New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-04
SHAKE-UP in GUARD
AIMS AT OFFICERS
Chief of Coast Artillery To
BE Abolished in ReOr-
ganization Plan.
CHANGE TO COMPLY
WITH NEW MILITIALAW
Colonels To Be Retired with Ad-
yanced Rank-Brigadier Gen.
eral Austin to Command.

eTdt AuStlU tO NOIlNldnu.
The biggest shake-up among officers o,
the New York National Guard since tho
reorganization OF the force following the
civil War will soon occur. 20 comply with
orders from the War Department and to
make the organizations concerned more
effective for war purposes.
Under the plans now prepared by Major
General John r. ORyan and Endorsed by
- Adiutant General Henry De Witt Hami
ton. and which 70 is believed Governor
Glynn Will surely authorize. the office OF
CHEF OF coast artillery will be abolished.
Colonel William r Morris. commanding
The 9th Regiment. in Manhattan. and
colonel Charles O. Davis. commanding tho
18th Regiment. are TO be retired with ad
ysnced rank nine majors viii be made
supernumeraries or placed on the reserve
list and also two captains and two first
iieutenantS. and the Office OF two
. colonies in the coast artillery will cease
70 exist
further. u is understood that II is the
intention TO relieve Brigadier E1more +.
Austin. chief OF coast artillery, from the
duties OF the Office. and then appoint
colonel william F. Morris Of the 9th
Reeiment 10 the Office OF chief Of coast
artillery with the rank of bri9adier
general for one day, when he Will be
placed on the retired 'ist az his own re-
Guest.
Officers 10 Advance, Then Retire.
Then Colonel Charles O. Davis OF the
Ivfe, f.r
general and chief of coast artillery for one
day, when he in turn will at his own re-
quest he retired. after which the office OF
chief Of coast artillery will cease 10 eX-
ist. as under the War Department ruling
there are not enough coast artillery COM
panies IN the state 10 warrant the office.
II is desired that each Of The three off,
GERS concerned, In consideration of their
long and faithful service, shall be given
the opportunity Of retiring on their own
application and the first application, it is
understood. Will come from Brigadier
General Elmore F. Austin. who VIII re-
qrest 70 be relieved. in order TO devote his
duties wholly TO that OF colonel of the
sth Regiment, which position he will re-
tain This will open the way for Colonies
Norris and Davis TO retire with additional
actual rank
Under the orders OF the War Depart
ment. TO carry out the national militia
law these changes must be made under
any circumstances I'm a few months. but
General Organ 10 complete the organiza-
ton of the New York National Guard
strictly TO that OF the army is anxious
10 have It perfected now. instead OF
waiting until the end OF the time limit
which is some six months OF. He also
believes il imperative 10 have the force
organized and ready for active service
II the call comes, complete in every de-
tail. as soon as possible. without inviting
confusion by reorganization whom war
comes 1t may be that the coast artillery
win 20 at once to coast Notifications TO
relieve the regulars now organized as IN
fantry.
General Austin is at present occupying
dual Office. that OF chief or coast
artillery and colonel OF the sth Regiment
~ coast artillery Under the army or
ranization there IL no such dual office.
and a brigadicr general never assumes
The functions % lower Office. There are
thirty-one companies of coast artillery
in the y. q. y. Y. divided among three
provisional regiments. designated oHici-
snv as districts" Nine companies are III
the Nh Regiment. ten In the 9Th Resi-
mont and twelve in the 18th Regiment.
Brio.-Gen. Austin To Be Colonel,
In the future there can only he two
coloncls two lieutenant colonels ana
seven majors. all told There are al
r-esent two colonies. four lieutenant
colonels and sixteen majors The new
order ~ things will mean that the SIN
Regiment will have Brigadier General
Austin as colonel. while the 9Th and the
18Th regiments Will be under command OF
lieutenant colonies.
Two lieutenant colOnels and nine ma
'ors will have to be eliminated and also
two captains and two first lieutenanls on
staff duty. There Will be no change In
The company officers in any of the three
,sgments The commanding officer OF
The EN- Regiment is TO be Lieutenant
Colonel John j. Byrne and the command
ing officer Of the 18th Regiment viii FOR
While at least, IL is understood he Lieu
tenant Colonel James T. Ashley.
Lieutenant Colonel Byrne joined the
national guard as private in Company
a. 1th Regiment. on January j. 1890 and
joined the 9th Regiment as first lieu
tenant Of Company X on July lt' lS9''
he is still a young officer and was oori
In New York on September l3. 1871.
Lieutenant Colonel Ashley Is also sun
young officer. having been born IN Ne"
York on September 29. 1866.
Colonel Norris holds the Tevet RANK
Or brigsdier general for meritoriouS
service for more than twenty-five, years
lie first entered the military service IN
Company x. 18th Regiment, on June =
.ls'6, and next month will have had thirty
eight years Of service to his credit. In
April 1881. he joined the 18th Regiment