The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-02

ing mass of information concerning the
militia of the different states and terri
tories. based upon returns for 1897. 1t is
of particular interest at this time in view
of the possibility of this reserve army
being called upon for active military
| duty. For the sake of ready reference
there has been prepared a succinct sum-
mary showing the more important fea-
lures of the operations of the guard. The
than the organized strength. Oklahoma
has the smallest force, 500, and New York
the largest.
HOSPITAL AND SIGNAL CORPS.
There are regularly organized state hos
| pital or ambulance corps in California.
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massa-
ehusetts. Minnesota, New Hampshire,
Island, Utah, Vermont and the District of
Columbia.
Many of the states have very complete
and efficient regimental hospital and am
as orRanibzed In a number of states.
Official state encampments of instruction
were held in 81 states during 1897.
ENCAMPMENTS.
The duration of the encampment varied
from two days in Nebraska to ten days in
the District of Columbia; six days being
the average, Regular troops encamped
with state troops In Alabama. California
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota Tennessee
Texas and Vermont: Seventeen states
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana. New
Hampshire. New York, North Dakota
OHIO, Rhode Island. Tennessee. Texas,
Vermont and Wisconsin are reported as
owning their camp grounds.
ARMAMENT.
Infantry-All of the states except Della
ware, Idaho. Illinois, Louisiana and New
York are completely armed with the
Springfield rife, calibre As. In New York
bre IS.
Cavalry-The cavalry of all the states
is armed with the Springfield carbine.
calibre 45. except Illinois. Louisiana. Ore
gon South Carolina and New Mexico. The
Illinois cavalry is reported same as in
regular service. The greater part of
the cavalry is also armed with the sabre
and revolver in addition to the carbine
rtillery-Thirty-one out of tine 50 states
having artillery organizations have one or
nave the 81 b. l.. rifles, but a large pro-
portion of the artillery armament is old
and out of date
EQUIPMENT INCOMPLETE.
The equipment in 1897. though in slightly
better shape. than the year before is still
far from complete. Considerable improve
ment was shown in the care Of the eolIiD-
harness is old and practically worthless
Most of the field and staff officers in all
the states own their mounts. There was
a slight increase in 1897 in the number of
shelter tents. The tentage is reported as
ample for the entire guard in Colorado.
Connecticut. Delaware. Kansas. Nebras-
ka. New York North Carolina. PennsvI-
vania, ermont. Washington. Wisconsin
and in the District of Columbia
DRILLS, TARGET PRACTICE.
Weekly drills by company and field ex-
ercises were held in many states. and %
states report a regular course of instruc-
ton at the home stations during the win
ter months. Guard duty was performed
in manner far from satisfactory. There
was marked increase in the amount of
outpost duty. Target practice was held
in 81 states.
Although many of the states permit the
existence of independent commands the
tendency is more to discourage their sup
port or organization, particularly in the
vicinity of the home stations of the guard