Evening journal., 1898-03-23
FIGHT OR BACK DOWN.
Spain Must Fight or Give in
Says a Delaware Veteran.
COULD PRESIDENT GALL MILITIA
NATIONAL GUARD IN FINE FORM
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
FIELD PRCTICE-READY TO
FIGHT ON SHORT NOTICE.

FIELD PRCTICE-READY TO
FIGHT ON SHORT NOTICE.
A man we'll versed in military affairs
Of the United States, and especially
with the affairs OF the National Guard /
OF Delaware, in an interview with an
Evening Journal reporter last eveli-
ing stated that the present troubles |
between Spain and United States could |
only be settled in two ways in his Opin-
ion. One way to settle it Is to fight il |
out, and the either is for Spain TO back |
down.
When asked how the N. G. d. were |
prepared for a summons TO the field of |
| battle, he said that they are in excel |
| lent shape with the exception Of field |
practice, and on account OF having no |
annual encampments they are green in |
field tactics but outside of that they |
are prepared and could and are willing |
to go when the time should come for
them TO step to the front. In reply to
the question as to whether the govern |
| ment would have the power to order a
militia Of one state into another state
for action. he said that that would
hardly be attempted unless the militia
volunteered to go, which, he said,
would be done by the n. G. ID. as soon
as they saw they were needed in any
other state.
IN reply to a further question as TO
whether there would be amy volunteer
companies organized in this state in
case of war he said that according to
the existing laws no company Of sol
diers could be formed except by q re-
crulting officer who was appcintedfcr
, that purpose by the government He
stated that although he did not be-
| long to any military company at pres
emit. he had served in the Union army
during the late war notwithstanding
that ne was only 16 years Of age when
he enlisted, and was sent home because
, Of his youth and returned as a vOlun-
teer a year later. He had also reached
the rank Of major in the n. G.. d. be
o. | fore he severed his connection with
! THAT body. Being regarded as an au-
Z thority in military matters the re-
porter asked him if he would act as a
recruiting officer II he were appointed
o | 10 do so. His answer was that he
| could recruit a company. battalion OF
regiment with very little trouble in this
= | state and would willingly do go III he
were called upon to act. He also said
that in case Of war the soldiers OF this
! state would be under the command OF
, | Major General Wesley Merritt, who Is
= commander of the department Of thf
a East. and is stationed at Governor
Island. New York.
NJ When asked how an army was form
Ie ed he said that companies make BAT
\. TALON. battalions make a regiment
and regiments form a brigade ans
brigades form a division, and division
form en- army corps.
20 The majors idea OF a campaign u
~ Cuba at present is to send number o
~ soldiers there and drive the Spaniard
"a from the high and healthy position
~ OF the Island. and let them remain d
- the low portion where smallpox an.
,n yellow fever. starvation and dean
= would stare them in the face. whil
is all hope of assistance from their coun
,s try would be cut OF by our fleet. Thi'
he said. would be his plan until atue
the rainy season was over then h
y would march on them and defeat ther
- | without much trouble, and ait the sam
IN time give them a slight taste of th
~ same medicine that they dealt out
is | such a lavish manner to the poe
o. struggling recOncentradOs.
The First Battalion has ovelhaule
30 and put in proper shape all OF d
~ TENTS and ether equipment, and cou'
> respond promptly TO a caM TO arms
anv time. The boys are we'll up
, their floor work. and only need fe
T. practice to make them model sOldie
ct in every respect But they would dres
Tor the field work were they called on
on 20. for. many OF them having had q
he sol1tclv no experience in that lin
ng having Joined since the order was
ted sued that did away with the annual g
70 campmenes. Notwithstanding this gre
er- drawback. they say they will go al
eet do Tho best they can in the cause
their cOuntry's honor.
The members Of Company G WI
were fined by court-martial for no
ing attendance at drills have paid the I'm
lille imposed upon them FOR their neg
OF gence.
in The following New York eispa.1oh
the reference to the question as tc wheth
She the president would have the power
Ind order the troops of any state into q
other state for war purposes, is or p
ticular interest just now:
In view OF Assistant Judge Advoca.
ded General MOrrisOn's statement relaU
pic 10 the power of the president TO mo
Gus lie the state militia for Federal 8
the vice and the status Of the Natiol
and Guard in its relations with the tede
)me government a number OF governs
tied Of states and state adjutant-ge
ices have given their opinions on the 81
iect. All agree that the president ]
power to call out the militia.
There is scme difference Of opin
ork' as to whether the call should be mi
ater direct CT through state governc
lhla There is also some question express
are as to the authority to send STATE tro.
nser into a foreign country, though all
pro- clare that If the president should
rect the National Guards would o.
without hesitation.
enth GAVE HIM DYSPEPSIA.