The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-04
INSPECTORS REPORT,
Brig. Gen. Carter Speaks of
the Condition of the
Militia.

Brig. Gen. J. I. Carter, inspector gen
eraI Of the state militia, has made his
report 10 Ad5L Gen Samuel Dalton, and
in addition TO a record Of the dates q
inspection and the names Of inspecting
officers. Gen. Carter gives the follow
Ing suggestions for the Improvement OF
the militia.
Companies located in the smaller
towns, where the number Of men avail
able for military service is not large
enough 70 easily keep the ranks fun Of
good material or where general inter
est in the militia is lacking, are not
only Of little value 70 the service, but
are often actually burdensons. II is
recommended that during the coming
year q thorough scrutiny be mad Of the
degree Of public interest there taken in
the militia, with q view 70 the reloca-
ton Of such companies as prove weak
or unpromising.
4 growing tendency 70 lax observ-
ance Of the regulations regarding uni
forms is noted, and should Be checked.
I ne uniform is prescribed 10 the small
est detail by regulations and orders;
n-con1Ornity is z breach Ct military
discipline. an outward and visible sign
OF oisObedisuce Of orders, which COM
ulanding officers should not tolerate.
Officers who. in their own dress. disre-
gard the regulations set a bad exaxmple
70 the enlisted men. Greater attention
should BE- paid 10 the At and neatness
q the clothing.
The campaign hats, while perhaps the
most comfortable. and, in some situa-
tons, the most picturesque head COW
erings, are an ab0minatiou on the heads
Of militia officers, especially when
transformed by the individual caprice
Of each Wearer into an infinite variety
Of uncOuth shapes. The ugly caps which
the United States regulations have in
hicted upon Us are bad enough. but
/ they are at least uniform in shape
The sword manual for officers seems
70 be much neglected. At the annual
drill the salutes by fully two-thirds Of
the officers while in passing in review
were ungraCeful and awkward
In his report, Gen. Carter also stated
that he did not deem it wise at the
time the inspections were made, Z
have them conducted with any finenes;
in regard to rigor, as it would have been
unjust at the time, owing to the fact
that the infantry regiments had only
shortly returned from active service
Many Of the men were in bad health
and the necessity Of an entire new
equipment tended to do away for a time
with active interest. In many cases
ii was found that companies were mi
nus commissioned and non-commission-
ed officers, and the vacancies necessari-
| ly existed.
The inspectors were ordered to repor
the number present and absent the
character Of personnel, police Of armo-
ries, general condition Of maintenance
and prospect for future maintenance
| Of proper standard.
Gen. Carter makes note of the fact
that the militia is in frst-rate cOndi-
| ton, and the experience Of many Of the
men in the war has not apparently
/ dampened the ardor for good work. I'll
is matter Of just pride" Gen. Carter
says in his report. that the militia
Of this commonwealth, after its splen-
did record in furnishing with wonder
full CELEBRITY, six fully equipped regi-
ments to the United States volunteers,
and over 400 officers and men 10 the
United States navy from the naval bri-
gade, was found so well restored in
such a short time after their return.