
often es OCCASION will permit. Now the
theory Of fixed encampment completely
upsnts this plan SO wisely looked
for by the military authorities In Washing
ton. Our militia under such arrangements
will go each year to encampment rendy
prepared for them. There will be no pitch
ing OF tents, no personal, company MOI
reHimental commissary arrangements 10 he
thought OF beforehand. All ia ready pre-.
pared, In fact the very teaching, indivld.
nal.p necessary to officers and men, In any
such emergency as war contingency
always calls for, IL carefully taken from
soldiers hands and they are left without
tn, needed soldiers experience OF taking
care and providing for himself in tbs
thousand and one little matters of mlnutia
that make the Veterans camp life sons
thing tolerable and the recruits camp ex
perience miserable until he gets shaker
into shape.
Experience IN going into new quarters
each year will teach the officers the In
valuable advantages Of mobilization snt
the men the cool, quiet habit Of doci!t
OBEDIENCE and soldierly Indifference Il
temporary and only apparent inccnveni
enges.