The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-29

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belt. there has been I'm expense OF
from sea 80 s25e.
But for tho public spirit and patriot.
ism among tho otncers Of the service
it would be impossible to get men t.
| serve.
ArmOrics NcccsaHry.
| Armor!cs constitute a most urgent
need Of tho service. Nearly all the
states assist the local authorities in
building homes for their militia com.
mands. Because of the lack of room
and facilities. in some towns the men
take their military property homo with
them. and naturally, in some cases not
the best care is taken Of it.
! Under the law OF the state now, city
and town Councils and county boards
Of supervisors may appropriate local
| funds to aid in tho construction OF
| armorics. and the Military Board will
supplement this from state funds SO
| far as IL possibly can.
! -ut for local public spirit. the cities
and towns of the State would have no
armorics In Richmond. the city has
| been most liberal. and with its help
| three al'norieS have been built, one Of
them costing $4,000, without cost 10
Virginia.
Proposed DEPARTMENTS.
In addition. the time must come when
Il quartcrmaster generals department
and commissary- generals department
must he organized. The work of both
is now done by the Adjutant- Generals
office. with his small force. The last
United states oftic1' who inspected the
Adjntant Generals department noted
the amount of work which falls upon it
III this respect, But the funds do not
justify their esta blishmcnt just at
present. After March l the Office OF
Clerk of Virginia Military Records viii
be added, making the duties more
laborious.
Further, a chief or ordinance and
judgc-advocatc-g should be APP
pointed. the Adjutant Genera. having
charge Of these departments.
/ Need Field Hospital.
a field hospital is ncccusary and
VIII no doubt soon be secured. Its
lack has been especially noticeable az
cncampments, when ii has become
necessary TO send sick men to the United
states hospitals. Besides separation
from command, this causes additional
expense.
The field hospital will consist
Sof minimum strength OF three SER
Seants of the first class, six sergeants
and twenty-four privates. total Of
thirty-thrcc enlisted men. Hncy
would he in charge Of I'VE officers of
the Medical Corps. one major and fou,
captains as surgeons and assistant
surgeons, respectfully.
It's equipment will include los beds
for patients and the necessary tcntnge
and medical and other supplies
= r.
this corps can be secured from sepa-
rate fund in the hands OF the War
Department.
Company OF siEnnlmcn.
Another need is a signal corps 1t
might be enlisted from different see
tons Of the State, who could be gotten
together at camps. The company OF
signal corps would consist of one cap
tain, two first licutenants, five SER
Ecants Of the first class, five serscants,
ten corporals, two cooks, eighteen
privates Of the first class ana eighteen
privates: total, siNty-onc officers ann
enlisted men, 1t is necessary that at
least two-thirds Of these be expert
photographers and electricians
The equipment OF 4 signal company
consists of a visual signal outfit, tele-
phone outfit for field lines and the
usual clothing, arms and equipment
TcNt-Dooks.
Text books for the instruction OF
officers and men in all branches arc
much wanted
Then there should be personal con-
Ncnicnccs for the use of the men in
camps or on active duty. Each man
should have an extra Suit of khaki
so that he could keep clean by having
sui, washed. There should be cases
of toilet articles TO use in camp.
The field artillery ought TO be sup
piled with horses TO insure proper drill
and handling Of the guns. The present
appropriation is insufficient to permit
he purchase OF animals. Ii is admitted
10 be an impossiblity for the artillery
10 reach the proper stage of efficiency
without being able to drill with horses
They will be supplied as soon as the
funds justify.
Choice Of .tdjutunt General.
In 4 review OF military matters in
Virginia. the circumstances of the APP
pointment OF adjutant general will
probably be OF interest. When it be-
came known that Adjutant General
Charles j. Anderson would not be a
candidate for rea appointment, Governor
! elect Mann asked the military men OF
| the state to suggest to him Il suitable
man for the position. After consulta-
ton. q majority OF the officers decided
TO ask for the appointment of Senator
| W. ". Sale. OF Norfolk. lie at first
declined. but finally yielded to their
| opportunities. Then. with their in
| dorscmcnt, the namc was presented to
Judge Mann. who announced the APP
pointmen,.
| although the service. needs many
| things TO make II OF tho highest cf
iic!cncy. the operations OF the Dick
| bill have rendered 1t a we'll organized
and equipped and oliccred force On
! tWenty-iour hours of notice, the state
can put into the field three fun rcgi-
/ ments Of infantry, properly equipped
/ In addition there would be availab Bile
1 three batteries OF field artillery, Of