The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-23
PRAISE FOR MILITIA.
Interesting Report of United
States Inspecting Officer.
Work OF the Citizen Soldiers Well
D0ne--Suggesti0ns Made.

General orders No. "a, which were Is
sued from the office Of Adjutant-GeDeral
ssckett today, contain the report of q.
w. Abbott, Jr., 1rst lieutenant 18th u.
3. Infantry, inspector of Rhode Island
Militia. on the last state encampment of
the militia. The report Is an Interesting
and exhaustive one, and 1t Is in the main
very favorable to the officers and men
who were at camp at Quonset Point lsst
summer.
After giving some statistics and prais-
ing the work Of the Machine Gun Bat
terry on its march to camp, Lieutenant
officers OF the brigade do not take the
proper amount OF responsibility upon
themselves and that as a result the OIL
GERS are called upon both by precept and
example to do many things beyond their
province. Early in the report occasion Is
taken to remark that the food furnished
the men was not sufficient, considering
the fiberaf allowance made by the
state. ana the suggestion Is made that
the best plan would be for each organi-
zation to make Its own arrangements for
the supply of plenty of wholesome food.
The general work of the men and
officers is highly praised. sTbe separate
company is particularly commended
and the excellent results of the street riot
drill by the Second Regiment are
noted. The interesting point of the talk
to officers Of the First Regiment in ad-
vance guard drill as well as the good
work done by the men OF that regiment
Is pleasantly referred to by Lieutenant
Abbott. Great praise is given all the
officers and men for the earnestness shown
by them in their work and the draw backs
Of the cavalry in having green horses is
dwelt upon.
In the opinion or the inspecting officer
a two weeks tour of camp duty would
make the cavalry Of much more service.
The revolver practice by the officers is
| commended and it's utility shown. While
the order of the camp is highly spoken
of attention Is ca llee TO The necessity OF
improving il still more and the nots ole
room for improvement in guard duty is
called attention to in a strict way. Con-
cerning the beneficial effect OF regulars
in the camp something is said and the
wish expressed that the precedent estab-
lished this year may be followed here
alter. --
In regard 10 that most important thing
the care OF accoutrcments, Lieutenant
ABBOTT says, among other things: "The
accoutrements were in good condition con-
deriDg the length of time they have been
i'm use. There was an occasional broken
knapsack, and some cantoens were with
out corks. In the infantry only one un-
serviceable piece was noticed, but the
general condition of the guns was not
what it should have been. Judging from
the report OF my predecessor, 1 believe
there was great improvement over last
year but there Is still room for more"
The WORK OF the signal and hospital
corps is commended and the formation
of sn ambulance corps is urged on lines
recommended by the medical authorities.
In concluding his report Lieutenant
Abbott says "In all it's military aspects
the encampment was EN- inently success
full, arguing we'll for the efficiency OF the
Brigade should 1t be called into active
service. and q pleasant acknowledgment
of courtesies, both official and personal
is made"