The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-11-21
Hoods SarsaparilIa
VERMONT MILITIA's NEEDS
Officers Camp of Instruction-Com-
pensation for Enlisted Men--Money

Lieutenant Leslie A. |. Chapman in
structor of the military department of
Norwich university, makes the follow
ing report in regard to the Vermont
National Guard In the annual report
of the national acknowledgement:
"That the inspection be held at la
ter date in the spring, or II this is i'm
practicable, owing to existing legisla-
ton, that the inspection take place in
the fall before the closing in of the
winter in order that the inspector
may observe the result of the sum-
mers instruction and drills. At no
time during this inspection was it pos
sible to do any work out Of doors.
The snow was deep and the tempera.
ture low
THAT, il present legislation will per-
NIT the present system of property ac
countability be so modified as to make
the adjutant-general, quartermaster-
general, or chief of ordnance of the
state the accountable officer instead of
the governor who never sees the prop.
erty, but still must ceipt for 1t, and
who rarely serves but one term, while
the adjutant general serves for a per-
iod of many years.
That when 1t is impossible to hold
combined manouvers Of the army and
militia or to associate regular and mil.
tia troops together, the officers of the
state militia be assembled for instruc-
ton In the field under q regular army
officer prior to the state encampment.
Five days spent in the field. doing
their own cooking, living on the rat.
ion. handling their equipment and ten
tage would give the militia officers a
better idea of how to care for their
commands than any similar amount of
time devoted to other forms of instruc
ton. 1t would also be possible to
combine his with tactical walks and
rides which would prepare them for
manouvers of tactical exercises with
troops at the encampment or practice
march to be held later.
Greater liberality should be shown
the National Guard by both federal
and state governments. The cost Of
the uniforms and equipment far ex-
ceeds any compensation the guards
man receives, so that he is constantly
at the expense of both time and mon
ey. This refers particularly to ofiic-
ers.
Some compensation should be CIV
| en- the enlisted man in the militia
| sufficient to make 1t some object to
him to be, Come and you get nothing,
| stay away and you are fined
That the war department be more
| liberal In it's issue of military publ
cations, furnishing all standard text
hnnIrC Of ~ militia nfToarG
who now find the purchase of neces-
sary military publications a consider
| able burden.
'All property not necessary 70 the
companies is kept at the state arsenal
! in Montpelier. The present system is
| believed worthy of continuance. as the
! state capital is but short distance
| from any of the local companies
| throughout the state, and property is
so arranged that shipment could be
made on one hours notice to one or
all organizations. In its present loca-
tion good care is rendered certain.
| THAT use be made of Battery A
Field Artillery Norwich cadets for
appointment to the army and to the
Philippine constabulary."
The report on field artillery shows
| that Vermont has one organization,
Battery A, made up of cadets of Nor
wich university at Mortified. There
are four officers and seventy enlisted
men. The armament consists of two
3-inch Hotchkiss 12-pounder mountain
guns, serviceable, and two carriages
with limbers, serviceable.
The artillery equipment is said to be
insufficient, although complete new
equipment of modern 3-inch rifles is
expected by the state for issue to the
organization.
The report on character of person,
mel says Men are well braced and
set up, their physical appearance gen
orally comparing favorably with any
regular organization. Drills were
snappy and correctly rendered"
In commenting on the various state
armories the report on Vermont says
"A majority of the organizations have
ample quarters, but some lack neces
sary facilities
The Vermont report in target prac
tice says:
"All organizations but one have fac
ilties for range practice. Negotia
tons are in progress to secure suit
able range for the unprovided organi
cation"
In the government appropriation fol
the support of the militia, Vermont re
ceived during the past fiscal year SIS,
95S.16. OF this sum 11,96S62 was
used for arms, equipment, and CAM
purposes, and $3,999,54 for the promo
| t;o., 80 r;AA pticp