The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-19
.GUARDSMEN ARE
MUCHDISPLEASED
Iision Of Fort Russell Camp Is
Shattered.
BLAME STAFF OFFICERS
INSPECTOR GENERALS REPORT
ALSO FIGURES.

There was wailing and gnashiag of
teeth among the members of the Ma
honal Guard Yesterday The cause wa
Inc announcement that the o-gasnza-
ton would not be permitted to go into
sncampnient viii. the regular troops at
Fort Russell Wye. next month. The
Dogs had worked themselves I'M 70
FEVER heat in enthusiasm, over the nroS-
poets OF maneuvering with 10000 troops.
and the sudden announcement that the
guard would not go caused great dis
some OF the staff officers are blamed
Tor the fact that the guard win nave
10 remain at home and have an en-
eahpment Of its own. An unfavorabIe
report by the Inspector general. and de-
sire Tor show on the part of certain
stan olhcers are declared TO be re-
spOhsiole Tor the turn down" of the
guard.
Ofhcers and men Of the regiment do
not hesitate to say that it is their be-
net that the report rendered by the
inspector general short time ago after
the regular inspection is the prime
cause that Influenced the government
70 decide against calling out the mi
mia with the regulars
The boys do not like the methods
OF the inspector general because they
are not in accordance with military
regulations" said an officer, land as
a consequence they viii not turn out
Tor inspection. No man who has been
stood up and forced to maintain the
position of a soldier for three hours
while such questions are being asked
MIN as. Who is the brigadier general?'
ana other questions OF no concern to
the private, win turn out at another in
htia with the regulars.
Take to the Woods.
The result is that the boys take
10 the woods when inspection time rolls
around, and, Of course, an unfavor-
able showing is made. At the last in
specton matters were in this shape
and the report that was sent in by the
inspector general roasted the guard
and showed it in a very bad light. Re
CARELESS of the fact that we passed
favorable inspection under the reg
ular army officers appointed for that
purpose we believe that this bad re-
port of our own officer served to in
nuence the war department against
sending us out with the regulars.
While we haven't the enlistment
that some of the other states have
there is no question but that we are
better equipped than any other guard
in the west. Considering this and the
bad report about our condition, the war
department no doubt decided that none
of the organizations were worthy to. be
taken out with the regulars.
Then il looks to us as if there is
sill another reason that has played an
important part in the matter. 1t is
nothing more nor less than the jeal-
ousy of the staff officers. Had the
guard been sent 10 Fort Russell. only
FOL
been taken. The government does not
include the STAFF officers in such an
encampment and they would, OF
course, have to stay at home. The reg
iment would be IN charge of the colo
mel, and the other officers would be
left out.
staff Officers Not Anxious.
Now there are several officers Of
high rank who never. feel half so inn
portant as when they have their regi-
mentals on and are riding around a
drill field displaying themselves be-
fore an admiring crowd. On "A simple
state encampment these officers, of
course, are ordered out, and have a
chance to show their authority and
draw their pay from the state They
would lose both on a joint encamp-
ment with the regulars. AS a conse-
quence these officers have not been
very anxious to have the guard ordered
to Cheyenne.
I'm fact. it is pretty well understood
among the boys that they have been
fighting the proposition all along and
have finally succeeded in gaining their
point. The men and officers of the
regiment feel pretty sore over the mat
ter. and several of the officers are
talking very strongly of resigning. 1t
is quite likely that after the encamp-
ment-if one is held-they will resign
Immediately"
The brigade officers say they have no
idea as to the cause for the order that
shut out all the guards from the big
encampment. Colonel II. NJ. H. Lund,
that his report on the recent inspec-
ton OF the organization was a roast.
He admitted that he found some of the
companies in worse condition than they
would be, but declared that, as a whole
the guard was better than the average
organization of it's kind. He ridiculed
the idea that his report had anything
10 do with the turn affairs have taken.
Adiutant General G. :. Burton. when
asked yesterday about the encamp-
ment of the guard. stated that il would
probably be held somewhere near the
city in August, although the whole
matter would depend upon the pleas
ure OF Governor Wells. No action has
been taken yet in relation to the mat
ter, but 1t is expected that the ques-
ton will be settled in the near future.
possibly within the next two or three
days.