The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
Field Service for the National Guard,

In his report to the Major-General
commanding the army at the close OF
the war with Spain, the Inspector-Ge Cen
eral recommended that the militia sys-
tenn be reconstructed on the basis OF a
more intimate relation to the national
Government. Zone Of the most serious
defects noted during the Spanish
American war" he said, was the mex
perience and utter disregard for the
most elementary principles of military
life in large camps" The archaic militia
law of 1892 has been blotted from the
statute book, and we have a new system,
maintained in part by Federal appro-
priations and depending for its efficiency
upon Federal cooperation. The mex
perience Of the National Guardsmen
as field soldiers is still a glazing defect
in their training. In equipment they
are better prepared for service than
they were in 1898, but it may be doubted
whether they could take care of them
selves any better in camp and on the
march than when they were found want
ing before. There were the maneuvres
at Manassas, it is true; but what did
they prove, except that man for man
the volunteers were not physically as fit
as the Regulars? The forced marches
left no time, or precious little, to learn
from the professional soldiers how to
make and break camp, to cook, pack and
prepare for the march, and to attend to
the multifarious details of military duty
which can never be learned from the
books or practised in the summer State
camps satisfactorily. The manGuvres
showed the seasoned Regulars to ad-
vantage; but while there were militia
regiments that distinguished themselves,
the National Guardsman returned home
without having improved mis- camp and
field education enough to pay for the
time spent upon the ordeal. And the
expense of the manoeuvres was so stag
gering that, under the circumstances,
Congress has not been disposed to have
them repeated.
1t is only by observation of the way
the Regulars do things, and by contact
and companionship with them, that
National G%uardsmen can learn the lesson
of self-help and self-reliance. Thrown
on their own resources, they naturally
make slow progress and grow indiffer-
ent. Soldering with them is not the
bushes. of life, and they need inspira-
ton as we'll as example. Congress has
now an opportunity to supply both.
The Army Appropriation bill contains an
item of 100000 for brigade camps Of
Regulars and State troops during the
summer of 1905. 1t is proposed to estab-
lish seven of these camps between the
two oceans. In the Atlantic division
there would be one at the Plattsburg
reservation and one in the Southern
States. All branches of the services are
to be represented. The plan is to have
the Regulars on duty as instructors for
three months, during which time the
Governors of States may order regiments
of the National Guard to the scene for
field exercises. At Plattsburg would
assemble Guardsmen from the New Eng
land States, New York and probably
Pennsylvania.
General ROBERT SHAW OLIVER, As
sistant Secretary Of War, was, we be-
lieve, the inspiration Of this admirable
idea, which has been taken up with
enthusiasm by officers Of the National
Guard aIsSover the country; and 1T has