The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-01
CAPTAIN WISE'S REPORT.
HIS CRITICISMS OF TAR HEELS
MET BY GEN. CAMERON.
The Officers Were Sent to Welcome
Not to Make ANY Official
tnsnection

Yesterday afternoon a reporter Of
the News and Observer called the at
tention of Adiutant General Francis
II. Cameron to the following Wash
ington dispatch in the Charlotte OBJ
server of Thursday:
The report of Capt. Wise, command
ing the Amphitrite on the duty tour
6S the Georgia, North Carolina and
Maryland Naval militia, details his
visits to Brunswick, Ga, meeting the
Savannah battalion; to Southport
where the Nantucket was joined with
/ the North Carolina organization
aboard, and at Tolschester, Chesapeake
Bay. where the Maryland force on the
Dole was inspected
Regarding these forces, Capt. Wise
I saws that the Savannah organization
being only lately formed, may in time
! be developed into state of high eff
! cheney. as the men are all adapted
to the service. The Brunswick con-
tingent, had, however, not made as
much improvement in the PAST year
as was expected. Captain Wise has
! very little to commend in tie North
Carolina men except in Their way of
meeting the expenses of the 0"ganiza-
ton. Many of the members are ex-
tremely youthful. The Maryland mill
tia he says. were decidedly tae best,
were well organized and showed a
most commendable spirit to attain ex-
cellency and with good instruction,
which should be given by regular of
ficer, they would become very efficient
and valuable auxiliary
Captain Wise thought it rather in
congrous for major of cavalry to in
spect and report upon a naval organiza-
ton on board a monitor. as was the
ease at Southport, and the attention
of the Governor of Maryland was called
to this condition, his inspector being
an infantry officer He will now put
upon his staff a Naval Academy grad
uate.'
Il am surprised said General Cam
eron, that an officer like Capt. Wise
in his position, could have made a state
ment of that kind, which is thorouhly
erroneous.
Col. A. L. Smith, who was at Green
vile. \. c., on the Goth of June on his
regular inspecting tour, was sent to
represent the Governor and Major
f. NJ. Hayes, Z. s. Army. Acting AS
sistant Adjutant General, was sent as
the direct representative of the Adiu-
tant Generals department.
These officers, as customary,
through Lieutenant Commander Nor
ton of the Wilmington Naval Reserves,
arranged their official visit to the
! 'Amphitrite' and called in full dress
! simply to extend any courtesy or at
! tention and to welcome the 'Amphi-
I trite' to the shores of North Carolina.
Cavalry or infantry officers have no
| right TO order an inspection of United
| States Naval forces and this was not
done | am inclined to believe that
! Capt. Wise's interview misquoted him
when he alleges that he officer made
this statement.
Il know nothing about the way the
Marylanders received the reserves. but
| have been in the service too long to
make mistake of this kind and /
know the orders sent out from this
office and obeyed to the letter. at
Southport, did not call for any inspec-
ton,
AS far as an official inspection of the
Nantucket" by officers of the land
forces is concerned, the statement is
incorrect. The officers referred to
were officers of the general staff and
were ordered to Southport as represen-
tatives of the executive and Adiutant
Generals departments, to receive and
welcome the officers of the 'Amphi-
trite' to the shores of North Carolina
and officially tender them and courtesy
or attention that might be necessary.
No official inspection by them of the
ships of war or the naval maneuvres
was either contemplated or ordered"