The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-10
Military Appropriation Drawn Up
on Heavily for Paxtuckst Trouble
GENERAL SACKETT'S REPORT.
Many Items Of Interest In the Document
and Recommendations Made for the
Good Of the State Troops.

Adjutant General Frederic NJ. Sackett
presented his annual report to the senate
yesterday and il is fun OF valuable in
formation and suggestions
Genera, Sackett begins by speak, ng "f
the disturbances at Pawtucket in June
and a Herrisvillc later. at which the mil
itia did splendid work. The cost 10 the
state for these troubles was s25, ,lts.o6.
most OF which was due 10 the street rail
road trouble at Pawtucket.
The tour OF duty al Pawtucket the
repsrt reads. was Of great value 10 the
militia and General Sackett believes the
state troops received more from the
Pawtucket duty than 1t would in half
dozen csmoa
Owing TO the great expense incurred
and the loss OF time to the men at Paw
tucket the annual encampment at Quon-
set Point was dispensed with. OF the
expense, 22.s0s.4I. was paid from the
militia appropriation. leaving s2407.5s un-
paid There was an additional deficit
OF the usual militia expenses am odntinS
TO s4s3s.7s making n total deficiency of
s7391.37 for the payment of which the
general assembly made an additional ap-
preparation OF $500. enabling the militia
TO close the year free from debt.
The report gives the details OF the call
ing out OF the militia for actual service
for the first time in so years and speaks
most highly OF the earnestness and
promptness displayed by all officers In
mobilization for service at Pawtucket.
He deems II peculiarly fortunate that
II the trouble had 10 occur 1t should
have been at Pawtucket, where the state
has the only armory capable OF housing
so large a body The situation. he argues.
emphasizes the necessity for the imme-
date erection OF the new armory in Prov
idenoe.
The roster OF tho Rhode Island militia
appears in detail The naval militia has
a total force OF 203. The land forces ag-
gregate 16S officers and 1S40 men, with
perhaps 81 900 In the state available fol
military duty.
A list of genera. and special orders Is
| given and a roster Of officers on the re-
| tired list. showing two major generals
| william r. Walker and Olney Arnold
| nine brigadier generals. IA coionels, II
lieutenant colonels, majors, IS cap
talns and first lieutenants.
NO CHANGES.
Continuing General Sackett says
| During tho year just closed. there have
| been no changes in the organizations o
| the militia. all remaining as they wer'
| at the close OF 1901. The active militii
| at the present time consists OF two regi
ments OF infantry OF eight companies
| each. one separate company OF infantr!
(colored). one battalion OF cavalry of tw
troops. one light battery. one maohin
gun battery hospital corps. sigma
| corps and one naval battalion Of fou
! divisions: the whole. with the exception
OF the naval battalion. commanded by
| brigadier general This form OF organi
zation does not. at the present time. con
form TO that OF the regular army. nor {
that adopted by those states that ar
most progressive in military matters. an
IL certainly would be most desirable
the organzatio OF the infantry could b
modernized."
| In his report OF his tour OF duty 4
August and September in connectio
| with the army and navy manoeuvre
General Tanner commanding the brigad
details his observations Of the attack an
defence OF the coast and occasions som
recommendations. Searchlights. he says
are a great factor in modern warfare an
the value OF an efficient signal corps
more and more apparent. He recon
mends that the brigade infantry take u
heavy artillery drill and has informatio
that the war department will furnish ey
cry opportunity FOR practical instructio
and drill with the guns at the forts
Mai. Charles r. Sweet, surgeon OF III
First Battalion OF Cavalry. u. II. 7. NJ
, iacloses his report Of the meeting OF IN
association of military surgeons OF IN
. United States at Washington, ID. c., Jur
5, 6 and 7, 1902. Foreign medical repr,
sentatives were present and Presider
Roosevelt also attended. The meetin
this year will be in Boston. Mai Swe,
, notes that Rhode Island has not v,
, adopted tho regular army regulation
having all It's medical men members
, the medical corps, uniformed as such ar
assigned TO their various commands ar
not, as at present, uniformed as STAFF o
, ficers
q A compliment is paid the commissions
a officers OF the brigade, the standard
II the officers being high. the report say
and great Improvement IL noted In mi
tary courtesy. Lack or discipline Is not'
= In poor attendance at drills, and the q
i forcement OF rules for the care OF sta
Z property.
q The condition OF the armories remai
"A the same and recommendation IL renew
4 for housing Company G. Second Res
a ment. i'm Bristol IN the large granite a
u mory devoted solely 10 division OF q
n Naval Battalion. Advance I'm drill is not
"a and guard duty has been given spes.
4