The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
A Reserve or Former su,I,t,omen.

TIC TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: 1t would
seem, just at this timr, when preparations for
wnr nre being made. that 1t would be well for
men who have been honorably discharged from
tho National Guard. and who are still young
men, TO organize ms a reserve. which might be
available in the event of active hostilities.
There are, 1t has been estimated, %, 900 OK.
members of tho y. G. y. Y. in tho State who
received thoir discharges within tho last ten
years, and who. consequently. have had the
benefit of tho thorough training in armory.
camp. and Creedmoor which the Guard has
had during tho last decade. They are, as a
rule, under As. for the average recruit is
under % when he ~enlists. and also. as a
rule. earnest, respectable. patriotic citizens.
But at the present time they are in n somewhat
unhappy frame of mind. With q Guardsmun's
keen interest in military affairs. and strong de-
sire for active service still alive in their hearts,
they realize they cannot go back into their old
regiments and take their former places. Those
places are filed. II they retired as officers they
do not wish to go back into the ranks again.
And. consequently, "rumors Of wars make
It would seem ns II tho country could find a
use for such q body of men should war come.
They are all the average, volunteer is not at his
enlistment. They have learned how to march.
to drill, TO shoot, to obey orders implicitly. If
they have been officers they understand all the
duties" WHICH is SO pulling 10 a civilian ~ x
few drills would enable them to. resume thoir
uuIlcb ub INC pOlnL NHtTC lncy Iclt OIL.
1t would, therefore, be n waste of good mate
rial were this class not organized rs a reserve.
Were a civil association formed composed OF
officers and men who have served five years in
the y. g.. n. y, and who received an hon
orablc discharge. thousands of men would prob
ably join II. and we should have at once what
this state and nation has never had before, n
trained reserve of timc-expircd men. Such an
association could proceed to organize subordi-
nate associations. to be known, perhaps, later
on. as regiments; could ascertain where arms
and uniforms could DO had: and. could when
home were called away. act as tho
depot Battalion managing the home affairs
OF each organization.
A simple method OF avoiding friction In the
formation of such an association would no TO
grant to each member the rank no held in the
Guard when discharged. Men are apt to lind
their proper Lowell In the Guard, and no one could
be dissatisfied il at the outset no had TO assume
his former rank. II would be found. since ten
timos as many privates ns officers arc annually
discharged, that there would not bo too many
officers. and promotions could then be made to
fill vacancies.
Such ASSOCIATION, it would seem. should be of
the nature of u regimcntal association IN the
Guard: one composed OF many minor associa-
tions and each minor association should bc com
posed as far as possible OF the cX-membcrs of one
particular regiment. battery, squadron, or corps.
VIII not some of the prominent cX.membcrS of
our city III take the initiative In this
matter and organize u committee to procure
names and addresses of former Guard smcn will
Ing to serve in such Il reserves
y. q. y. y. VETERAN.