The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-18
A BAD SYSTEM.
That is What RetardS the Mill
tary Preparations
According to Officers at Chick
amauga Park.
SHORT CUTS NEEDED.
Papers Must Traverse an AL
most Endless Round
Before Anything Can Be Done
For the Good of the Service.

Chickamauga Park, Tenn, June IS
The First regiment Georgia infantry,
1000 officers and men in twelve COM
panies, under Col. Lawton of Savannah,
arrived in the city at an early hour this
morning and shortly after breakfast
was transferred to the park. The regi-
ment has been encamped at Griffin,
Ga, for several weeks, and is in first
class shape. The men are all we'll uni
formed and fairly we'll equipped
Battery A, of the First Georgia ar
tillery, accompanied the regiment. The
members of this command are all we'll
equipped and in good shape. They have
been constantly engaged in exercise and
drill for several weeks during their en-
campment at Griffin. This is one of the
crack southern batteries, being reOr-
ganized from the old Atlanta artillery,
which saw hard service and behaved
with great gallantry during the civil
war.
Inquiry among the regiments at the
park has developed that the system of
carrying acquisitions and requests to
army headquarters through a long list
of sub-headquarters is causing delays
which often hamper the commanding
officers and discourage cherished plans.
A prominent regimental officer who
was questioned about the system said
that in his opinion there ought to be
more short cuts to bring about prompt
results. He illustrated by taking one
need of, an item the prompt receipt of
which would be highly beneficial to the
progress of the regiment. To obtain it
there is almost an endless round
through which the papers must go.
Perhaps by the time a reply reaches
the command the war is half over and
every body has been worsted. Instead
of having time to get in efficient work
in training the volunteers, it is Sug-
gested that the time is taken up in an
swering papers and in attending to the
routine of clerical work.
The regiments are also feeling rather
seriously the detailing of so many men
to the hospitals and to the various
headquarters for duty. Principally for
this cause in one regiment yesterday
only % members of one company were
able to report for duty.
Is Cars of Horses Arrive.
Fifteen cars of cavalry and artillery
horses which arrived last night from
Chicago were distributed to various
commands this morning.
The work of inspecting the first diViS-
ion, First corps, which has been going
on for some time, is now complete
Major Rogers, inspector general OF
the division, inspected the Third Ten
nessee yesterday, which completed the
work of inspecting the entire division.
Recruits continue to arrive by the
score It is estimated that between
four and five hundred come daily The
new men are put in awkward squads
Immediately after their arrival and the
work of making soldiers out of then
is prosecuted without delay. The in
dicaIio0s are that he recruiting work
viii be finished in a much shorter time
than was at first expected 1t is now
understood that no movement of troops
viii be made for some time, but thai
Chickamauga will be drawn on just a:
may be needed for the various expedi
tions that may hereafter be ordered
against Cuba and Porto Rico. Today
is clear with a mild temperature. Hare
drills are being undergone by all thu
regiments.
Joshua Levering, the noted prohibi
zionist and Y M G. A lecturer, is nov
at work in the camp. He will address
the First Pennsylvania regiment to
night.