The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-14
THE TROOPS UNDER FIRE
LIEUT.. SATTERLEz's REPORT OF
THEIR INSPECTION.

the Savannah Companies - The
Colored Military Organization.
Lieut.. G. B. Sstterlee's report of the in
spection Of the state troops as assistant adj
jutant and inspector general has just been
published. 1t is a complete military record
OF the annual inspection. and is interesting
reading for every soldier 10 Georgia. It
comprises nearly 100 pages and is a thor
ough review of the military service Of the
state.
The Savannah troops occupy considerable
attention. Lieut.. Satterlee pays Company
E Of the First regiment. the Cadets, Capt.
Brooks, aud Troop K Of Macon. Capt. o. T.
Kenan. high compliment upon their
sre doing He particularly DOM
mends the skirmish work OF the Cadets.
The only private mentioned In the report is
acting oommissary sergeant OF the Cadets,
whose efficiency the inspector general COM
mends.
INSPECTED ON THEIR MERIT.
In his report the inspector general points
out the merits and defects Of each command
inspected. In his report Of the First reRi-
ment the Cadets come first in tue order Of
merit, Jasper Greens second, Republican
Blues third. Oglethorpe Light Infantry
fourth and German Volunteers fifth.
Referring to the Cadets. Lieut.. Satterlee
says: 'The most efficient organization in
the state and the equal of any volunteer
command ia the union. The training and
teachings are purely practical. All men
undergo instruction. Soldierly efficiency is
sought after to the exclusion Of general
effect in numbers and display
In the Guards battalion, Company A
comes first Company c second and Com
pany B third. The inspector calls attention
-. - - NafMW.
the battalion which might be bsttered. He
mentions the fact that a club is maintained
in connection with the military organiza-
sion. The discipline Of the battalion, be
says. is fair.
A CHANCE FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Military courtesies are not strictly OBJ
served and the line of distinction between
rank and men Is not well drawn. Lieut..
Satterlee pays Capt. Williamson's company
a merited compliment Companies B and
G. he says. are good companies, but are in
need of more drill.
In his inspection of the Georgia Hussars the
inspector general calls the troop very good
one. The interest displayed by 1t, he says. 10
very cornmendable. As 10 the case Of the
Guards, the fact is briefly mentioned that q
club is maintained by the troop. u Is well
known that Lieut.. Satterles Is
not in favor of clubs in connection with
military organizations. The conpany's
drill hall, he says, is inadequate for dis
mounted work.
Troop K OF Macon is put down as the
crack troop, after which comes the
Hussars. In concluding his report Of its
inspection Lieut. Satterlee says: The most
efficient troop in the state, aud believe
superior to any volunteer troop
of cavalry in the state" Troop Of Bruins
wick ranks third.
GALATIANS LACK PRAISE
The report of Inspection of the Chatham
Artillery will be read with interest by
military men. 1t is as folio VS.: Theoretical
instruction, none; discipline, fair; mill
tary courtesies, not observed; line
Of distinction between rank and
men, not taught. Several meu
unsteady and some talking in ranks.
Attention in ranks, not good. Some men
smoking cigarettes during drill. School Of
soldier, unsatisfactory. A few movements
in squad drill not well executed School of
battery dismounted; battery not we'll In
structed; instruction incomplete and
not thorough. Standing gun drill,
fair; men not generally instructed.
Guard, no instruction connected; stable and
park guard duty not taught. Books and
papers Incomplete; no enlistment papers
exhibited, no record showing dates OF dis
charges
1.-THE property of the company, the in
spector, says Ia in good order. Recruits are
taught the manual Of the piece but no in
struction in the school Of the soldier. The
battery is not progressive and Is in need of
more thorough and comprehensive artillery
instruction.
THE CoLoRED TROOPS.
In his inspection of the colored troops Of
the state the inspector says: None have
carried on instruction 10 skirmish exercise
of guard duty. In no command are reports
kept. The matter OF enlistment and dis
charge is not understood. Enlist
ments are not reported regularly
or in full in some cases Men
come and go at will. The principles of
discipline are not taught or understood.
The armories are, without exception, too
limited for company evolutions. With
very few exceptions the arms are kept in
the hands of the men. As a general rule
the property Is not well cared for or 40
counted for. These troops are unable
financially to provide means for storing or
caring for property, Several officers are I'M
able 10 read or write. In no com nsnd are the
arms serviceable, being old and useless for
practicable purposeA The equipments are
worn and out OF date. The uniforms vary
as do the commands. No command is pro-
vided with field outfit or mess kit; none
with blankets. In abiding TO the First
battalion, stationed here, the inspector
and takes an interest in his command.
In concluding his report Lieut.. Satterlee
says TO do SO without some comment rs to
the character Of the troops. the facilities
afforded them for practical work and in-
struction, and the encouragement held out
as bonus for their unceasing sacrifices,
would be to leave false impressions The
general tenor of the report, he admits,
Is rather unfavorable and in some instances
perhaps seemingly severe. Criticism, the
inspector general says in the sense 1t is usu-
ally accepted in. ne avoided. Candid criti-
cisn, however, he INDUCED In without re-
serve where, with a view to their amend
ment, faults aud irregularities, misunder-
standings and misconceptions were discov-
cred
The inspector general submits for the
consideration Of the state these absolute
necessities:
Reasonable and economical financial as
sistance from the state,
A complete revision Of the present
code, or, preferably. the adoption
of new military code which
shall provide for q judicious and uniform
organization Of the forces-an organization
suggested by modern tactical exigencies and
the needs Of the state.
The organization OF the general admin
istrative departments on practical work
ing basis. The only existing departments