New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17
IN BROOKLYN ARMORIES.
DISCUSSING THE REPORT OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL MLEMEE.
NOTES OF INTEREST ABOUT SECOND BRIGADE
MATTERs-TALKs WITH GENERAL

jutant-Generai, with those OF the assistant inspec-
tors-genera. were published in The Tribune last
Friday the criticisms he made at least
one regiment Of the Second Brigade have been dis
cusscd In every armory In Brooklyn at headquar-
tiers. and among officers and prvates. Brigadler-
General James Mcleer. commanding the brigade.
declined to discuss the repor, OF General Nc
Lewee until he official and full copy
of 1t. and even then he will receive It as
official presentation of facts OF which he
will have no criticism to make. He says. however.
that the inspection OF General McI.ewee. made sew
eral months ago. bore upon conditions which have
improved since then. Moreover. he says 1t is known
that the Inspector-General is one Of most thor
ough and critical inspecting officers In the United
states. The slightest dlsarranged or uncean detaiI
OF arms or equipment never escapes his glance and
he never falls 10 report In plain jus, and severe
words exactly what he has found wrong
General McLewee said OF the 18th Regiment that
1t In "a generally unsatisfactory condition. and
an immense amount of labor on the part Of all is
required TO bring II up 10 the standard This as
serton IL rude shock TO the pride OF the regl-
ments members. and somewhat OF surprise to the
people Of Brooklyn. who In time past have COM
pared the 18th with the It'll Of New-York City Of
which General McLewee says at Is no d.e boast
to it the finest body of citizen soldiers in the
world" The men OF the 18th naturally feel sore
over the strong dlsapproval Of the regiment when
has been made public by General McLewee HOW
ever. II Is fe.t that the deterioration that took
place under past administration OF the regiments
affairs is erectualy checked and that the command
is improving all along the line. General McLewee
reported that he hoped that the new admnstra-
ton will be successful in bringing this organization
10 a condition where il belongs" Colonel William
l.. Watson. commanding the 18th, succeeded Colonel
David T. Austen shortly before the inspection was
made and he is not to blame for past degeneration
in the command He is a veteran soldier, and dis
1,,.s fha 10
altogether most efficient officer. He is using every
effort to put the 18th In better shape. and It Is upon
these efforts that the InspectorGeneral bases MS
hopes.
Already he has enlisted about seventy -fve new
men since he assumed command. General McLeer
in talking Tribune reporter about the regiment
said that Colonel Watson was getting new and
better cass OF men enlisted in the regiment and
that. far az his power went. he had already i'm
proved It's morale. Great care IS being exercised In
enlistlng men. and General McLeer intmated
that the regulation whereunder men could be
discharged by order OF brigade commander was
great Improvement over the old order OF things
and that II had a bearing the remodel'ing OF the
18TH.
In Speaking OF the Naval Militia in Brooklyn,
which It's organizers hope will soon be mustered Into
the service OF the State. Brigadcr-General McLeer
talked TO a Tribune reporter about what Is COM
monty known the Naval Reserve with strongly
favorable words Among other things ne SAID
Looking at the matter in the light OF the purpose
for which the Nationa. Guard Is formed, the Naval
Militia established the great harbor OF New
York has important functions to perform 1t bears
the same relation to the Navy as reserve tnat the
other branches OF the State service do 10 the United
States Army, and In the event OF possible deiehce
OF Network and the nelghborhood against a for
eign force which would probably attack by way OF
the sea approach the Naval Reserve would be called
on to do some mighty useful auxiliary work" With
Naval Mitlamen in Jersey CITY and New-fork,
and another command in Brooklyn. the important
waters near New-York would be Wei covered oy
the scope OF the local Naval Militia Although this
branch Of the service Is OF the line OF regular
National Guard work, it has proved successful
,vberever IL has been extended. the Naval Militia
attracting the best class of TO the ranks. pre-
sentlng a fine appearance on parade. with many at
fractions to men whose inc.lnauons are 'o"aru
nautica. az we'll as military things.
National Guardsmen in Brooklyn express general
eotisfaction over the fact that Adjutant-General
McAlpin has directed the Inspeotor-GeneraI 10 mus
ter into the state service from Brooklyn the COM
rsnl which is to be known Troop c at the
same time that Troop d. Of Buffalo, Is mustered In
General Josiah Porter never saw the utility or IN
creas,ug the cavalry arm or the state. lie la'oreo
the artillery. And now that at last General NC
Alpln has seen fit TO compete the second .rigane
features by adding a missing arm OF the service 10
II II IS fet that the move has been wise one. IL
t. certainly pleasant to the members or Troop l,
most OF whom are wel.-known young men OF Brook
lvu a number OF whom have never worn the state
uniform before, and who have been willing 10 pro-
vide their own horses and uniforms II they shoud
be mustered into service. The addition IL Is fe'l'
Will in case OF active service be OF great value
There Will now be a battalion OF cavalry, or four
troons IN the state which act as a battalion
or as separate troops. New-York has squadron
Of two troops. and Troop will add third to the
The progress OF the formation OF Troop c has
already been noted In The Tribune us menDersnip
is composed Of wel-known ana influential c' WEI
among whom are Dexter EiI9t, Rr c Il a.; wv W.
iigan John T. Hettrick H. c. Head. Colonei " -
Cochran. Paul Grop g. a. ya tv Ana Major BeP
Tracy CLAYTON. an engineer OF Brga b so ~
Maor-General II. ID. Clayton or the yl ase
Army an Alabamian. and was educated at west
Rce1iiar Army he had served with the 18th United
States Infantry, and has been connected with the
eahres and ca bines from Captain Henry > Rasquin
Of the Sd Ciatlng) Battery. and saddles and brides
- ad'" S,Snsi Torps Nearly all the members own
their own horses The officers OF the command Will
There are about hundred applications for mem
bershp file. The troop has been dring IN the
ment Armory In North Parkand-ave. has been as
signed to the use OF the troop. ana VIII Dc re-
The announcement last week that Colonel watson
Tanant chaSlancy Of his regiment to the Rev Dr.
A. J. F. Behrends, OF the Central Congregational
Church 10 succeed the Rev. DR.. T. De Witt Tai
mage resigned created a little discussion among
those who objected TO strong assertion for laW ana
order. and martial law, II necessary. made during
the big railway strike In sermon by Dr. Behr,,
ends 1t Is difficult to perceive how TINS reported
utterance OF DR. Behrends makes him IN any way
unsulted for a militant chaplain. Brigadier-General
McIeer said he could not see how DR. Behrends
was in the wrong and told a Tribune reporter that
he had a high regard for him. Colonel Harry W
Michel. comma nding tho 18th Regiment, said Dr.
Behrends would make a good hghting preacher"
Colonel John q. Eddy. commanding the fith, SAYS
he thinks "the remarks OF DR.. Behrends VIII have
little II any effect"
The Supervisors began TO advertise yesterday for
bids on the repairs 10 the old Dean-st. Armory, to
be used by the Signal Corps and the furnishings OF
the lith Regiment Armory. .
Rrigadier-C;eneraI McIeer last Monday night pre-
sented decorations for accurate signalmen OF the
Second Brigade Signal Corps.
The annual convention OF the National Guard
Association will take place at Albany on January
Is The meeting VIII be an important one.
The Second Brigade trophy is a new bronze
tn n food n ne