The record-union., 1894-10-02
REORGANIZATION OF STATE TROOPS.
Some Of Adjutant-General Aliens
Recommendations.
he Would Do Away With the Major
General and Consolidate the
Several Brigades.

Allen, when published, will doubtless
cause considerable of a stir in National
Guard circles, as it will contain some
recommendations which, if adopted, will
make many radical changes in the present
organization of the State militia system.
General Aliens report is not yet COM
pleted, and will not be issued from the
State Printing Office for couple of week s
yet. Many of the chief points have, how
ever, been made public, and are embraced
in the following review:
In making his report General Allen
dwells at some length on the efficiency OF
the National Guard as compared with
other StaLes and the status of the guard
At the time of the last report thereon. The
armed strength OF the State, including
officers and men, is $3.50. OF this num-
ber 700 are supplied with the latest I'M
proved Springfield rifle, and the re-
mainder with old, obsolete arms which
are practically useless. The entire guard
Is now completely uniformed through
out, and about one-half have the full
equipment OF canteens, haversackS and
knapsacks. Many of these. however,
were not a part of the National Guard
equipment until purchased recently for
use IN the railroad troubles. The mount
ed troops, staff and field officers have
been equipped with the latest improved
Colt revolver, 300 having been purchased
by Adjutant- General Allen. The State
troops have liberal allowance of camp
equlpage, yet there are many companies
which have neither tents, cooking nor
camp outfits.
The medical corps receive attention
in the report. To this important branch
of the State service General Allen has
added by purchase one case of surgical
Instruments haG Gad an IN. ha 4
strike at a cost of $50, as the guard was
found TO be without any surgical appli-
ances excepting those owned by regi-
mental surgeons as their personal prop
erty. OF medicines the State has never
purchased one ounce. General Allen
urges more liberal allowance for this
important branch, the previous allowance
Tor the hospital service being only $500.
In reviewing the service of the State
troops Tor the year General Allen en-
deavors to give the actual number of
men called into service and the mum ber
OF miles of railroad track guarded during
the period of the great strike. He will
emDody In this report the actual mum ber
OF days State troops were on duty, and
the kind of duty performed.
AT nrst 1t was conjectured that the
total cost of the National Guard for pay,
ratlons and wear and tear of arms, ac-
couterments and uniforms would exceed
S3OO,OOO. This figure, however, is found
10 be an overestlmate. Already Colonel
Murray of the Adjutant-G GeneraPs staff,
has the work of auditing the payrolls,
commlssary and Quartermaster bills well
IN hand, and 1t is estimated that the ex-
pense will be below $3.50, 600. Many of the
bills rendered are eXorbitant, and in
some cases articles are billed TO the State
at lO0 per cent. increase over local cur
rent prices. These hgures will be cut
and reasonable price substituted.
In summary OF his report Adjutant-
General Allen Will make strong appeal
to have the National Guard reorganized.
In California there are more officers in
comparison to The number of privates
than in any other State in the Union,
New 1ork State, with over 10000 troops,
has less than one-half the numb of offi-
GERS, as compared with California Cali
fornla has one officer to every nine men.
To do away with this burden, Adiutant-
General Allen proposes some sweeping
changes, which, if carried into effect by
the State Legislature, will cause general
shower OF shoulder-straps, stars, eagles
and bars.
tlrst of all, in reorganizing the militia,
II viii be suggested to form the entire
State Guard into three brigades, instead of
SIX, as at present This will do away
with three brigade staffs, as follows
Three Brigadier- Generals, three Assistant
oAog khiOC 4OIlRdu6 our
geons, three Brigade Judge Advocates,
three Brigade Ordinance Officers, six
Brigade Signal Officers, three Brigade
Paymasters. three Brigade Quarter
masters, three Brigade Engineer Officers,
three Brigade Inspectors, three Brigade
inspectors OF Rifle Practice, three Brigade
CommIsSaries and six Brigade AidS-de-
Camper forty-eight brigade officers.
General Allen does not stop here. He
sails into the general staff, and will recon-
mend that the Division Commanders
staff be cut out by the abolition of the
Major-General and his entire staff. His
suggestions also advise doing away with
all Paymasters throughout the Guard,
and in urging their adjustment he quotes
the State law which prohibits the Pay
masters OF the National Guard from be-
ing disbursing officers. At present the
office OF Paymaster in the National Guard
is an empty honor.
Ii General Aliens recommendations
are carried out the offices of Division and
Brigade Quartermaster and Commissary
will be things OF the past. In the reor-
ganiZatlon ii is proposed that the regi-
mental staff officers will have the care of
their regiment. This will be particularly
the case with Regimental Quartermasters
and Commissaries. Under the present
system these officers are frequently
hampered in the execution of their duties
by the countermanding orders of brigade
staff Quartermasters and Commissary
officers, as was shown in Sacramento on
July Sd and 4th, when through such
orders many of the troops were not prop
erly provisioned.
In making these recommendations
General Allen proposes to submit as an
illustration the Sixth Brigade. which is
located at Eureka. This brigade consists
of Companies a and b, located at Eureka
and Arcata, respectively. The to.al
strength OF this command is less than LOG
men, yet it has twenty-seven officers, OF
which twenty-one hold field and staff no.
sitions.
In reorganizing the National Guard the
brigade headquarters Will be more CEN
trally located, and the annual encamp-
ments can 6e held at a better advantage
to the troops participating. General
Allen calls the attention OF the Com.
mander-ln-Chief to the equipment of the
guard and urges the passing of special
appropriation for its proper equipment
AS stated, out of the money available
only 700 stands of improved arms could
be purchased this year. The past labor
troubles have clearly demonstrated the
necessity of the National Guard being
thoroughly equipped in every particular
An effort will be made 10 have the STATE
provide itself with proper tents. equip.
age, medicines, ambulances and surpica
appliances.