Telegram-herald., 1890-07-27
OUR BOYS IN BLUE
And ths Lessons They Are Learn
ing ia Camp.
THEY FORH OR SANDING ARAY
sa sAys Gel z. cro4toa FoE-CoA Irish a.
a IaotictaE ho~ Eacampmeats
Game neutrality-suspicious.
tsf .aadaT-

CAAR BLAcK, July z8.-lals encamp-
meat - pronounced by al, the par ex-
eellencs OF any ia the history Of the
state of Michigan. There Is not an
officer but Who expresses himself n tie
highest terms of praise. The ooys have
done themselves proud aud well may
they accept the congratulations that
are beng sh0wered on them from al
sides. Even the regulars. who in years
gone By have been inclined 60 regard
the militia as incaoabies OF performing
ardu0us duty, hsv. been compelled 10
submit % the insv ,able and admit that
tae state troops. when it comes % the
test, can work just as long and steadily
as they. The regulars, however, are
irresponsible for tnis state Of peFfee-
ton.
'Obey orders ia the irst duty taught a
soldier. aud i a superior ofhcer was 10
eel me that the sun sets At 3 O'Clock in
the morning I would say that the SUI
does set az that time" Tbs remark
was made bY an orderly sergeant OF tue
regulars this morning, and 10 fully
illustrates what true discipline means.
Pour years ago 10 wOulI have neeu
pretty bard tor a member OF the state
militia o. believe such . story. He
w0uld have felt disposed 20 laugh out
r.ght. Today, however. the self-same
hoys WOlld have received such an order
as gospel Iuth. SD FAR as facial expires
siOn goes. He who would attempt TO
make hin dis0ney would hnd task
that would not De easy 90 perform.
Probably one OF the most euthu-
s.astc officers n the camp ; Col. T..
Crolton Fox, OF Grand Rapids, who IS
stationed at brigade headquarters. To
the colonel, perhaps, more than any
other military otlcgr ln America should
tne nnhtamcn Of tae country be
tllnkfg Tor their present high state OF
military perfection. About five years
ego Col. Fox conceived the idea OF in-
teresting the generals oil the United
states in the state militia. He went 10
Gems. sherman, Hancock, and other
high officers of rank and l9'd before
them plan by winch the militia could
BE- materially improved. he agitated
the ec0-iucQmpmcnt OF the two forces OF
America military forces. Ia ms argu-
ments be explained how the troops
could bc improved IN drill and dlsclp-
line by the spieud q example that would
be set them by the regulars. AT first
the officers high ia command were dis
posed 20 discrcdit the statements and
pay no attention % the arguments of
col. Fox, but he vas not TO he turned
away with a simple rebuff. lie wa
persist and finally Gen. sherman
issued orders for TWO companies OF
the regulars az Fort Wayne to
report NJ the state troops encanlpment.
THIS VAS among the last official acts OF
General sherman, and II was found TO
De- highly beneficial % both lines OF
the service. The state militia were
benefited by the fine example set by
the regulars. They watched every
movement that was made, and then toe
work of imitation was commenced. Of
course perfection could not bc learned
nj a weeS. but the foundation Was laid
which has made the militia of this State
what t is today. Michigan. in fact,
has established a precedent In military
affairs which the whole country has
followed.
At FIRST the regulars were inclined to
snub the MALTA as being Inferior. but
this feeling has gradually worn away,
and today harmony exists. The regu-
lar army OF snc country and the state
troops are rs one. It IS not alone the
prvates who have been benefited. but
She officers as well. Many of them had
become rusty in tactics. They had not
followed the Improvements made IN
the service. and occasionally sticking
point would be met with These difh.
entities. however, were soon overcome.
and the graduate of West P0intaud the
ofiiccr OF the state have become as
brothers. They work in each other 2
interest. in fact. the regular troops are
looked on "a instructors for tAe militia.
Col Fox iu rcviewing the difficulties
first experienced, said that Col. Irish OF
the second. was o match for any OF the
regulars.
"Col Irish - a great tacticion. 20 re-
marked tle Col. probably one Of the
hest in the country. I remember when
Col Slack. Of the TwentY-thrd. now
stationed IN Texas. and Col IRISH met.
Not day would pass but that Col.
irish would spring a question on Col.
Black that would make him scratch BIS
oil gray head and churu bis brains 20
explain t. TAX about mathematical
problems. Cot. Black nearly went bald
headed figuring them out. He finally
admitted that Col. IRISH was
hs equal as rht1ry man. While
Col lfish isa grc1t tacticisn. We must
net forget Col Robinson, Of the Fourth
Regiment There IS one Of the finest
commanders IN Amsries t0dav. aud tne
men under him would swear BY him.
One has only to look at The Knights
Templar. Of Detroit. and theirreCord to
see what be "a capable of dong. Col.
Robinson should not be deprecated as a
ECtcan either. for be- .s equally as ine
ss Col Irish. He has published a book
on tactics vhfch Q have stud ed. There
ar movements in it entirely new % tne
military world of course. they are
fancy movements wA-Ch could not be
used bv the Du ted States army I'M regii-
lar servce. but for sword exercises they
a. erceiert
"Tnc mffis IS really the standing
sruv of America, cornuued Col Fox.
"Nhen you figure it up. v0u VIII agree
y tr me. The standing army has only
g oH wru. while the militia CAR com
uars IfF.m0 men. al srmed and
en- rped. pon't let enc people forgei
tls race.
SurHar IN CRrnr
Tomorrow wl be visitors day n
came. and without a doubt thousands
81 mothers. fstners. wives snd sweet
hear-s VIII he on. the grounds AZ eV-
tursrr H1n w arrive from }rsud
Ml--- - -.e -nrs are --l .-r. .sn.l-a-