New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-21
STATUS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.

STATUS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.
COLONEL. GREENE THINKS REPORTS OF ITS
STRENGTH ARE EXAGGERATED
Colonel F. V. Greene, Of the list New-f ORR re
ment, has just returned from Nenezueia' ha'''e
been in South American waters on yacntns UP
with a party OF friends, eight In all To lr'o"
reporter who called upon him last night at his ho''
No. 80 East Thrtieth-st.. he said
u Go not know that tell you mrch aoout
Venezuela as I saw very little of II. My business
is in Trinidad and it was there that we direc'eu o'
way On the return we went TO La Guayra stopPi"s
a couple of days only went there more to see that
spiral railway than anything else. or course you
have heard OF IT, 1t is certainly one or the greseS.
pieces of work have ever seen. The railroads oi
the West are marvellous pieces OF engineering Work'
this is the only road have ever observed wheh
lies exposed to the sea. and the sight OF IL II mag
nncent as II winds up toward the top or the noun
tain TO Caracas, only fourteen miles away res, l
presume the freight rates are very heavy, but ua'c
must be far and away cheaper than by the FORMER
method OF mule transportation. 1t is friction rcad
purely. and the grades from two 10 three nun
dred feet 10 the mile. 1t is owned by an English
company. although | have understood 1t was bulIt
by American engineer, who tried to raise inc
needed capital here in New-York. and fanIng IN
that, took his project 10 London. II cost enor-
mously. was in Caracas only about two hours II
is a city Of perhaps sixty thousand people. and Nen-
ezuela entire has about three millions, just about
the population of NewYork and Brooklyn com
blned | had 10 opportunity OF studying Venezuelan
politics We came home by way Of Cuba. and had
intended stopping over In Havana, but we reached
there late in the evening. and learning that we
would have to lie at anchor all night and possibly
be delayed for two three days, We steamed away.
Asked what he thought Of the present situation.
Colonel Greene said: Il cannot say that have
formed definite OPT Mon as TO the merits Of the
case. You know men who have been bred up In a
military life content TO walt They know they
will have to fight If the Issue comes, whatever they
may think about it,
He was asked to clear away pretty general general
are TO be drawn upon for continuous service IN
Of war. You must understand. In the first
place" he answered. that militia and the National
sion of the general United States the sub
ject you any other citizen is just as much of a
the militia passed in 1872, and 1t is obsolete. II
provides for the number of lead bullets each man
shall carry He must have rife, fints. and so on.
ton for 1913 years. Under its provisions, however,
the meaning Of the term militia Is clear, and there
are 100000 militamen in this country, meaning by
that all the citizens able to bear arms.
Now, the National Guard is the result OF purely
State legislation. The President, OF the United
vasion Instruction by orders TO the Governors OF
the various States. In case OF war he would call
New-YOrk was the first TO respond and my OWE
regiment, the list. the second to answer the call
would become volunteer troops for the term of ger
vice. however long 1t might be. and the regiments
would be recruited up to their full j., strength n
stance there IL not the slightest doubt that the
entire force Of New-York would respond AS re-
CARDS the report that there 10000 organized and
drilled guards in the country. making with the
Regular1 Army a force Of 1900 men, have my
doubts. II believe there are about 1000 New-York
5000. Massachusetts, about 5000 Connecticut about
5000 Illinois Michigan and Ohio, think, have less
in fine shape and ready for service. and quite 80
per cent could be counted upon absolutely