New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-29

ton repeated the assertion OF Major
General Organ that the d!sbsnding o.
the 2Zd as regiment was not renee
ton upon the command as an infantry
organization. He ssid
There Is nothing sudden or mys-
FERROUS in the reorganization ~ the
corps Of engineers. Il has been under
nsioeration for nearly year Clause
Is. Section 5, Article ] Of the Con
stitution Of the United States give
Congress the power 20 prescribe tnc
organization Of the militia. The DlcN
.aw and amendatory acts provide that
he militia conform 20 the regular army
and direct the Secretary of War 90 pre-
scribe the details of organization.
Circulars Ncs. and l3. War De-
partment. and tables Of organization
for organized militia prescribe that the
engineer unit of a division be bat
talon. It was felt that the Z2d Hegi-
ment was too valuable a body 20 reduce
20 a single battalion. and after some
espondence the consent OF the war
Department was given TO the retention
of two battalions. one a pioneer and
the other q pontoon battalion.
"All the units OF the national guard
auxiliary 90 infantry have now been
reorganized in conformity TO Tables oil
Organization. Organized Militia, pre-
pared IN Washington.
"No criticism OF the 22d Regiment
as infantry Is implied. II has been
known as an efficient. duty doing, re-
liable infantry organization, with an
honorable record. On the contrary, II
Il were not for the fact that the state
has al present four more infantry regl-
ments than are called for by The tables
Of organization, II would have been
possible TO change the 22G Regiment
from The engineer back into the ln-
fantry organization.
But this would have involved not
only the unnecessary and lneNcu-aole
increase of infantry. but also the sacrI-
fee Of nanv thousands of dollars
worth Of engineer equipment. when mas
ALREADY been issued b. the United STATE,
for the engineering work Tor when
the 22d was responsible. IN justice TO
the 2Zd Regiment. 20 the state and 10
the United States. the only course that
lay open was the one adopted
Dirt Floors Now.
Major General Organ. commanding
the division of the national guard. was
outspokeu yesterday i'm his comments
on the conditions that brought about
the disbanding of the 22d Regiment
lie refused. however, 20 say whether %
was the last TO 30.
ping pong soldiers was his descrip-
tion Of the kind of militameI who
would no longer be tolerated i'm tie SER
vice. The fine dancing foor OF the ar
mory at Fort Washington az. and l6Sth
81. is 20 be torn up, SO that the two
newly formed battalions may have prac-
teal experience in engineering work.
such as digging trenches and building
bridges.
1.-THE engineers Of the state militia
are. to my mind" General Organ con-
iinued. FIRST cousins 10 Mother Earth.
To be useful in time Of war they must
get acquainted with the edrth's surface
in time Of peace. They are not the
only soldiers VINO should be trained on
earth floors. either. and ! hope 70 see
the hardwood floors Of most of the
armories replaced with dirt
Far from fearing that the practical
elimination OF social affairs from the
armOries would cause the number Of re-
cruits 20 dwindle. General Organ eX-
pressed the belief that II would swell
the ranks. He would appeal TO the ath-
ltIlt ldlpItN OF gNNhE Hlfh anu hi'NAN's
keep the columns full.
What ] want 20 do is 90 build up 2
militia in the STATE Of New York Of de-
pendable lighting men, the general
went on. "War is q rough business,
and you have TO use rough methods in
preparing the men of the militia for Il.
"The national guard of this state is
second to none IN the country, particu-
larry the cavalry and field artillery.
Take the 18th Regiment Coast Defence
in Brooklyn ! was over there Satur-
day night. and found everything in per-
feet condition. They have range finders
about the armory and showed efficiency
in this branch of the service
Praises Boy Scouts.
General Organ praised the Boy Scou.
movement. and declared it was Of un-
told value to the state militia. Much
new material comes from the scouts
and has d good foundation for army
training.
The Defendant Association, 22d Regi-
mcnt. James Monroe and Lloyd Aspin-
wall posts, G.. A. r.. and the Associate
Society Of the last named Joined ye,ter-
day in call for q meeting tonight at
545 West 145th 81.
1.-THE purpose" says the call. els not
10 combat or Oppose the order of Gov
ernOr Glynu, but 20 consider such meas
ures and take such steps as may be
deemed proper and wise to preserve and
perpetuatc the identity Of the numeri-
cal '22,' the distinctive part Of the
name of the regiment VIC served IN.
which service has created deep. en-
during affection therefor.
Every comrade should avail himself
of this opportunity to unite in an ef-
fort to maintain 90 as a living nu-
merical i'm the National Guard of The
State of New York. even as 10 is en-
craven on the hearts of. and will ever
remain tender memory with. every
comrade who has had the honor to
serve in the grand old regiment"
The call is signed by George +. Pot
ter. president OF the Defendant Asso-
citation; Richard b. Greenwood, com
mandcr of James Monroe Post; James
r. Silliman, commander of Lloyd As
piuwall Post, and John Whalen, Tresi-
dent of the Associate Society Lloyd As