New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-23
NATIONAL GUARD FORCES.
THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S REPORT.
TT CONTAINS MUCH OF INTEREST TO THE

The annual report Of the AdjutantGeneral has Just
been issued and although il does not contain the
Inspector GENERALS report, which is the document OF
the greatest interest to the members OF the different
ORGANIZATIONS still it contains much that IS OF interest
to the soldiers. According TO the report the guaru III
the State now consists Of fourteen regiments one
battalion and forty five separate companies of Infantry
five batteries OF artillery, one troop OF cavalry anu
two signal corps In these different ORGANIZATIONS
there are 744 officers and l347S enlisted men. Dur
Ing the year one regiment 1.-THE llth) was mustered
out Of the service and one troop (A) was mustereu
into the service and is now attached 10 inc fHeI
Brigade. AdjutantGeneral Porter has something "
say about legislation for the National Guard ana TIC
says 1t with great deal of vigor lie declares that
at nearly every session Of the Legislature propositions
to add to the military forces of the state
The plans presented he continues, are ire
quently the production Of theorists ana not
nfrcquently Of persons having some special purpose
to accomplish. far as they represent a popular
interest in promoting military knowledge, they may
well be considered, but whenever they discover ten
dency to conflict with the discipline and efficiency ol
the established force they should be resisted
Concerning the increase in the strength Of the Ma
tional Guard forces General Porter says: Better
evidence Of an Increasing Interest In military matters
and OF desire the part Of the young men OF tho
state enter its military service is found In the large
number Of applications coming from all parts OF tho
state for authority to raise companies batteries or
troops The National Guard is limited by law 10
- 900 enlisted men, a number believed TO be sufficient
for all practical purposes at least for the present
This limit has been nearly approached that II Is
hardly safe to 60 any further, for sufficient margin
must always be maintained, in order that II may not
become necessary stop recruiting, and TO avoid tile
danger Of illegal enlistments II Is not probable
therefore that any new organizations viii be mustered
In until the strength OF the force IS reduced By dis
baudmcuts otherwise. However, should tine Legs
laturc incline to increase the number OF the o"'e
forces there should be DOUBT as to the direction III
which it should be done. That 1t Is OF the hTst I'M
por;anco that in all seacoast states men
shoud he trained in the use Of heavy
guns and organized to man the harbor' river
lake dcfcnces. will not be questioned FOR thS
purpose an increase Of twelve or fifteen hundred en-
listed would be sufficient for this state IN tino
Of peace but 1t is believed that would be admissible
to begin with d smaller number say four heavy bat
tcres, and these batteries become proficient or
canzing other batteries. 1t is understood that the
War Department IS ready and Wiling to furh'h
facilities for instruction, and for the encaHpmeht oI
troops at the forts in Ncw-l0rk Harbor and else
where. and 1t IS therefore recommended provided ahY
increase is to be authorized, that provision be made
the organization Of such number OF heavy batteries
not to exceed twelve a, the commandments MAY
deem necessary The principle difficulty In the way OF
incrcs ng the force lies In the necessarily increased
expense. Tor It Is useless TO organize troops with tho
purpose Of relying them for service, unless the
provides everything that IS essential to enable
them 10 make themselves proficient a soldiers
Troops that maintain themselves at considerable
cost as 1t Inevitably must be, cannot be made to
understand the necessity Of submitting to the re
staints Of discipline and Will seldom contribute the
time as won money demanded for tbs
various branches OF the art Of war
with which the modern soldier must
become familiar. such soldiers are OF little or
uD practical use except II HdS Dc lVI paIdues, ~
Legislature viii under present circumstance
10 larger Appropriation, Tor military purposes -
10 make one of tie regiments Of the city Of Ncw-lork
a heavy artillery regiment. There Is way by which
organizations. winch would afford an opportunity 10
muster some heavy batteries, namely. by reducing
II is Ia be sald favor of this proposition that by
increasing the number Of ORGANIZATIONS there WOuiG
officers n training at all times More than tbs there
! appear, to be 40 valid reason why company Should
In speaking Il the question OF new rifles General
Porter -ay7 that the need 81 new uhc, To- Iepl,e tir
ar ryrn its ,brs Shall be- lie says II /, announced
by the United state, ordnance Department that
r''' ,rinniiy ho 'tu. %, The powder question re
' u.-o. . ~, ~ tir pocalIod smokec,s
arm ebali he still unsettled lie condemns the law
requiring the different counties 70 provide armor.eo
ior the National Guard organizations within their
boricr, and thinks that the expenses OF building and
maintaining the armOries ought 10 be borne by the
state. he rcucWs the recommendations maze IN
previous reports looking 20 the proper maintenance
81 the state Camp At Pcek,hu as permanent IN
,ututOu for military instruction. lie treats the
state camp question NJ some leneth ana tohuelns
''' lu'' way "'.'.t -, ~, ,,. ,i,nn in.taad ~ a
ing bti-''' AT tnr ,'luP =, "r '' ii aIo d,vb,
regiment u, - Uc pI''cu P."li'' ~ .,1tr, 3D.,
lIc adE l'tu'l1f, ." P." - 30 ni,sti0n lie
~" , ~ ',rid ir =, h,r,i.bip f1r MANY Of tho
u.lIN' ,'t j., ~ ~ IN, l',.cr HAN nnr Syre, every
Hch ~ tC.,iii "' '''1 'F '"e ~ ~
s''u tho state according N General Porters
-. 80 SO ~ T., .o,d no Now York troOps to
!, - H. ,, ,,rod, ,, ,rril an I,st
uI' 'ri'lcn.u pm, ~ ~ p,"i,,nrt viii assemble
IL 'p", Pt'''' ~" W s ~. H,t',f,n a. f,IIn,c.
l.r dr lh tIc 1'I"o, -. 20 ~ a,d r. Fchr,ary
comp ilH.9 j. az" , - @ I. j., -, -, All NarrR
- ana N9'," ~ ~, - anu I,1 Nh a"d T. ana
- ',n-''n AND FVcry battalion Of two com
Is. ,iu b@ divided for Instruction into six com.
imc, ana serrc,nts win De- prepared q act as
g'crs and corpor.ls as company guides.