The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-07-17
.I I0l
d
CAPTAIN TH0NIAS LEWIS OF The
ARMY MAKES UNFAvoRA1
BILE REPORT
CTJARDs OF WEST VIRGINIA LACK
PRAcTBcE IN CRAFTSMANSHIP
AND DISCIPLINE.
recommends That Two officers of Reg
uIar Army Be Detailed for the In
speciatn of West Virginia
Malta.

Washington, ID. c., July IL ConsId-
erine tfe fact that the arnories afford
no attraction and considerable opposition
IS said to exist against the guard on the
part Of the labor unions in the large
towns, the underlying motive for enlist
iISent on the part of the men must be y
considerable military spirit. This Is on"
of blle tributes paid to th, National
Guard of West Virginia in Il report sub
mitted to Adjntant General Corbin to.
day by Captain Thomas }. Lewis sec.
ond cavalry United States army, who was
detailed to make an inspection OF the
guard. Captain Lewis states that OF
the eight companies of the first regiment
which figure in considering its present
efficiency and fair military bearing aud
a,,nearancc and of the three companies
az the second regiment station at Hunt
inoton. two of these are fairly efficient
and the companies at Parkersburg are
aIso sriven the same credit The report
soes on to state that the enlisted nel
generally were of good Physique and
good material for soldiers. ii sttses that
the desire to learn was manifested.
Among other things. Captain Lewis
states in his report: .sNone of tie resu
lar mon have had regular and system
course of target practice. although the
state firing regulations for small arms
was adopted in May, 1900. and a regular
course established. No attention has
been given to this important Part q the
soldiers training. In this respect th'
guard is very deficient and a. y greater
part of the enlisted strength IS derived
from railroad employees, miners and othei
artisans, it is fair to assume that TIN
guard has in its ranks many men whc
are not familiar with the diScharging of
arms, much less mark ksaianship.
GAS n rule. the armories We're drngS
poorly polced, poorly lighted and very
unattractive. Generally, and in my oPin
ion. they are not safe places for tic stor
arc of arms and ammunition. II Is be.
lieved that uniformity in the instruction
and i'm the manner of instruction would
ape greatly to the benefit OF the guard
bv adopting a system of post admins.
tration for discipline and instruction.
e.In other words the senior officer re
siding at each home station should be
held responsible for the discipline and
instruction of the detachment OF the
guard at Sl..tt station, At present, th'
commanding officer of each company J.
free to do what he plcases rs TO tn,
discipline maintained by him and as Y
the manner and character Of the in
struction given by him on the drill
niyl,ts. In other words, field officers
regiments should be required to take
more active interest in the welfare and
instruction of the companies and regi
nients located in the towns where they
reside. and therefore give the company
officers the benefit of cNpcrinced dirce'
tion. Most of the field officers met by
me appeared to be earnest and Jealous
in their desire to improve the condition
of The guard and seemed to be well post
ea os to their duties and responsibilities.
The efficiency of the county companies
would be greatly increased and regiments
encouraged by the organization OF squads
by the small settlements with the main
town rs a basis. The growth OF the ru'
raj telephone system is such as to enable
tho squads to be modified at the main
station nlmost as soon as those residing
there. There could be more conveniently
assembled for drill and instruction and
healthy rivalry between the different
squads cultivated"
Captain Lewis recommends that here
after two officers OF the regular army
be detailed for the inspection OF the
National Guard of West Virginia, one
for the organizations along the Baiti-
more and Ohio railroad to Wheeling and
VeHsburg, and the other for those troops
along tho, Chesapeake ana Ohio railroad
to Parkersburg.