New-York tribune., 1899-12-31
A RE,SER VE FOR THIS COUN1Rl !
RECOMMENDATIONS BY ADJUTANT GEN
ERAL ANDREWS IN HIS
ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT.
Adjutant General Andrews in his annual report
says Of the new staff administration:
The system OF staff administration adopted by
the State of New-York. while entirely new in this
cTSnnsaon Of many Of the armies &c Of Europe
| there known as the general staff The adtutant
! general. chief of stan to the commander in
chief becomes the directing agency. not only OF
the line. but Of the STAFF. thus Insuring harmony
the line as aids receive instruction in staff duties
Rt o the e eaT arf o e oy
achieved Is the economy Of the new system In
number OF stan officers with rank wholly out Of
proportion to the volume and Importance Of their
The adjutant generals office has been thoroughly
recognized. and nov either directs actually per,
among a number OF separate and independent de-
partments.
on the subject OF volunteers General Andrews
reviews the work done by the National Guard. and
speaking Of the reorganization says:
The conditions which existed in many OF the reg-
ments upon their return from the volunteer service
were undoubtedly due largely to the effort to trans
form the exisng National Guard organlza ions ion
| into United States volunteer organizations The
| State troops had been organized chiefly for State
PURPOSES but were subject to call by the President
| Ito execute the laws of the Union. suppress in
surrections and repel invasions" They were
! ing in the National Guard were ANXIOUS for
| vice anywhere. while many others never contem-
! plated such call; but when the desire
! pressed that the regiments OF the National Guard
be used for volunteer service as far as practicable
many of the latter volunteered not caring to raise
aid
The result was in large measure unsatisfactory
| 10 both the United States and the state. The
State organizations in some cases seriously
injured. and the resulting volunteer regiments
were not always good as could have been OBJ
tanned by other means The best illustration Of
this statement Is the record Of the 2lst, 202d and
2O3d regiments New-York Volunteers These were
organized by selecting competent officers through
out the state from those who desired commissions,
giving such men Of the National Guard as desired
to enlist the first opportunity to do so. and filling
up the ranks with recruits not active members OF
the Guard, but many with some military expert
ence An officer of the Regular Army was selected
was three well organized and well disciplined regi-
ments. made up entirely Of officers and men who
were anxious for foreign service. thoroughly en-
thusastIc in their work and well prepared for It.
Our recent experience emphasizes the Importance
supplying troops 20 the United States IN cases Of
emergency Ike that Of the Spanish American War
wholly independent OF State control and consist
and regiment or battalion in the smaller States
enrolled enrolled organized equipped; drilled and com;
the most efficient and readily available reserve.
In the absence of such reserve the choice natu-
rally turns to the organized State troops There Is
struction and discipline OF State troops for State
for foreign service. either directly indirectly 1t
Is only fair and proper that such conditions should
be made known. and that officers and men entering
the National Guard should understand distinctly
the nature Of the service which they may be called
l.
and equipped accordingly.
The figures contained in the statistical paragraph
OF the report show that the shrinkage in the Guard
was not so great some people thought 1t would
be after the war
The report says:
The last year has been a critical and important
one for the National Guard and Naval Militia OF
this State. An unusual number of changes have
taken place In the personnel of both organizations
but both are now well organized well equipped.
and with occasional exceptions, are In an excellent
state OF discipline and obstruction. The total
strength OF the National Guard on September 90
1899. was H.2S7. and the Naval Militia was 759
making a total OF l5.046 compared with A. 429
on the same date in 1897 and 1856 the date
in 1896
The State OF New-York has always been liberal
In ts appropriations TO Its State troops, and right
fully expects an adequate return. It's line and staff
organization Is excellent. and far superior that
OF tho United States or Of any other State OF the
10 re-establish the Guard and to place It upon a
rSore satisfactory and efficient basis than ever be-
fore. At the same time, constant effort Is neces-
sary and constant labor Is required to bic il to
reach and maintain the highest practicable effi-
cheney. 1t s 10 be remembered al all times that
the National Guard Is not composed OF professional
soldiers. and that comparisons with Regulars are
frequently Ill timed and unjust to both. The State
troops are made up OF men who devote consld-
erable portion of their time and money and a large
of establishing and maintaining a creditable State
force. They take up this work because they like Il
and are proud OF their State. They necessarily
have MANY other obligations and duties. and. while
none Of these considerations necessarily interfere
with the maintenance Of a thoroughly efficient Ma
tona Guard. they at least afford sufficient ground
for discriminating carefully between the relative
standards OF the Regular Army and National Guard.