The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-13
TO IMPROVE KANSAS MILITIA
Generl Miles Attaches Lieutenant Smith t.
Governor MorriIPs staff.


Governor NorrilPs STAFF.
Topeka, Kan, March 12.-Major Cen
eral Nelson A Miles of the United States
army has issued through the war de-
pantment at Washington, an order de-
failing Lieutenant Harry A. Smith, now
stationed at Benicia Barracks, Cal, to
proceed at once to Topeka, and report
for duty on the staff of Governor Nor
rill, commander-in-chief of the K. n. G.
The detail is made at the request Of
Governor Morrill,.
Lieutenant Smith is a native Kansan,
having been born at Atchison. He is a
son of Police Judge Henry T. Smith of
that place. He was educated in the
public schools of Atchison, and spent
three years at the state university at
Lawrence before entering West Point.
Mr.. Smith was appointed TO West
Point by Governor Morrill, when the
governor represented the first district
in congress. After his graduation, five
years ago, he was assigned 10 the First
infantry as second lieutenant. He has
been stationed at several California
posts since that time, and Is now at
Benicia Barracks.
Lieutenant Smith will relieve Captain
II. q. Cavanaugh of the Thirteenth in
fantry at Fort Riley. In addition TO his
duties at the post. Captain Cavanaugh
has charge of military instruction at
the state agricultural college at Man
haitian. He was appointed on Governor
Morrill's staff, and has been doing extra
work in inspecting and improving the
national guard during his vacation and
when he was not otherwise engaged.
The appointment of Lieutenant Smith
&c Ia fret ST. n ~ I'd
alton of the national guard of Kansas
Plans have been made by which the
efficiency of the guard will be increased
and a military organization conducted
on military principles will be the out
come.
Governor Morrill, in discussing the in
tentions of the war department of this
state pertaining to the reorganization
of the guard. said that in his opinion,
a military organization, 10 be proficient
and valuable should be thoroughly drill
ed and disciplined. With that purpose
in view he has succeeded in securing
from the secretary OF war a detail OF
an officer of the regular army for the
work, attached TO the governors staff.
The effort TO improve the guard viii
not be confined TO the manual of arms,
but Will be taken up in all its depart
IleUlS- special attention Will pc given
TO the military stores, which have in the
past, been neglected.
That this is true is shown by the fact
that Adjutant General S. NJ. Fox. after
several months constant work. has
cleared his department of a shortage
OF nearly $4,000 in the quartermaster's
ordinance supplies account with the ma
tional government. When the assumed
control of the business Of that depart
ment Colonel Fox examined the records
carefully and discovered the shortage
mentioned. Tin cups, knives. tea spoons, |
tinp lates, and other supplies of that
character, unaccounted for in the re-
ports of the various companies 10 the
department, have been traced from
place TO place and finally accounted for |
Old guns which had been condemned
and not returned, remained charged 10
the state of Kansas on the records at !
Washington. The neglect of company
officers 10 properly verify and check !
their reports 10 the adjutsnt general /
entailed an endless amount of work. /
BY diligence and care Mr.. Fox has sue
ceeded in correcting the errors which |
have been permitted TO creep into the I
records and thereby saves the state |
the payment to the national govern |
ment nearly $4,000 Of which over 5000 |
was in quartermaSter supplies, the re- |
mainder being ordinance stores.