The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-09
MARCHES Of BLUES
JUST LIKE PICNIC
yHorLD BE MADE UNDER DrsCIP-
LINE. SAYS ADJrTaNT-eEN-
ERALS REPORT.
IN SPLENDID S Fl AP f
VIRGINIA MILITIA Is IN A MuCn
BETTER CONDITION THAN LAST
TEAR. SAY GEN
ERAL SALE.
IN SPLENDID SH AP E

The annual report Of Adjutant Cen
sral Sale. which WAS sent TO the pub
&c printer yesterday. shows that the
condition OF the State militia is pros
porous, that whole the depart
nef1t ~ In better shape han last year
ana makes several important recon-
ncndatlons, some q which pertain
shieily 10 the IArbmupd Light In
fantfy Blues-
In the latter recomm endatIous the
sdlutant general mentions that ne
would desire 10 see the battalion
ordered n take practice marches un~
DER discipline and that they be made
something more than piCuics He ad-
soeates inspection OF the companies
by local sian officers during the year
and that steps be taken with local
authorities to have them provide each
organization with an adequate armory
Total Enlistment.
according 10 The report there are
2l7 officers in the militia Of Virginia
Under these there are 2.57R volunteer
soldiers, making a total enlistment of
2,592. During the last year Company
II. Second virginia infantry. was mus
tered out; Company G. Fourth infan-
trX was mustered into the service and
Company !. First infantry. was re-
organized as Company a, Second regl-
tbSIlAs teVdEG8 al St3uHfur.
The losses during the year totaled
seI men OF this number 227 were
lost because Of expired terms, 27G be-
cause OF removal from the sta nine
ty.seven on account Of business s-'o,>-
ests. twenty who enlisted in the
United States service. SIX on account
of death and sixty-four from other
causes.
Recommendation made for tbe
good OF the department by the adiu-
fant general comprised the following.
More pay for soldiers on the an
nuaI field encam pments; a company
of regulars with the volunteers the
encampnents for the purpose Of in
struGfson and encouragement. 81 least
one inspector assigned To each bat
talon and a noncommissi0ned officer
to each company.
AT present there are bat three in
Epectors fer the State troops and no
noneommisSioned officers 10 aid them
sixty days Time,
The war department has granted
Virginia sixty days within which to
recruit four companies, SO that the
Virginia State volunteers will come
within the pale of the Dick law by
being reorgaulzed under the stand
ards of the regular army
General Mills, chief OF the division
of state militia affairs, has been ad-
yised by Adjutant General Sale that
plans are now completed for the
organization of companies at Big
Stone Gap. Wythevllie. Pulaski. and
Highland Springs. He added that
with a few days more Of grace these
companies Will be mustered in and
the Second and Fourth regiments. will
have a fun complement of soldiers
as required by the Dick law,
When the Virginia troops will be
brought up to the standard, that State
will have one brigade Of infantry
and one battalion of field artillery
Virginia. therefore, Is not involved
In the clash between the war depart
ment and the national guard of other
States. which are baking over reor-
ganizing under the regular army
standards. To force the recalcitrant
States to come within the pale OF the
Dick law. the department has taken
aggressive steps. Those States whose
national guard do not comply with
the regular army regulations. will he
deprived of the financial support the
government has been extending them.
During 1912 Virginia received from
the federal government for the sun
port of its national guard the sum OF
sf0I, 373.13. while the State itself onl
put up s59.749.
Increase Efficiency.
One reason why the war depart
nent liz anxious to reorgani2e the
State troops, on regular army basis
IL TO develop its efficiency and main
tain uniform practices and organiza-
ton systems. Under the present lax
system there are many short com
pany regiments among the national
guard. Some regiments have onlv
six or eight companies while some
brigades have only two regiments and
some divisions only two hriRades
Under the regular army organiza
ton plans. twelve companies consti-
tute regiment. three regiments .
brigade and three brldages a division
In many States officers have been Gre
ated for these short" commands, The
war department Is determined TO
break up this practice and compel
the state militia 10 get dow
uniform basis. And in encampm ents
more work and less fuss and feathers
will be. demanded.