The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-18
Soldier Boys Believe These
Would Increase the
Efficiency of the
National Guard
SOME INCENTIVE NEEDED.
Lieutenant Kelm and Captains
Bumsted and 0'Neill Favor the
Idea-Memorial Day
Suggested.

Dur1ng'the past few months several at"
tempts have been made to place the
Fourth REGIMENT on a solid footing and
m axe IL an organization of which Jersey
City might feel proud. Every reader Of
THE JERSEY CITY NEWS knows that the
efforts were in vain, aud that the regis
ment is in no better condition to-day than
it was two years ago.
The members of the different come
panies manifest little enthusiasm, and
naturally their drills are not as they
should be. The reason assigned for this
state of affairs, by a large num-
ber of officers, is the lack Of
parades. 1t is so long ago 81 nee the regis
ment went out Oh parade that no officer
remem bers just when the boys went ouE
tor the last time. Parades nave indeed
been few and far between, and the inem-
bers of the companies, having nothing to
drill for, take no interest in the weekly
drills They serve the State for five
years, but are never given an opportunity
to show the citizens Of Jersey City what
kind of stuff they are made of. The mat
ter has been discussed quite freely of late
and iJ is likely that an effort Will be made
to have a parade on Decoration Day.
The parade would 90 vast amount OF
good TO the boys. and every officer in the
regiment will aid in the movement to
have a parade on Memorial Day.
LIEUTENANT KEIM BELIEVES IN PARADES.
Lieutenant j. II. kelm, in speaking
abont the matter to reporter of The
JERSEY CITY NEWS yesterday, SAID
'"lhe officers aud members of Company
F, will do all that lies in their power TO
aid the movement. l believe that the
regiment should have a parade at
least every six weeks. AS we are
at present the members do not
take much interest because they have
nothing to work for. They have nothing
bat hard work. In fact 1t is all hard
work and no glory. A parade would De
an excellent thing, because the differenE
companies would be brought together,
and more could be learned IN one parade
than in fifty drills. The majority of the
know that we have a regiment here IL
they did not read of it in our local
papers. Our Legislature seems to
care little about the National Guard. and
it Is mighty hard thing to get
an appropriation for any regiment. Tha
mem bers from the rural districts do not
see any good in the National Guard. yet
If u riot should break ont in any or their
districts we would be called upoL imme-
dlalely. New Jersey is great manufac-
turing State, aud strikes and riots ara
liable 60 take place any moment, and the
National Guard should be taken care OF
and improved. One way to improve the
regiment Is TO hold parades and sham
battles. Ii we are to nave regi-
ment, let us have good one
or none at all. II our regiment cannot be
depended upon to be ready when needed.
why then it should be disbahded. l am
heartily in favor OF holding a parade on
Decoration Day. The parade could be
held ia the morning. and in the afternoon
sham battle could be held IN Greenvtlle
or some other suburb. The sham battle
would give the boys excellent practice,
aud il they should be called out, at any
time, to actual service they would be tiL
to do SO. l sincerely hope that parade
aud sham battle will be arranged foR
Memorial Day"
CAPT. BUMSTED FAvoRs THE PLAN.
Captain j. II. BumsLed, OF Company
A, will also aid every scheme in favor OF
parades. The members of the COMPANY
are unanimously III favor Of the plan, and
ifapetition Were circulated for signature,
it would be signed Dy every member OF
the Company. Captain O'Nelll. OF Come
pany ID, will fall in line, as Will she other
officers of the different companies.
Mr.. kelm's suggestion, to hold a sham
pattle, Is an excelIs Mt one. The only active
duty tnas the members perform is at camp,
every two years, aud one or two sham
battles year would give them valuable
practice. There are numerous open fields
III the Greenville section which would
make capital battlefields, aud as the ex-
reason why the sham battle should not
be held. 1t is proOaole tnat the matter
will be discussed at the next otdceyy
rnaafinO