The morning call., 1891-09-28
GREAT MINDS.
Cutler and O'COnnell Differ On
the First Brigade.
Stir Raised in the Two Southern Resi-
ments-contrasted Inspection Reports
on the Interior Troops

Herald applies TO the report on Camp john
son at Santa Monica, by Lieutenant Colonel
A. d. Cutler, Division Inspector.
A systematic effort has been kept up since
the organization of the two boom regiments
Of the First Brigade TO make people believe
that there are no troops in the n. G. G.
such as in the First Brigade, considered
from every standpoint. So industrious has
been the effort that the Jol;nsonites have
actually begun to believe all this fsttery,
but a rude awakening was given them By
the Cutler report, coming as it did, so un-
eXpec teddy on the heels Of that Of CAPTAIN
O'COnnel, who, perhaps, never having seen
them before, gave them another liberal dose
of official taffy, of which he seems to have
such an ample store 10 lavish as the mood
may move him.
The Cutler report of inspection is based
upon state Of affairs found by him on the
22d ult., on the last day of camp, VIXEN the
Seventh Regiment OF six companies had in
camp 152 Of its company memb eTship Of $50
(i6.06 per cent?. with Companies F and q
numbering each nineteen and twenty-five
men present, and when the Ninth Regiment
had six companies represented by 234 out of
$50 men-a remarkable per centage of 7091,
with thirty-twO men as the smallest num-
The location Of the camp was considered
of the best. from sanitary point of view,
and for military convenience and the sub
sistence department. except in the matter
of drains and refuse, orderly, clean and
generally in good condition" But drains
and garbage we're poorly provided for, and,
says the Inspector, would Lave caused
serious medical trouble ultimately, but for
an open bluff constantly exposed TO strong
1.slA q fNanr
wise very clean and orderly" the sinks
were poorly built and located, ana Were in
most nlthy condition"
CONSIDERED AS SOLDIERS.
Guard duty and salutes Of officers and
men we're fairly we'll performed -; gu ard
mount tacticalIy well executed" but the
formation from details delayed and
lengthy" and that of one regiment at right
angles to the color line, which the Inspector
considered an "unexplained and seemingly
unnecessary innovation" Again, the for
nations for review were tardy and far
from showing the necessary acquaiu tance
with tactics, particularly by guides and
chiefs and subdivisions" The march in
review was fairly good, but "salutes Of Off
GERS generally poor, lacking snap ard fail
ing generally to look to the reviewing off
GER"
The Inspector candidly admits that his
observations covered only a limited time"
cOmmends in both regiments the exception
ally good condition of uniforms save gloves,
though " the rust and dirt accumJlatOns on
many pieces, particularly in the Seventh
Regiment, showed great lack of care bY
men and supervision from officers" But
the hardest thing said in the report is that
" a large proportion of men In both regi-
ments were uucleanly and showed lack of
personal interest IN their appearance, par
ticulaTly as to gloves, collars and boots"
This cut must have been q sore one, es-
pecially 10 those whom the party by the
name of O'C8TTell described as above par
in military appearance, education and social
standing" But the Cutter report further
says that both regiments were faulty and
deficient in the tactics and manual OF in
spectioD, indicating both lack of instruction
and experience"
While the general conduct and aspect of
officers and men was orderly aud sold!erly,
too much argument and solicitation took
the place Of absolute command at company
formations, showing tie failure of both 10
recognize the difference on duty" Especial
cOmmendatOn is given for tie entire ab-
sence of ramp decoration save of a military
character. The absence Of a provost mar
sha and guard is criticized and the report
continues:
Too strong criticism cannot be made upon the
prevalent custom noticed particularly In camp
OF quite percentage OF men being allowed 10 be
present al reviews and inspections as spectators
instead OF on duty in he ranks So long as they
are able physically 10 be present, both officers
aud men should realize the Importance Of recOg-
niZng the presence Of general officers by parad-
ing every one not absolutely on duty. Alter
careful considerable OF the location and organ
iZatiOn Of the tWo regiments OF this brigade II Is
respectfully recommended that a strict enforce
ment Of tie regulations as TO the dulles OF gen.
eral and regimentaI stats could be made win
most ben fetal results. as they appear TO have
been buI little WORKED 10 the past aud 10 have
no lack Of field or opportunity in the future, If
properly directed.
SHOULD BE DIsBANDED.
The report concludes by calling attention
to the condition Of Company d of the Seventh
Infantry and located at Ventura; and Adju-
nt-GeneTal Allen, who was the Colonel of
this regiment, has right here pointed out 10
him the way out of the dilemma, to furnish
the Fifth Brigade q company for political
services rendered in Butte County, the re-
port declaring that "unless this company
shows at once that there is hope for great
Improvement in attendance at drills it
should be disbanded. The State has right
to expect more efficient guaTdsmen thar is
shown in this company"
This is the report on these two regiments,
made by an officer, who is the Division In
spector, is himself member If the guard.
and knows what may and should be expect
ed, and In his official capacity has seen and
reported on them before Now for the effu-
siYe and conf limentary notice by the resu-
lar army officer who never saw them before,
and apparently did not see in one week what
Lieutenant-Colonel Cutler claims to have
seen in his "limitei time"
The report of this commissioned officer OF
the United States Army, dated the 10th
inst, and made TO the Inspector General at
Washington, but in violation OF military and
official etiquette given to local newspaper
which published it in an emasculated form
on the 18th, and DAYS before 1t could have
been received by the officer to whom ad-
dressed, and the only one to make Its con-
tents public, said of the First Brigade:
The personnel OF the Ninth Regiment is above
par in military appearance. education and social
standing An Intense military spirit sctuates
Ills fine regiment. The encampment was largely
devoted to reviews and parades, which were
highly satisfactory In execution and FAR sur
passed in excellence many witnessed by me IN
other encampments. The hygiene Of the camp
was all that could be desired, and the police OF
the same was excellent. Guard duty was done
with split and accuracy. Tie sentinels walked
their posts in quick Time and In soldierly manner
no lounging and moping aud holding the lille
al any possible angle, as Is frequently noticed IN
cher encampments. At the beginning lie drll
OF the Seventh was poor, but vast Improvement
was noticed toward the end oil the week. have
never seen better drilled companies than those
OF The Ninth Regiment In the manual OF arms,
frings. company movements and bayonet exer-
else. The battalion DIN Of this regiment was
merely paSsaUe, evidently the fault Of The Cap
tains and guides and the lack Of practical work
in the held. About camp l noticed too much
familiarity between officers and men. a slack
EeSs Of military bearing when of duty, priyates,
non commissioned officers and officers lounglng
officers and many other little things betfaylng
ignorance OF the value Of the seemingly tTif1ing
formalitles embraced IN the term military ell
queIte.
THE SIXTH AND EIGHTH.
OF and concerning the Sixth Regiment
and Eighth Battalion OF the Third and Fifth
brigades Captain O'Connell has naught to
say but ELUSIVE praise, declaring that 1.-THE
military bearing of the men was remarka-
bly, fine and in harmony with the high order
of intelligence and superior social stand
ing" All the advantages which the Sixth
possessed he ascribed to its having for an
Adjutant ." retired army officer who was
Indefatigable in his zeal for its welfare"
or the Eighth ho said that Its rapid
progress in battalion and skirmish drill and
in the accurate and intelligent performance
OF guard duty was very marked, and the
earnestness manifested by officers and men
TO know and do their duty correctly and well
was really admirable. In general the bat
talon movements Of this command were
creditably executed, although in many cases
Them nhsaryed q great iack of nEnmnt-