New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
NATIONAL GUARD NEEDS.
LESSONS DRAWN FROM THE WAR WITH
SPAIN.

VIEWS OF GENERAL GEORGE W. wINGATE WHO
HAS HAD LONG EXPERIENCE WITH THE
M1r.rrrA--A LARGER FEDERAL APPso-
PRIAT1oN THE FIRST STEP.
General George w wlngate. being asked his
vieyva A. 10 what should be done for the National
Guard. said: .
relation to the National Guard the Peculiar char
acter Of that organization must always De kept ~
mind. To endeGvor. as has been recently proposed
by some to convert x into body when VIII We
limited TO men without business OF family 'ies'
! and who consequently can annually spend from
thr.. IN four weeks In camp. and who will be
ready upon a days notice to enlist for two years
rarrison duty IN Cuba or the Philippines Is 10
. convert It into a Regular Army. and not eoc'
ono a, that Such duty can only be expected from
nrofessionals who make soldering the business
Of their lives The men who compose the Hu"i
cannot be expected to agree to perform IL. Ihey
ara not paid In fact. they pay for the privilege
Of being soldiers. A part. but rarely the "hoie, "a
their uniform Is issued 10 them The remn'hoei'
together with their shoes, underclothhs anu ="
nany States considerable OF their equipment 'he!
furnish themselves. They pay for their hahos
when they parade and also pay dues. which large
~ support their company and regmental orgahiza-
lions
Above all. they arc all engaged in occupations
by which they earn their livelihood ana the e'e"'
mai
them In addition TO devoing many OF their nisn's
20 instruction and drill they give NUMBER OF
days during the year TO parades and IN pr'~uS'''s
1t the rife ranges. They also spend "efN /"
the State Camp This is all the time they ca"
snare from their business. 1t is not easy Tor 'he
10 give this. and many employers whose business
ana capitaI the Guard makes safe are unwiiHhe
70 have employees who are GuardsmcA
"In addition 10 these ordinary duties. the inon'-
bers OF the Guard hold themselves IN constant
readiness 10 turn out at moments ho'ce ~ '
force the law suppress riots or other domestic
disturbances, or TO defend the country lhey W
the former ct least once IN five years ,hc '"''.i
once IN q generation OF SO. When so called. their
situation is necessarily such that. except III
ease of great emergency, they should NOT DC re-
.ou,red 70 respond 10 call for pToioh3eu p''IoA
Stf,service Their true place in case or way : 10
Srrd the fort until a sufficient force or Vo'uN-
,eers can be organized TO assist the Regular ARM
7, &c from, them. however. that the offcers ara
men who will compose such volunteers VII! lhrEe-
w come and I, is they only who furhsh inc NM
TRY knowledge which is necessary 10 convert
such volunteers rapidly into military orga"'~a-
.,on When they are needed they should he or
dered into service in 4 body. as was done IN the
1ivil.War While IN service. such Of them as are
90 situated as 10 be able to enlist for permanent
service should be encouraged 10 do so. an" ne
hide the nucleus OF 4 volunteer organization Inc
others should remain as reserve for future con-
iinihcies and for home defence
TWO YEARS SERVICE
.~vl>eneyer their services are really needed they
hayy always proved that they are ready, and they
have on many occasions. and particularly IN 'his
State more than repaid every cent that they nave
cost the public. But 20 require them. as was done
IN this and some other States. TO volunteer for
two years service, when ten times the number
.of men.that were needed were Offering themselves.
was a great blunder. II 1t is intended to pursue
this: system, the fate Of the Guard in the lu'u'e
will be sealed II will be impossible 20 induce the
class Of men who TOW make the Guard what IL Is
10 enlist and Aoaters'-men without ties OF steady
occupation-cannot be got 20 join it in time OF
peace and are worthless II they could be had
1.-THE point therefore. which In my Judgment Is
20 be kent in mind in any scheme for improving
the Guard is, What can best be done 10 give lis
officers and much practical military knowi-
edge as can be impaired 10 men who are obliged
to support themselves by their business. and what
Is the best way to accomplish ;his?' There Is, OF
course much difference in the Guard Of the dif-
ferent States The aid that the General Govern
ment extends TO the whole 125 900 men composing
the Guard in all the States Is but $4,000 year
which is no; given in money but in ordnance and
similar stores This is but little more than should
he allowed for the ammunition that should be
annually expended in target practice. The other
expenses are borne by the respective States. The
Eastern Middle and some Of tie Western States
in other words. those States which are rich and
populous-have their Guards fairly well equipped.
Those States Of the South and West which are
largely agricultural and relatively poor do very
little for their troops.
MORE MONEY NEEDED.
1T goes withou, saying that the first step that
should be taken is to increase the annual appro
priation by the Government for ordnance stores
for the militia 10 rot less than 100000 year.
IT ought to he 100000. That amour; is not more
IN proportion the present resources OF the coun
try than the s2cJca which was fixed for this pur-
pose by President jefferson. In addition. light
batteries should be freely lent to the States to-
sether with ample ammunition, whenever they
will organize light battery. The guns would not
be injured by being used. The men would supply
the horses. The expense 10 the Government, con-
sequenty would be slight. while the result would
be O large increase In field artillery branch
Of the service which is amentably inadequate and
which Is very expensive FOR the Government 10
maintain Such batteries should. as said, receive
ample ammunition that they will become ex-
pert shots This Is the great essential In artillery
as II IS in infantry. II National Guard battery
can shoot precision IN drill is Of secondary i'm
portance Yet but little ammunition for target
practice is allowed then.
Wherever the Guard is not supplied with full
service equipment. 1t should be given It. This Is
such a self-evident proposition that II does not
need any discussion. This equipment should n-
clude not only what the individual soldier needs.
but also what is required by each company and
regiment for field service. The New-York Massa-
chusetts and Pennsylvania troops are compare
lively well supplied in many Of these respects
No provision is. however. made by their States
for the issue to them OF any shoes. underclothlns
or the personal things that soldier needs In the
feld It would be hardly ssary TO supply these
IN time OF peace.
LACK OF FIELD TRANSPORTATION.
"A good marching shoe is. however very
necessary thing. Many of the Guard report for
active duty in shoes which will not stand anything
like campaign work and in q short time bare
foot or have their feet disabled. None Of the Ma
tionai Guard. far as know. have any wagons
or other transportation. except that in New-York
NH isslIad for each hricole A e