New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-17

The recent appointments on the militia
council I'm the National Guard of New YORK.
announced by Adjutant General Nerbeck,
are the subject OF considerable criticism.
This council acts in an advisory capacity
TO the Governor. and the officers just Sc
Iected are one colonel OF engineers, one
colonel of coast artillery. two lieutenant
colonies OF infantry. one major OF cavalry.
one major OF infantry and one major oil
field artillery.
The criticism is not directed against any
particular officer appointed on the COUNCIL
all having excellent records but II IS
directed against the system or selection
Not a single colonel OF infantry is Included
although the infantry comprises the great
bulk Of the troops OF the state, aggregating
some twelve thousand officers and men
Representing IL are two lieutenant colonies
from New York City and one major from
Buffalo
The separate company regiments in the
upper part of the state. which are known
as exceptionally fine bodies of men and
are also among the largest regiments in
the guard. have no representation on the
council. With one exception, all the OFF,
GERS Of the auxiliary troops named are the
senior officers In each arm.
One well known officer in speaking OF the
matter said: The manner OF the selection
OF the present council is. In plain English.
an insult to every infantry colonel in the
state. Years OF ripe experience and eff
Client service in these days OF military
politics evidently count for little Surely
there must he at least one infantry colonel
IN, ha CT a uh Ia "a . m piy
advice on military matters as junior Off
GERS but who ever selected the council evil
IDENTIFY does not believe we have even one
competent infantry colonel"
When q new major general is appointed
to command the National Guard OF New
] York after General Roe retires a few
months hence, It is the intention 10 have
division headquarters at Albany and give
up the offices in New York City. II is also
intended to make the office OF major gem
| efal commanding the guard salari,d one.
, To this end bill is to he introduced in
the state Legislature shortly. making the
! pay OF the major general 5000 a year and
| specifying that he give all his time to
military duties.
| Under the new militia law passed by
! tOIbitoo IL 10 Shiu TIC Noih VI ludJuI
general will grow heavier each year and
will require practically an officers entire
| time.
! Many officers Of the national guard eX-
press the opinion that the law relating TO
the appointment Of a major general should
be so changed as TO limit the appointment
| for a term OF four years only. instead OF
being practically lfe job, as at present.
| a. la,u nd ba 10
general should be a man Of, say, forty
years he would serve twenty-rour years in
| his 5000 year position before he would
be retired at the age OF sixty-four
officers generally favor a limited term of
Office for major general commanding. in
order to give other officers chance Cor the
place before they retire OF die II Is un-
derstood that Adjutant General Verbeck
would like TO be major general command
ing, provided the bill allowing a salary
goes through. There are several other off,
GERS, however. who have very strong In
nuence at Albany. and who, 1t is said have
a much better chance of appointment than
| General Verbeck.
| Now that Governor Dix has authorized
the forming OF Troop B. OF Albany, and
Troop ~, VI iHlO IL tnc
next step, II is said, will be the formation
OF a regiment OF cavalry. With the four
troops In Squadron a, the four troops in
Squadron and the tYo upstate troops,
there are enough for the formation OF a
regiment to consist of ten troops. When
this formation is made the logical candi-
date for colonel will be Major o. b. Bldg
man. of Squadron A. who is the senior
major. >
The old letter designations OF the squad
rons would have TO be dropped, so as TO
conform to the army organization, and
they would be numbered. Should the regi-
ment be formed II will be KNOWN, II Is
said. as the list Regiment of Cavalry
Major Bridgmsn has been an officer of the
cavalry since April 3, 1882 when he Joined
old Troop A as second lieutenant. under
Captain Charles F. Roe. now major gen.
eral.
Although General George Moore Smith.