New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13
NATIONAL GUARD NEWS.

Not since the days Of former Adjutant
General c. Whitney TiIinghast, when the
latter attempted To command in person
troops Of the national guard on parade
over the head of the late Brigadier Gen
eral Louis Fitzgerald and the latter
moved his command out CT line, has the
guard been so much stirred up as it is
over the order issued by Governor Dix
creating the new combination Of the
adjutant general and chief of STAFF for
General Verbeck. Experienced officers ot
the national guard express the greatest
establishment that the Governor should
have been led into such an action, which,
il is held, is absolutely in violation Of the
military law of the state.
one Of the best informed officers in the
state. who has no Partially for either
General Verbeck or General Organ, in
speaking of the matter. said
THE claim put forth from the Office OF
the adjutant general that the new comb-
nation is analogous to that Of the CHIEF
OF staff of the United States army is
childish and nonsensiCal. and YOU cannot
compare the two. The chief Of staff Of
the army is line officer, and has TO d.
with the field work and instruction Of the
troops, while the adjutant general OF the
army merely presides over an Office OF
record. The duties Of the adjutant gen
eral of New York are plainly prescribed
in the military law Of the state. and il
confines his duties to records and papers
and the purchase Of military supplies, the
auditing Of accounts. etc
by the order issued by Governor Dix
the adjutant general is now given all
| the power Of a major general Of the line,
except the actual command Of troops in
| the field, and If Governor Dix has the
| legal right 20 issue the order giving such
unheard Of powers he has the further
! right TO Issue another order making the
adjutant general the commanding officer
Of the national guard. The Governor has
certainly violated the military law Of New
| York in so far as it relates to the adju-
! tant general and also the major general
commanding. Unfortunately the Legis-
| lature is not in session now. so no action
can be taken. II is hoped, however, that
| the next Legislature will so amend tho
military law that it will be impossible for
| any III advised Governor in the future to
/ make such serious errors. so detrimental
to the interest and welfare Of the national
| guard"
| Major General Organ has received
much commendation from officers for his
unusual action in calling together the
leading officers Of the national guard for
a private expression Of views as 10 wbo,
could best be done 10 improve the situa-
alton at Albany and head off. II possible,
further complications. 1T was a daring
move said one officer who was present.
and, although 1t might be construed as
treading on very dangerous ground II
was the only thing 10 do under the cir
cumstances, and ne is to. be commended
for his grit"
Following the detail OF Captain J. A.
Moss, L. 5. A. to the adjutant generals
ONCE at Albany for ten days relative to
! simplifying paper work for the national
guard, the following board Of officers has
been appointed 10 get up forms which
shall be as close as possible 10 those used
IN the army. Brlgadier General s NJ
WEIGH, ith Brigade; Colsnel George A
Wlngate. "a Field Artillery: Colonel VIII
lam O. Bates, list Infantry; Colonel A
l.. Reagan, assistant adjutant general
and Lieutenant Colonies c. A Simmons
Edward V. Howard and John p Treanor
assistant adiutant generals and Captain
De Witt c. Falls, 9TH Regiment.
Aside from the promotion OF Captain
II. r.. Rogers, 1st Field Artillery, TO the
Office OF lieutenant colonel, several other
changes have been made In the regiment
Captain Frank g. Barrett, OF Battery ID
has been promoted major He Joined the
guard as a second lieutenant IN the ID
Battery in May, 1894. and reached the
grade Of captain IN September, 1911. Cap
tain Herbert VI. Paul, Of Battery +, has
resigned He first Joined the guard as
a private I'm the lst Battery, December 4
1896, and was later promoted corporal and
second lieutenant, and reached the grade
OF captain in September, 1911. The cap
tain last spring came IN for some criticism
for taking his battery TO Van Cortlandt
Park and firing bail cartridges at paper
targets, which is not permissible in public