Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-11-03
MILITARY SPIRIT
ON THE DECLINE
Adjutant-Gen. SadIer elanaes
II for Absenteeism in Ma
tional Guard.
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
TO GOVERNOR FIELDER
Could Take Field in Four
Months as Effective Unit,
He Says.
special To the Evening star.

Special TO the Evening star.
TRENTON, Nov. Suggesting
that there is a decline in the snilitars
spirit among the young men Of to
day, as an explanation Of the in
ereasing absenteeism in recent year
among members of the Nationa
Guard. Adjutant- General Wilbur e
/ Sadler today presented TO Governoe
Fielder the annual report Of his de
partment. Surprising as it ma
seem, the report shows that 7i.6 pc
cent. OF the commands Of the Ma.
/ tional Guard Of the state we're be
/ low the required minimum during fi1e
/ fiscal year just closed. In otlie
respects, however, the Guard is keep.
! ing apace with the advanced ideas or
modern military science.
| The actual strength of the nilitarY
and naval establishments of the state
on September 30 last. was 3S6 officers
and 5,2l9 enlisted men. The author
i lied strength on the same date was
/ 392 officers and 5,S25 men. Attached
] 10 the report IS an estimate made hy
/ Lieutenant-Colonel Austen Colgate, Il
/ Essex county. as Of last SATURDAY,
showing that there are IN New Jersey
666,421 males Of militia age. who
/ might be called UPON for military
duty should this country become IN
/ volved in a general war.
Military Strength Of Counties.
Essex county ranks second in tbs
/ estimate. having 126.721 men CT
militia age. Hudson county leads
/ with 1881 men. The strength in
! other counties follows. Atlantic. L.
257; Bergen, 26,421; Burlington, 1S-
$50: Camden, 3s,e5s; Cape May. 427a
Cumberland, 1911; Gloucester. 10
95s; Hunterdon, 10.e9s; Mercer. Sc.
j 202: Middlesex. 39:a6S: Monmouth
I 2s, ,027; Morris, g. .445; Ocean, e,sSS
] Passaic. 55,49S; Salem. s,462; Sonnef
set, 11.253; Sussex, S,254; Union, 3D.
1886; Warren. 12.532.
Adjutant- General Sadler again has
the distinction of filing the frs.
/ yearly report with the governor.
For several years General Sadler has
had his report filed with the governni-
first and it is always ready n
printed form for the legislators
when they convene in January.
The National Guard, according 10
the report. despite the falling off III
numerical strength, as fighting force
could be made an efficient active force
at short notice. General Sadler be-
lieves most of the organizations could
be fully prepared for any service with
from two weeks to four months ex-
perience in the field.
The general condition OF the M
tional Guard is outlined by General
Sadler in a summary OF the reports Of
the inspecting officers, both Of tbs
State guard and of the regular army
who conducted the inspection under
the Federal militia law. The result.
of this inspection showed that the or
ganizations are uniformed, armed and
equipped. as required by the war de-
isa-,.
coats, to the minimum authorized
strength. Requisition has been ma6s
for part of the additional number re-
quired, the cost of which viii be
charged against the federal allotment
TO New Jersey under the provisions OF
the act Of 1908. Many important ar
ticles of arms and equipment of Of
ficers are lacking.
The insufficiency and improper keep
ing of company records are criticised
by General Sadler; he points out that
in many towns where separate COM
panies are stationed the drill halls
lack proper facilities, and he again re-
fers to the failure of medical officers
To adhere strictly to the physical eAz
animation of recruits.
Regiment Ratings Discipline.
The discipline of the First Regiment
is rated as generally satisfactory. with
room for Improvement in respect 10
promptness at assemblies for drill
The Second Regiment IS rated as fair
in efficiency for field service. Consid
cradle improvement over conditions at
the last encampment were reported.
The discipline of the Second Regiment
is rated as fair The Third Regiment
received a rating Of very good for
general efficiency. AT its present
strength, the inspector stated, the
regiment is ready to take the field If
necessary, and tender efficient service
The Fourth Regiment receives u
rating of fair. both as TO discipline
and general efficiency. Absenteeisn1
from drill and instruction was ex-
cessive The Fifth Regiment is rated
as good in general efficiency, but In
discipline there was shown to be a
lack of promptness at assemblies fer
drill and instruction. Arms. uniform
and equipment, except as to shoes,
were satisfactory.
The cavalry squadron. as the re-
suit Of its practice march last An
gust, is given a rating of very good
as to general efficiency. The only
weak feature reported was the limited
experience in field service, which was
explained as unavoidable.
Battery A, field artillery, was de-
scribed by the inspecting officers as
possessing an excellent organization
spirit. The battery, he said, had
taken advantage of every means af-
forded TO gain the necessary ex-
perience. Several grounds for criti-
cism We're found in the case of Bat
terry B, although this command Is
rated as fair in a number of par
ticulars. The things criticised are:
lack of facilities for mounted in
struction, lack Of proper commits
stoned personnel, lack of initiative
and failure of officers to set an ex-
ample to their men by being prompt
at formation.
The signal corps is rated as being
capable to perform fair service in
| case of war, within a month. It lacks
suitable and trained horses. Too
many weakhngs in the ranks. sum
up the principal criticism Of the First
| Field Hospital The minimum time
required to prepare the organization
to take the field as an effective unit
is placed at four months.