New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
THE NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND
POOR REGIMENTS.
pRrnp IN THE WORK AND PROPER DIS
CIPLINE WILL DANISH THE TERM of
PAPER SOLDIER"

-. Go. ,or,b rave the people of New-York
an opportunity to see n vast Eatheiins Vi nm
tary forces The Regular Army as "e'' do ''i0
National Guard waa largely ana wen iepie
ed and thousands of people VINO sH" ''0 P
hod navor seen so many soldiers at one time'
NOR had they ever had an opportunity 10 uia"
comparisons between the United STATES 'i'op'
and the citizen sodery and between ''e "''''
National Guard and that of other states ~ was
only natural that under the CIRCUMSTANCES N'','
nari,ons should have been MADE anu "''''
most of those who were Interested III Wv
a.. could account for the superiority Of the reg
MAR forces many wondered why so'"e 49,
,u,,,o organizations should have been so far
i''''''''' .,s {, looks and in bearing. and
49,, ,ho came evolutions should have oeen '''a"e
WI. ,,h oosc bv some bodies, While others
stumbled through them with great GLORY anu ''
tie grace. . ,;,i,orv af
80 .ooduv account for the superiority OF INC
o,. orgonizations They give them circuit 20
49, ers, Mace. for superior and pains'aN'"e va
=. Gov man who take a pride in the conn
. ,.n;ob thev belong. and pay close a''o''
49, a,,,,es Of n solder. Having these 49,,
Qualities. harmony follows. ana suN'' of
,rav of n perfect command Is oilE -, will
.,,,a" said an old National Guaiusi""' No
tell YOU a story to illustrate 'n' oor,e nm
tween a good and poor reg"''e",. National
town Yesterday in the same car WIN who in
Guard officer A third person Joi',' '.o NJ,
.ho course of conversations p't'" 49,. &C q
<,ord,s sunerior officer ana crl''i' ,c.
.,, ora an officer. He spoke vi MN osoor
.,.,os,ectf ,,l manner and the suooi 0, 49,, tro.
80. on,v agreed with him al eve! P - COW
orent,v went him one better .,,,,orts he
n. belonged to one OF the poorer I'D cit nv
cause no officer in a good resi'i'e 49,, IN diff
erd hear his superior aouseu ~ $50, or in
~ whether this be done in the ar.no' "a
.,o man who Is thoroushE
cM,rdsman. with the proper proc a.
'ioi'"' ,,orfact,v developed, will deieha ms
onv-.hare. and that tehs 'h' va
=. .oIas many things to maAe
",'. but esprit de corps Covers wv
ground" .,or,,.s METHODS.
-.ooosef,,, officer is careful as 10 '"e fN
49,, oor,,its because he knows ''i"'
uo,,,d be useless in military VI ,~,,or-
M .-o.,onol Guard. These same oo'e'
49,. rorsons might become gcou so'u''i :,
- army where their Whoe Hie
,-7,o.oa 20 the service. but in ci'izeH VI
49,, where much depends on 'he VIII .1
- whore excuses may he fouho lo' 'Ne g
a,ioe and where a person Is uhue' wv -,
h,s srrerfor officer only f2W nouns '' eu as
roa, the man must be trustWoI'"! q" .ho
rbvsica1lv sound. The new man ,,or
.oor,,it class about two mon'hs anu "a
Graduated TO the school OF the soi"'.'' LIS
o,cad s,ep by step through the Nai' ,r,
-, -, oocbes the school of the compah9' Inv
,rooress IS not rapid when it is cohouo'
,us.ar;rp non-commssioned ofncer' anu -,
r,,,t ,s not considered perfect as pii'"' -,
na has had about one years train'ns -
.rter that II he belongs TO one Vi '''' T.,
a. HE work does not cease. ana 'ha' Is
whore the difference is SHOWN "e' o0' ..,o,a.
Good organizations. In the commands
anu '''> r.. ord men take pride in good
.,I,,,rq the drills which take place az least oi''e
si r., about eight months a year are
o,,o,dod regularly and corscientiousi'' "'-N
- - ooo5 attendance pre- eress IN the gen
.x,, ehoofing AT the rifle ranges ana re-
,.,o stin,ulate the various &C mi ahles W az
>',... o,,d create heallhy company pr'oe Which,
a,,vavs bears good results.
p,,t while company pride will induce captain
40 snepd much time and Frequently cohSioei a"'
,orey in the interests of his command ana ""i0
he always feels proud TO see MS men o'ip''
,p,se of his fellow-captains, II he Is 'horous"'
,r svronathy with the regiment he WILL heNer'he
lace ALWAYS be found ready and wll)nS 10 ueieiiu
esoors In whose deficiencies. as compared
With his command. he takes the greatest oeleh''
,ions like the eth Regiment the loth
pata,Iion of Albany the Dist Separate company
ne Troy and rumber of other coihfahos II,
tho New-York National Guard. 90 not acquire
tho nrofcitncy which makes them rerhaih"oie
IN q few months or even years. 1t taxes haro'
unceasing and intelligent Work even &I'er 'he
best men have been selected, ana the soou Ie
s,,I,e can only he brou yht about when perfect
harmony exists. and when every man leeis 'na'
on him rests 10 certain extent the response
bility Of making his particular organization d
credit 70 the Guard There are commands in the
New-York National Guard where the pipe OF
peace is unknown, and where Ratchet would
be the most proper emblem. There the drills
are poorly attended and the officers are al
swords points frequently airing their troubles
in public and giving cause for gossip. The men
salute their superiors In half-hearted way even
on the drill floor; they take part in the petty
wrangles and frequently go far In the mat
ter of INSTRUMENTATION that only undue laxity on
the part Of the superiors saves them from dis
honorable dismissal from the ranks. In those
commands the officers uncertain ir the at
tendance, and the men are equally so. Ihey
have no pride IN the work of the regiment or
company and. TO the man who knows the sub
jcct, the word SLOUGH is written all over them.
Such men compose the commands which al
ways attract attention because Of their negative
qualities. and it is by comparison with them
that some mediocre bodies receive the stamp of
perfection. In many Of these military bodies
there are frequent changes-oficers have scarcely
become acquainted with their men when they
resign. and the work Of becoming acquainted
must begin all over again.
FEW CHANGES IN THE BETTER REGIMENTS.
In the better bodies changes are few and Off
GERS and men become fixtures and in many in
stances company ties are so strong that promo
finns are declined by men who would "a her be