The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-09
Appointment of MILITIA Officers.

Amendment of Militia Officers.
The militia is going to be much more
thoroughly organized after this war with
spain is fully over than it has been. We
shall have a larger regular army and the
people Will demand that the National
Guard or organized militia shall be made
much more efficient. And the first thing
that ought to be done in connection with
the militia organizations is to inquire as
to the best method of selecting officers
for them.
The discipline necessary to make volun-
teers efficient soldiers can never be had
without great sacrifices. as long as these
officers are selected as they are now.
While a good many Of the officers are
good and capable men, enough of them
are inefficient to make st impossible for a
volunteer force to reach a high standard
Of excellence until the incompetent officials
are weeded out.
These remarks are suggested by the
designations of the colonel and some Of
the other officers of the Sixth Massachu-
sets regiment. now in Porto Rico. What
course viii be taken in respect to these
officers, VINO resigned in face of the enc
my is not YET known, but it is hardly
probable that they will be permitted TO
retire from the army without some official
notice being taken of their conduct.
Their regiment belongs to Gen. Henry
division. He had ordered the officers in
question TO be examined as to their eff
cheney. Rather than submit to an exam
they were unfit for the places they ac-
ceptcd Il is said by Richard Harding
Davis, in one Of his letters from Porto
Rico. that the colonel had feigned sick
ness on more than enc occasion, that a
major kept his companies in constant
alarm when there was no ground for
alarm, and that the adjutant Of the reg
iment declared that the officers could
not be severe with the men, who were
their constituents. And, according to Mr.
Davis. they were not severe with them
The regiment he says, abandoned cart
ridges. haversacks and blanket rolls, killed
cattle, entered houses and committed other
depredatIons. 1t is not to be wondered at
that Gen. Henry thought It necessary to
examine the officers of the regiment as to
their efficiency.
The officers of the Sixth Massachusetts
were not appointed through political in
fuence. They reached the positions they
held through different grades. The regi-
ment was sent to the front because it was
claimed that it was SO thoroughly equipped
and had such competent officers. 1t is
f.. tb Of 9 rrrbN
were appointed through influences of one
kind and another were much better fitted
for the duties required of them than were
those officers of the Sixth Massachusetts.
The material of which the volunteer reg
iments IS composed is just as good as there
is to be found anywhere The men
are the sons of those who won the admi-
ration of the world by their lighting quail
tiles during the civn war There is nothing
they would not undertake TO do that Is
possible for soldiers to do. But they must
be led by soldiers-by men who have not
only courage, but ability and knowledge
of their duties. One battalion of the Sew
enty-iirst New York recolled and became
panic stricken under a calling fire In the
battle of San Juan, because the officers
of the regiment were not quite as well
fitted to lead their men as they should
have been. Under the direction and in
huence of officers of the regular army
the regiment recovered its presence of
mind, and part of it made an excellent
record in that battle
The need Of competent officers is so ap-
parent that, in the reorganization of the
ed very long after the close of the war.
some means ought to be adopted for filling
all the positions in the recognized militia
with men Of that kind The short war we
have had with Spain shows that We can
not afford TO have militia organizations
pared for war They must be taught 70
shoot to obey orders strictly. to drill and
TO take care of their health in camp and on
marches. With the militia trained in that
way we should have comparatively little
anxiety as TO the result in the event of
a war with a first-class European power.
! There is no discounting our volunteers as
fighters but in order TO fight we'll they
must have the proper training, must be
Wen armed and must be led by Off
GERS whom the private soldiers respect ana
in whose military ability they have conf
| denoe.
Not Unwilling Soldiers.
The WASHINGTON CORES pondent of the