The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-07
FOR REORGANIZATION.
Efforts Being Made To
Place the National Guard
On a New Footing.
THE PLAN PROPOSED.
Governor Werts' Attention Called
to the Matter Major-General
Plume Reticent.

is to be reorganized. The movement ID
being advanced by some officers and mems
bers, both attached and unattached, and
they are busily engaged In working the
matter up. The attention OF Governor
Werts. the Commander-in-chief, has been
called to the plan, and it is understood
that he is expected to take some action.
AT present the First Brigade consists Of
one, twelve and two ten-company reRi-
nents, while the Second Brigade is com.
posed of only three eight-company regi-
in this plan to so change the First Brigade
as to form five eight-company regiments,
and to do this new companies will nave
TO be organized.
Jersey City is to be the headquarters
OF one regiment, to be composed Of the
six Companies of the old Fourth Regt-
ment and two newly formed companies.
with Colonel Abernethy in command.
Orange to be the headquarters OF one
regiment, composed OF the four COM
psnies of the old Second Regiment of Ho-
boken, which have positively refused to
serve in the present Second Regiment,
aud the Dover Company, now in the First
Regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel
Snyder and Lieutenant Colonel
Ersendfotteri iaasnd at present paIsr nna.-
son is to be the headquarters of one regi-
nnen5 composed of the three companie OF
Leonia. three of Paterson, one of Bay-
onpe and one of Passaic, with Colonel
Muzzy, at present ttached. in COM
mand because of the report ed resignation
OF Colonel Moore.
Newark Is to be the headquarters or
two regiments, to be made up as followsg
The first to be composed as at present,
with the exception of the companies COM
manded by Captains. Dietz. Hill and
Townsend, with Colonel Campbell in
command, and the revived Fifth Regi-
Company d, of the Fifth Regiment,
which was disbanded; the memoers OF
old companies E and 81 of the Fifth Regi.
ment, who have steadfastly refused to
serve in companies aud NJ of the new
First Regiment, and two companies to be
newly organized, with Colonel Barnard
in command.
In this way the forty companies in the
brigade will be reorganized, thus making
two four-regiment brigades of thirty-sWo
companies each.
ASKING FOR REORGANIZATION.
A prominent officer of the National
Guard, who is at present unattached,
stated yesterday morning that meeting
had been held, when 1t WAS decided to
make the request to General Plume. that
the National Guard De reorganized, and
In the manner above stated. In view or
this. committee eff three had conferred
with the Major General and had present.
ed its request to him.
''The brigade in its present state is no
good" said this officer. ''Most of the
men enlisted on account OF the company
being commanded by, or containing some
of their friends, ana also for social rea-
sons. When they were transferred TO
company of strangers, it was no wonder
that they refused to serve"
A SOLDIERS FIRST DUTY.
When Major-Genera1 Plume was seen
Oh the subject. he ssid that he had abse-
lutely nothing TO say in regard Co the
matter. He did remark, however,
What will be done cannot say. really
do think, however, that the matter will
drop where 1t is. All | have co say is that
the first duty Of soldier is to obey
orders. That has not been done"
A gentleman from Orange interested in
military matters said yesterday that he
was in position 10 say how the move
ment towards organization was aug
mented.
major Snyder" he said, "who was
sent to the rear in the first consolidation
order issued by General Plume, has inter-
viewed Governor Werts, explaining to
him what he considered the injustice
done to certain officers of long standing
Ill the National Guard.
The known disaffection in the First
Regiment and the almost open dlssatis-
faction shown by Captain j. j. Berry. Of
Company A, who is alleged by his friends
TO have been pro nised a majority in the
regiment, when Major Hoy1 mad resigned,
is also kuown to Governor Werts. 1t is
at the instance of the Governor that
General Plume has been persuaded 10
meet the retired officers of the old Fifth
Regiment, and that reorganization
scheme is being Investigated.
GOVERNOR WERTS WILL INVESTIGATE.
1t is said to be probable that Governor
Werts will personally undertake thor
ough investigation of National Guard
affairs in the near futu re- The dIsclo-
sures that some of the officers are pre-.
pared 10 make, if an investigation is
called, will not edound to the credit OF
the guard. A number of the oldest Off
GERS in the State admit that the original
reorganization order of last year,
by which q company can be trans
ferred against its will to an
other regiment, thus destroying the
social character that has heretofore been
the mainstay of the guard. has lowered
the esprit de corps of the men and made
the obtaining of recruits of the better
class almost impossible.
1t is said that aLother meeting of an ina
formal nature similar to the one held last
week, will be held one day this week.
WANT TO BE REINSTATED.
Another prominent man in military
circles who is attached. said in reply to
the reporters query
"The whole business lies just this way.
The men who are agitating this move
meut again to reOrQaQiZo are The man