The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-11
Tears the Department of Da-
kota All to Pieces.
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
Inspector General Finds Very Little
to Please Him.
MILITIA LIKEWISE ALL WRONG
Quarters at Fort Smelling Not IN an
Entirely Satisfactory
Condition.

From The Journal BureoG. Room g. Post
BHitdjRg, RushtngtOU-
Washington, Oct. lin his annual re-
port just submitted to the commanding
general OF the army, General E. 5. otls'
commanding the department OF DAKOTA
makes no mention Of the anti-canteen
law. neither does he submit any observa-
tfons or recommendations regarding con-
ditions at the several posts in the de-
partment, but leaves such details to Sud-
ordinate officers.
The most important report submitted
by any of these is that Of Major Phlilp
Reade. OF the Fourth infantry, Inspector
general OF the department. Major Reaue
calls special attention to the unsanitary
condition OF the plumbing and the de-
fective drainage in Minnesota row.
where the on-commissioned stan Is
uuartered at Fort Smelling. He says this
condition has been called to the attention
Of the authorities by Surgeon E. A. Brad
ley. but nothing has been done toward
remedying it. He says also that Dr'
Bradley has recommended changing and
renewing some OF the plumbing in the
officers quarters, guardhouse and bar
racks. He urges that the recommends
tions be followed. Major Reade says that
increased storage facilities are needed.
Discussing the department Of Dakota
as a whole, Major Reade says the disci-
pline as shown by the records Of court
martial is fair. The enlisted men are
fairly we'll instructed in ideas that per-
tain to the school of the soldier and in
company and battalion drill. They are
not however. exercised in the execution
Of plans devised for their protection in
time OF war. There were no field eXer-
cises or problems in minor tactics, and
Major Reade says this is an important
part Of the training of the soldier and
should be insisted upon in general orders
Another deficiency that Major Reade
discovered was that troops in the de-
partment had not received instruction In
firing with small arms. In consequence
there rs a marked deficiency in marks
manship among them and not one of them
probably could quality to the grade of
marksman or above. There were no in
structions In signaling except at FIT Meade.
and, taking it altogether, Major Reade ap-
parently does not think much Of the eff
cheney Of the troops in the department Of
Dakota.
Major Reads inspection of the national
guard OF Minnesota developed several
things which he criticised severely. One
In particular that showed itself in field
exercises was that the men when under
fire from a supposed enemy maintained
their close formation and made conspicu-
Gus targets of themselves by being
massed. He says it is very evident that
militia training does not At a man for
actual warfare and strongly urges that
some plan be DEVISED by which militia
and regulars throughout the country can
be brought into closer touch with each
other. This, he thinks, will result in
better militia who will form a reserve
force that can be brought into service
quickly in time Of war.
MINNESOTA Oct. 1918, the ninth
annual convention of the
SPIRITUALIST National Association of
Spiritualists Of the United
CANDIDATE. States and Canada will be
held in this city. Until
1899, when the association met in Chicago
it had held its session here. Last year
1t met in Cleveland. About $50 delegates
will be present. Great interest is being
taken in the contest for the presidency
OF the association. Since the incorpora-
tion Of the association in Washington
nine years ago, Harrison D. Barrett Of
Boston has been elected every year with
out opposition. but during the past month
or so two or three other candidates have
appeared In the field. New York has a
candidate and another comes from Min
nesota, and some lively canvassing may
be looked for.
Mr.. Barrett is loath to give up the office.
now that a fight is being made on him.
The strength of his opponents comes
mostly from the west c. D. Pruden Of
Minneapolis is a member of the national
board Of directors. Milwaukee will bid
for next years meeting, and in 1903 it will
be held in St. Louis.
W w Iarnoona