The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-24
New York's National Guard.

Although the future Of the militia or
National Guard in its relation to the Army
Is still uncertain, the condition OF the Guard
In New York State deserves attention,
and offers good cause for congratulatlon.
Whether the relation between the Army
and the National Guard stays as il is, or is
drawn more close, the Guard 81 this State
is improving daily.
A year ago the change began. 1t began
at the top, with the Governors staff,
which was transformed. Instead OF be-
ing the refuge Of persons merely
DESTROYS Of military titles and military
uniforms, the stan Of the Governor as
Commander-in.Chief Is a practical staff.
The Governor has four personal aides-de-
camp; the rest Of his staff il composed
entirely Of officers Of the line, detailed for
two years. This change in the Governors
staff, seemingly Of little moment. has really
been very important.
The reorganization did not stop with the
Governors staff. The Acknowledgement
was restored 10 his proper position and
rank, and the National Guard placed under
the command Of Maior-Gcn. CHARLES
+. Roe. Gen. Roe was appointed just
before the Spanish War, but the
practical results 81 his control date
only from about a year ago. We have
therefore in tho Guard Of this State no
overloaded GOVERNORS STAFF, but n working
General in command, with a working staff
assisting him. II" first fruit Of the now
dia,,plrtt,p - n. .u,inr In aSpanaaa n,.nr
1897, the last normal year, Of rl2. 600.
The designation Of Col. WILLIAM CARY
SANGER. In-pCctur-GcncraL, \. G. y. Y, to
visit and report on foreign armies for tho
benefit Of the United Statos Army, is m
honor To the Guard rs well as 10 Col. SAN
GER. Other officers have been abroad; some
officers have represented the Guard; but
we do not rcca)' another case whore a
National Guard officer was designated to
represent the United States Army in in
specting foreign armies.
Another symptom ~ Improvement in the
Guard X the transfer az an entire regiment
from the inran,ry to ~" artillery arm.
Whether the change will he successful
cannot yet be- said; Int there is every
reason To- believe that il will he. and no one
can deny that tine recognition w State
authorities If Army shortcomings in
regard to artillery and the protection Of
this city was not made with undue rapidity.
Rumor has IL that the Twelfth Regiment,
In the FIRST Brigade, stationed IN this city,
will apply for transfer to tho artillery.
While such transfer will bc % il would
seem hest to wait until the experiment Of
the Thirteenth Is proven successful.
II * IN little or routine matters. ~ well
a. in large things, that REINFORCEMENT n
tie Guard OF this State Is apparent. Last
week u Board of Officers ~at Mt the State
Arsenal in this city to rcyis" the Hegula-
tions and make them more modern: and
almost at the same time appeared General
Order concerning the light batteries Of
NE State. II i u revision 10y Lieut.. Col.
PHIsrrRER Of the Army regulations for
light artillery, with changes such Us expert
encc has shown necessary for the militia.
The rules are complete and exhaustive.
The condition Of the regiments that were
"out" In 1898 is encouraging 10 the au-
thorltios. The reaction expected after
their field service has not been apparent.
and practically all Of thcm are rs large
now rs before the Spanish War. The only
regiment doing badly Is the last survivor
of the race regiments" the Slxty-ninth.
One by one the herman regiments OF in.
fantry and Of cavalry Notwithstanding: most
OF the race organizations hardly survived