Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-02

Guard would have been ready for this
crisis. If Congress will try TO atone for
past and most costly neglect by proper
| legislati ton, the National Guard Will be
prepared for any emergency OF the tu-
ture. BY cooperation between the pa
ticnal and State governments we couin
always have an army OF citizen SOLDIERS
prepared for service.
IL the country has been disappointed
with the uniformed militia. the officers
OF the War Department and of the regu-
lar army are largely responsible therefor.
In the first place. an officer Of the regu-
lar army was detailed at the capital OF
each state, and II was made part OF
his duty TO inform himself az 10 the
condition OF the militia and report to the
War Department. II these officers did
their duty thoroughly. the War Depart
ment, IL not the country, must have been
thoroughly informed as to the efficiency,
or lack of efficiency, OF the militia. From
the reports Of these officers the Secretary
OF War should have been able TO form
very just estimate of the numbers. equip
mcnt. etc, OF the militia of each State.
It Is clear, however that those reports
n made, were unrelIable-or. what is far
more likely, that they were not properly
studied by the Secretary Of War and his
chief assistants.
See what botch work was made in deslg-
mating the States that were required TO
furnish cavalry and artillery under the
first call!
We oil know that there is a disposition
I'm certain quarters to undervalue the eff
cheney OF our volunteers. That is to be
expected; but the judically minded Post
must know that the State of unprepared-
ness in which many of the volunteer regi-
ments are now found is not so much the
fault of the States, or Of the volunteer
officers themselves, as Of the General
Government. The Secretary of War has
been too scattering in his efforts. He
has tried TO fit out a hundred regiments
for field service, when he should have
been concentrating all his resources ana
energies upon ten regiments at time
Yes that was a great mistake-not or
the volunteers, but OF the War Office! The
office worked hard enough, but its labor
was spent in many directions instead OF
in few.
So far as we have seen, the volunteers
as rule, have done their duty promptly
and well. The Post does not say too much |
in praise Of them. But the General Gov
eminent has not worked upon clear, |
practical. and well-defined system. Where |
il should have been potential in, creating |
and organizing, it has brought confusion |
and encouragement by its ill-considered |
methods and variable and contradictory |
orders The Dispatch has no doubt at all |
that i'm a little while order will be brought |
out Of what now seems chaos; but we !
cannot be silent when we hear our volun- |
tecrs blamed for delinquencies that are |
plainly chargeable TO the War Office and |
its big staff Of officers of the regular |
army.
And now the President has called for |
70. 900 more men, though the $4,000 have |
not yet been put in the field. What is !
more. the system adopted of filling up |
instead of recruiting new COM
panies. is very Objectionable, and is not |
likely to produce the best results. 1t is
not at all consonant with the spirit of
and could not have been
by those who are best-in-
formed as to the wishes, hopes and am
billions of the noble young men who have
laid aside their business employments TO
serve their country.