Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-23
THEREponT CommErDEp.

New Haven Military Men Pleased
with the Recommendation OF tho
Adjutant General.
The recommendations in tho recent re-
port Of the adjutant general, previously
referred to, meets with much favor among
our military men. Among these recon-
mendations are the following, taken in full
from the report: :,
NEED OF A STATE RIFLE RANGE. .e5
A state rife range, with proper facilities
and appointments, not necessarily expen-
sive but complete in detail, should be es-
tablished for the Connections National
Guard. With such facilities at it's COM
mand, the militia of Connecticut would be
very prompt to claim and to earn high
figure of merit for Workmanship in the
National Guard of the United States.
It is only simple justice to the indivi-
dual energy, intelligence and ability con-
tributed BY the membership of the Nation
al Guard to the state Rratuitously, that
this long needed facility be at last granted
them.
THE BRIGADE AS A WHOLE.
Judged from National guard stand
point, the brigade, as whole, is a credit
to the state, and deserving of more lib
eral appropriation for it's support than has
heretofore been made. As has been truly
said by government official Hon. B. F.
Tracy, secretary of the navy, "the de-
velopment of the militia is in the interest
of true economy" The assignment of the
entire revenue from the military commu-
tation tax to tho support and development
of the Connecticut National guard would
be wise and proper expenditure of pub
lie money.
PRESSING NEEDS OF THE BRIGADE.
Among the most important and pressing
needs of the brigade, would mention:
l.. New rifles. It is hoped that pending nego-
~ companies with the new pattern Springfield
g. A brigade rifle range at the state camp
ground at Mantle, where distances beyond 500
yards can be had, and whore skirmish firing can
be practiced
4: Location Of Battery A, light artillery, in two
of the larger cities of the state, where believe
much more enthusiasm would be manifested in
this branch of the service, where it could be bet
ter and more easily horsed and very much more
Rwo u COMPANIES Of heavy artillery to be at
tached respectively to the Third and Fourth reg
i%1ents to serve as an instructed nucleus in case
THE LATE GENERAL SMITH.
Our military men are also grati6ed at
the very appropriate words in eulogy of
the services of the late General S.R Smith,
than whom no man was ever more devoted
to the interests, welfare and prosperity of
the G. N. G.
GUARD DUTY AND ARMY OFFICERS.
Concerning Mantle encampment the re-
| port says, after commendatory words as to
| the discipline and general observance of
duty: While the performance of guard
duty was not above criticism, deem my
self justified in asserting that it was suf6-
GENTLY well executed to demonstrate the
capacity of the National Guard to provide
| competent instruction from within its own
membership instead of seeking it by detail
of regular army officers.
| THEY ARE SATISFACTORY.
The condition and equipment of the
@. N. G.. are pronounced satisfactory. TT
uniform and equipments are essentially
those of the regular army; its field, stat
and line commissions are simply what the
state renders necessary, and are precisely
what would be required if the force were
called at once into the government service
| and it's personnel is such in the main al
would be found to promptly respond tt
any call from the general government
without the Intervention of a system O.
substitutes.
At this date the National Guard consist
of TIC commissioned officers and 2, 451 en-
listed men, total membership of 1897
showing gain Of "a officers and men owe
the membership of the previous year.