St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-18
PREPARING FOR WAR.
InWardneSS of Formation of
the First Brigade Of
State Guards.
Adjt. Gen. Mullen Supplies the
War Department With a
List of Troops.
Urged to Raise the Efficiency
Of the Militia Regi-
mentS.
A Reserve Force in Case OF
War With the Chilli
ans.

A sensational report was received
from Washington last evening that or
derS had been issued requ esting the
adJutant generals of the various states
TO furnish information TO. the war
department as to the number
of men available in case Of
war with Chilli. Adjt. Gen. Mullen was
at his home in Wabasha yesterday, hay
ing returned Saturday evening from a
business trip to South Dakota. Color,
however. was given to the report by the
Acknowledgements made by Charles
Humason, of the adjutant generals de-
partment, who stated that Wednesday
last he furnished the war department
with list of the available troops in
Minnesota. He could neither verify nor
deny the statement that Gen. Mullen
had received any communication from
the war department relative to the
threatening aspect of affairs between
this country and Chilli. Additional color
was given TO the report by recent
action of the commander-in-chief
of the state militia in issuing
the order for the formation of brigade.
The members of the guards have long
agitated the formation of brigade, but
for some reason their requests we're
never conceded. Then, without word
of warning, Adit. Gen. Mullen issued an
order authorizing its formation, and
without loss of time the officers are
called together and Gen. Bend selected
to take command. All this looks as if
there were some moving hand behind
the state authorities, anxious that the
efficiency of the militia forces
may be enhanced to the high
est possible point. While it is
still problematical that the differ
enceS between the two republics cannot
be settled without recourse to war,
yet it is exceedingly proper in the
pres ent condition of unrest that the war
department make every preparation.
If war is inevitable, then the regular
soldiers would be drawn from the coun-
try, and the protection of citizens at
home would devolve upon the militia.
The condition of this force in each stats
is therefore of paramount importance,
and the request of the war department
to be fully informed thereupon will be
readily understood. Looked at in this
light, the formation of a brigade of the
Minnesota guards, when the militamen
themselves least expected il, is also
clearly explained.
The National Guard of Minnesota con-
siStS of three regiments of infantry. and
two batteries. These could easily be
brought up to the regulation number Of
1000 men TO each regiment. While
large proportion of the men are in the
companies located in ST. Paul and Min
neapOlis, other companies are scattered
all over the state. The available force
at present numbers about 1880 men Gn-
Guiding officers), commanded and al
lOtted as follows
FIRST regiment, Minnesota National Guard,
Lient.-Col. Charles Nc c. Reeve commanding,
624 men.
Second regiment, Minnesota National
Guard Col. Joseph Bobleter commanding.
500 men.
Third regiment, Minnesota National Guard,
Col. +. 2. wright, 537 men.
The two batteries of artillery ure I'M
der the command of Maj. E. b. Libbey.
First battery, 63 men.
Second battery, 70 men.
These troops are we'll equipped, eX-
cepting the Second regiment. which is
short 200 guns. A short time ago $50
guns were sent to the Springfield. Mass,
armory to be repaired for the First and
Second regiments. The $50 guns for the
First regiment. have been returned in
good order. The 200 for the Second
regiment are expected soon.