The record-union., 1894-10-03
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL DIMOND.
What He Has to Say About General
Aliens Report.
Some of the Latter's Recommenda-
tions are Indorsed, but others
are Criticised.

A San Francisco Chronicle reporter has
| had an interview with MajOr-General
| Dimond regarding the report of Adjutant-
| General Allen, in which the latter makes
various recommendations, including the
adjustment of the rank of Maior-G eneral
| of the National Guard.
Maior-General Dimond was asked to
express his opinion upon some of the
suggestions made by the Adjutant-Gen-
eral, and he said the solution of the prop
osition was not hard.
ITO begin with,'' said the General, "let
the present laws be enforced. They are
not now. If a company falls below the
standard required by law, muster it out
and have done with it. Recommends
! tions have been made that certain COM
panies be mustered out, but they are yet
in the guard. The suggestion that the
guard be consolidated into three brigades
is not new. 1t has been made before, and
l think it is a good one. The National
Guard of Pennsylvania, which is consid-
cred the model organization of the coun-
try, is in three brigades. The New York
troops are similarly organized.
sin New York there is provision for n
Major General, but the office has not been
filled because they have an AdJutant-
General, Porter, who is a thoroughly re-
liable and trustworthy man. He has been
appointed by successive administrations,
without regard to politics, because his
ability is we'll recognized. Such an able
Adjutant-Generai can do much for the
benefit OF the National Guard. Able offi-
GERS are absolutely necessary for the life
and success OF the organization. L there
fore favor the examination of all officers,
including staff officers, before they are
com miSsioned.
II also think it would be well to have
| the field officers elect the general officers.
In this way the guard would be taken
out of the domain OF politics. 1t would
also be good idea to consolidate some of
! the staff departments and to reduce their
rank. The rank of all is now too high
| The Commissary's and Quartermaster's
departments and the Ordnance and In
! Spector Of Rlfie Practice could be conSol-
idated, and each staff lessened by at least
| two officers. Other beneficial changes
could also be made.
"Everything possible should be done
to elevate the tone of the guard. To that
end l think man should be examined
as we'll for his physical qualifications to
undergo arduous duties, as for his knowl-
edge Of tactics. Only men of good stand
ing in the community should be accept
able as officers. BY that l do not mean
wealthy men. but men of good reputa-
ton. who have the respect OF their neigh
| bors.
'rhe Division Inspector on my staff
| has made many recommendations in his
reports upon needed improvements in
the National Guard. His criticisms. on
account of egregious faults which came
| under his observation, have been neces-
| sarily severe. All of his reports have not
| been published. They were severe, but
| just, for he Is an able man and knows
what is wanted. II the existing laws were
enforced the condition of the guard would
! be much improved.
''As to the acknowledgements sugges-
ton that the office of Major General
| should be abolished, / think it is absurd
can say this also, without any feeling
! whatever i'll the matter, for l have been
| fifteen years in the service, and certainly
have had my share of military honors
! and arduous duties as well. There should
| be an officer TO assume the direct COM
mand of the division, which cannot well
| be done without q Maj jor-G General. The
! Adiutant-Generalc could not command be-
cause he is staff officer. His sugges-
tions regarding the proper equipments of
the troops should be carried out as mat
| ter Of course.
81 have tried for years to get the guard
| properly euuippod. NV idea has been IN