The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-01
GEN.. DYER'S REPORT.
What the Militia Has Done During
the Past Year.
THE NEW APPR0PRIAT ION.
Pros ress of the Work ON the War Records
The News Of the Militia business OF
the once - bicycle Corps Naval
Miitia-Rihe Practice.

The report Of Adjui ant General Dyer.
which was presented 10y the Governor TO
the General Assembly at it's first days
session, is a document Of exceeding in
terest TO the militia aud 20 all who have
any interest whatever in military affairs
in the state.
The Militia Appropriation
Gen. Dyer begins the report by stain 2
his intention to ask for an appropriation
OF sac, 500 for the actual expenses Of the
militi, for the year based on the expenses
for 1892. The amounts OF outlay are given
in detail and show conclusively that the
militia could not exist on the appropria-
ton of $4,000 which has annually
been made at the January session
since 1854. Figures are also given
which show that In every year
siuce 1884 the General Assembly has been
Obliged TO make additional appropria-
tions for the payment OF suudry bills and
which IL was impos .ible TO
avoid contracting aud the udJutant gen
eral thinks that IL is better TO make the
necessary appropriation all at one time
in order that the militia may know how
much money may be expended in their
behalf at the outset.
Toe retirement of Brig. Gen. Elisha III.
Rho les is mentioned aud his ability and
worth testified to.
The Encampment.
Regarding the of the
brigade the report recalls the appoint
ment OF the commission to select a per-
msnent amp ground. and the tempo
rary arrange uents made for the past
year. The difficulties under which the
brigade labor a with "a new brigadier-
general, new, and in some respects un-
suitable camp ground, and the new drill
regulations. are set forth. and the
lapifaHa 49, ltpaanfn tod an tho Hnnnlapa
that were present and the interest shown.
The uniforms and equipments, special
duty for 1892 and new tactics are touched
upon.
The rife practice of the brigade for the
past season Is commented upon and the
importance of rife practice urged upon
the Legislature. Tue i~nteres; OF the gov
ernor IN the matter il a source OF con
graduation TO the officers aud men and
the Importance OF proper rules and regu-
lations TO govern this practice is great.
Naval Militia.
The attention paid TO the naval
militia during the past year is re-
called and the duty performed by the
Bristol Company is highly commei d d
The organization OF "A second torpedo
company at Newport, together with The
present equipment receive a special
mention and the adJutant general an
-nounces that it IL his intention To ask
the General Assembly TO anne I'd some OF
the details In the act which created the
naval militia. The report quotes from
that part Of the repor, of the secretary OF
the navy which speaNs OF tue creation ot
tle naval militia and pr Uses it's efficiency.
Ihe letter of Assistant Secretary Of TIE
Navy Soley in which he expresses the
pleasure OF the department IN & the eff
cheney attained ly the Rhode Island
Naval Militia il quoted showing how the
efforts in this direction are apprec a ed.
Gen. Dyer recommends the addition Of
an ambulance corps 10 the brigade.
Bicycle in the Militia.
The adjutant general expresses him
self as having been interested for a long
time in the use Of the bicycle for mill
tary purposes, aud describes the arrange.
nients that were made TOR the runs TO
Woonsocket and BRISTOL for the purpose
OF testing the ACCESSIBILITY of introducing
It into the Rhode Isl nd militia. The re-
suits were very satisfactory considering
the conditions at the { me. Thanks are
expressed TO the wheel EN- who took
part In the runs aud the fact stated that
there is sple did material among the
wheelmen OF Rhode Island for the organ
ization OF "A bicyc G corps.
New Business OF tn Office.
The record Of the routine work of the
Office OF the Adjutant General for the
year 1892 includes the following: Letters
received 900; letters written, 235?: gen.
eral orders issued thirty, including ab,ut
6,000 directed and sent by mail: special
orders, l39; commissions issu d, seventy
three; provisional commissions issuei.
fourteen; commissions renewed. twenty.
tour; testimonials issued. tel: certi6.
Gates of service issued To veterans of th-
war. 36l; honorable discharges granted.
sevsniy-oue; designations. eight; dis.
charges by special order, eignty-seven.
General Dyer thinks That considering tho
time aud labor involved, the expenses Of
tnis Office are less in proportion tbnn
those OF any other department of tic
state.
War Records.
The report concerning perfecting. r.
storing and preserving the military rec-
ords of the State is v,ry comprehensive
The fact is called TO mind that an ammo.
priation TAI ed to pass the House ias,
year after il had passed the Senate Gor
the proper preservation of these yalu,bIa
records. Tie details OF the perlectiny
and copying OF these records are piv,n
and the progress In the work shown m
records are completed aud the necessity
OF a safe place TO put them I'm is strongly
urged. The history OF each company
and regiment Is on file and can b..
readily inspec ed by any who desi @ 10 do
80. The enroll nenJ o. h soluIer, now
Is as complete as the UnIted State. ,ynr
records could make il, aud nearly every
man VINO %enllslel Ia "A Rhode Island reg.
ment can be traced through his entire
service. The different sums apDroprn
ed Tor this work since the beginning Of
lss2 mount Ia all TO Sl0,SJO and the ex. ,
peuses hav beeu $1,000, leaving a bal.
ance Of 500. )
In conclusion the adjutaat general :
presents tAe enclosed reports OF Ri, I
nsn. Kendall, Capt. Caziare. LIeu
TX. nsOn, Capt. Forsythe on rids {
practice. OF the expenses of Columbus {
lIay, Kos er OF Rhoie Island militia and .
several minor statements. all of which :
come directly uLder his attention.