Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-18

Special TO the Register.
Washington, October 17.--Second
Lieutenant Douglass Settle. of the reg
ular army. detailed to inspect the West
Virginia National Guard, has made his
report TO the Secretary of War. He
says that during the months of July
and August he inspected all the compa-
MES of the guard at their home sta
tons, On the whole he does not seem
to have become very enthusiastic over
the drilling of the guard, but he saws
that the drill of companies and II of
the Second Regiment, and d and | OF
the First Regiment, was worthy of
commentator.
In his recommendations Lieutenant
Settle says; More time and attention
should be devoted TO the instruction in
rifle practice, especially 20 the prelim-
mary drills and exercises. Heretofore
in this State this preliminary part of
the soldiers education in rife practice
has been entirely neglected. with the re-
of ammunition has been expended with
far from its maximum benefit being
obtained.
The companies of the guard are
ecattered over the State away from one
another, very few of the officers living
even in the same town, so there is little
esprit &c corps, regimentally. and little
or no competition between the compa-
n &C s,5p In. .xss1t nrxr
affairs lags and IN some of the compa-
MES almost dies out during all the year
save the few weeks Immediately pre-
ceding and during the annual encamp-
mont It is thought that the guards
interest could be fosteyed by requiring
company commanders to take their
commands on short practice marches
several times yearly Vt noQip
cost. a company could Hbe praIyidee
with a baggage wagon an eIyecessa.
ry subsistence. G Md maj cav Ton
miles from its aifnory, pf, Aamp. es-
tablish its guard ton the March as
a camp guard and on the as an
outpost and return to kry on
the following day, recei L. ion
Tin advance and GEAR 80 doing -.
gding to AMI 1A.xhina from q
The value OF such Instruction Is we'll
understood, but II cannot be overesti-
mated or too strongly urged. especially
in this case of this guard, which has
received no instruction whatever of
this nature. One company |. First
/ RegimenD made a march OF this char
/ acter Of twenty-five miles in two days,
at an expense of little more than fifty
| cents per man
lieutenant Settle continues.
Il would further recommend that the
guard be supplied with overcoats.
/ blankets and shelter tents: and that all
! articles Of equipment such as blanket
and cups. be isued to eacN sos2er for
his exclusive teo. TO be preserveA> and
I accounted forfby him, as is the rulsp|
the United States Army, instead Ef
being issued as occasion arises. as US
now the custom"
in conclusion. Lieutenant Settle pays
this compliment to the West Virginia
soldier boys:
THE personnel Of the West Virginia
National Guard is very good. and the
officer and men, in their devotion 10
the States interests, voluntary saeri-
/ fCing both tneir time and money. ex-
hibit a patriotic feeling worth fostering.
| The only encouragement asked rs that
I the nation and the State make the APP
! prOpriations for the organization and
maintenance Of the guard necessary to
/ secure its success as an institution.
/ Il take pleasure In acknowledging
! the uniform kindness and courtesy
] shown me by all the authorities Of the.
! State both civil and military, WIZ
whom | have come in contact"