Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-03
THE NEW MILITARY.
GENERAL MALE CONSIDERING
PLANS OF REORGANIZATION.
THINGS TO BE- TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
Many Matters Have 10 he Consider
ed I'm Formulating Pinns--Men Who
Wish To Be-Entcr Service Can Pro-
badly DO So.
badly DO So.

General Male is buslly engaged since
his reinstatement in the office OF adju-
tant- general In considering plans for the
reorganization of the military Of Virginia.
As yet he has arrived at 10 conclusion.
though he has some more or less well de-
fined ideas regarding what is 10 be done
and what can be done. 1t is not easy to
say what will be done.
Various considerations have 20 be taken
into account II is not known how many
Of the officers and men in the service be-
fore the war wish 10 enter it again. Seve-
raj captains have said they wish 70 re-
enter the state service. and think they
can get their companies to do so. The
Governor will probably permit the old
companies to re-enter the state service.
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
General Male says that in formulating
plans for reorganization he always fas to
bear IN mind the strong probability, al
most certainty. OF legislation by Corgress
at the approaching session regarding
State guards, which will be of great i'm
portance in considering the questions
growing out of reorganization. Appro-
priations will almost certainly be more
liberal. but there may be attach ID 10 them
conditions necessitating changes N the
State military law.
This law is quite antiquated The or
ganiZatiOn Of the Virginia military. in
some respects. is believed TO be different
from that OF any other State in the Union.
The regiments in the guard Of 10 other
state. il is believed. have TO get along
with only two majors apiece. The lack
Of a third major, after the Virginia troops
were mustered into the national service,
and given a three battalion formation
similar to that Of the regular army, was
koenly felt.
Under the present law of Virginia the
volunteer regiments are formed Of ten
companies. divided into two battalions. In
the regular army a regiment is formed of
twelve companies and three battalions. In
Virginia regiments in the volunteer scr
vice the Northumberland has TO com
mand one battalion. The state law will
have 10 be changed. The three battalion
formation is said by military experts not
10 have been satisfactory, but 1t will
hardly be changed.
CANNOT REVOKE COMMISSIONS.
There are at present I'm the State service
about a half-dozen companies. All the
companies which did not volunteer are in
the Virginia service, but those which did
volunteer are out.
1t is not thought probable that any
steps will be taken 10 revoke the commits
sions of officers who did not 20 out with
their companies. Their commission can
not be taken away without a court-mar-
tial OF course. there is 40 ground for
court-martial. Many Of the officers, prac-
tically all Of them, volunteered. All could
not go.
RUSHING IN RECRUITS.
Seventy-five recruits have recently been
sent from Virginia hack to he Fourth
Regiment al Savannah. All these have
come from the Third Regiment. Second
Regiment men will not be enlisted in the
Fourth until their regiment is mustered
out December 10th. Only about $50 men
are wanted to bring up the enlisted
strength Of the Fourth 10 the authorized
maximum Of 1,272 men. 1t is said that at
least this number wish to enlist from the
Second alone. There will be many disap-
pointments.
Hospital-Steward Allen ii. Bowie, Of
the Second Regiment will leave Monday
for New York from whence he VIII sai
Wednesday for Manzanillo, cuba, TO join
the Fourth Immunes, to which he has
been transferred as hospital steward.