The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-07
VBR7S CRITICISED
An Old Army Officer Writes
of the Lack of Dis
clpline-Guard In
StruCtion.
Special to The JERSEY clty Ns,v..

TRENTON. Aug. Z. 1893. During the
recent encampment at Sea Girt u Regular
Army officer was employed TO watch the
work OF the soldiers and citicizs 1t as he
thought fit. He does criticize sharply.
and In q manner hat will not be appreci-
ated by the officers. He says. I'm the
matter OF discipline the infantry needs a
tonic" and also that many Of the troops
thought the encamptment a weeks pic
uic. His conclusions ara as foliows:-
This camp at Sea Girt, which closed q
week ago, Is naturally the pride of every
New Jerseymen who Is at all Interested
III military affairs. So far as general ar
rangemants 20 the lamp ia well con.
Quoted. The gensral staff is competent.
II in some details the camp is open to
criticism, the fault Is not due to the In.
diligence of the officers. but to the gem
eral indifference in enforcing military
discipline. The general situation Of the
camp could not be improved upon. It is
easy of access. which may or may not be
in It's favor. Water is plentiful. aud is
OF good quality. Its proximity to the sea
insures cleanliness to the men. and cool
Ing breezes when inland camps like
Pseksklll and Mount Gretna are broiling
Guder the July sun. The parade
ground is sufficiently ample to per-
nit two regiments to drill In
extended order, but not large enough for
brigade manoeuvers. Recognizing this
draw back the authorities are new nego-
tiatiug for An additional tract of land
across the road to the north of the camp,
extending from the railway liue TO the
sea, covering from go to 100 acres. With
this property acquired, the small State
of New jersey will own the largest camp
of any State III the Union
ruE- Tnnn ~ d na0D
The sQuartermaster General, who also
acts as Com tnissary General. Chi ef OF
Ordinance and Paymaster General. fur
nlshes tns food for the troops. THIS year
this was of excellent quality aud wal sup
piled beautifully. Although there was
more or less gruinbling ut times over the
food. the fault seemed to be, on close In.
v~estigation. not with the quality, but
because the Resources OF the COOK houss
were taxed to their utmost aud the
appetite OF the men wal abnormaliy
vigorous. For the first Two or three DAYS
1t appeared as II some OF the troops had
deliberately gone on a fast for q week iu
order 10 prepare for camp. When 1880
men can consume III a day 2,220 pounds
OF roast beef, 2.100t pounds OF beafsteak, a
loaf OF bread u piece, a pint of milk eacn,
withsvegetables, 1t can be scea that the
fault is not with the supply but with the
demand; not with the system that FUR
nishes, but with the soldier with the APP
petite.
AT present New Jersey b ,asts OF no
artillery organization. Each regiment,
however, possesses a gun detachment Of
eighteen men, M handle the three inch
naval rifle.
THE psat organic ,tion in the guard is
unquestionaply tho Essex troop. Started
as M experiment, dsrided as an .'outtt
OF uuues,' 1t has shown itself to posses
fhR nrnpar idHa nf nnlrlinrI md nm rorr;t
de carp. which is only equaled by that OF
tue Seventh regiment OF New York,
THE Gun DETACHMENTS.
"Aprejudico seenls 10 ex ST among ths
powers III the National Guard against
artillery. 1t Is true that New Jersey is
not burdened with the necessity OF pro-