The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-08
ECHO Or DISTANT WAR
RUMBt|les PRESENTED
Portions OF Annual Report Of Adju'
tant-Genersl Sale Forecasts Rcor-
gaaixation of National Guard.
VOLUNTEERS SHOULD NOT
SERVE AT OWN EXPENSE.
Colonies stern and Rhcttow Make
striking Suggestions For Placing of
Military On Firmcr Piane-Ninetecn
Companies Below Minimum.

ONCE of Governor stuart on lls way 10
the printer The report Is voiuH,in-
ous one embracing the reports of the
several heads of the various branches
aud departments of the military of
virginia. the Virginia Volunteers
Among the more interesting of these
reports are those of Lieutenant
Colonel II. lane Stern. assistant in
spector-generai. and of Lieutenant
Colonel Thomas W. Rhettow. judge
advocate-gencraL The reports OF
these two officers contain numerous
practical suggestions for the placing
Of the Virginia Volunteers on higher
plane OF efficiency.
The report of Colonel stern covers
the work in the Office of the assistant
Inspector general for the year, inciud-
Ing the annual inspection and muster
II shows that the annual inspection
was begun at Covington August 80,
and completed October IL, at Rich
inond.
Present Aggregate Strength 3.04S.
Muster rolls returned with Colonel
Storms report show the aggregate
strength of the volunteers TO be 3,04S.
n gain of eighty-two over last year.
Discharges during the year numbered
cas-. OF these 3s7 came at expiration
of term of service, 347 by removal. 81
for business reasons. There were
thirteen desertIous. twenty-five Joined
thes United states service. thirty.five
were let go for the good OF the SER
vice. and thirty-four for other causes.
Nineteen companies are reported as
being from one to thirty eight below
the minimum number required. and
II is recommended that action be taken
under section ais OF the code to com
pei filing these companies within sixty
days or on failure thereof the com
parties be disbanded az required by
that section. Colonel Stern expresses
the belief that with few exceptions.
these companies can be recruited TO
the required number. and that new
companies can he organized within
short time to take the places Of such
as may be dishanded
Company X. Fourth Infantry. Ports
mouth IN shown to be SO men short;
Company X. Second Infantry. Stres-
burg. 2e short; Company d, Fourth,
Norfolk 20 short Company c, Second.
Warrenton IA short. Company /.
Fourth. portsmouth, r. Company e,
Second Petersburg and Company A,
Fourth Norfolk ~ each: Company
: second. Winchester. and Company
=, Fourth Norfolk. s each; Company
= First Richmond. ard Company l.,
tr.rst Fredericksburg, ; each: Com
paHv G. First AteNandria Company g
'1oIrjh. Norfolk and Company Nj,
Fourth F.Aporia. each; Companies
\ and r. First Richmond. each.
Compans f. Second. Roanoke, Com
eapy II. Fourth Highland Springs,
a'5 Company y Richmond T.. Blues,
Narh
wnnts R~~~rv~ List created.
Several officers sore - them hav-
ss- i1seH man s-t ~ So service. for. one
reasou pr another Wit IN the near fu
tare ~retir. fror' active service" saws
s,s FN ~
deer TO Ro on the retired iist, which
pFacticalN sewers their connection with
the volunteers. ard leaves them NJ
}ts4eition in Ghe event there ia call
-. service IN The field They have
xuggesied that l. reserve list be es-
fshiishcd. authorized hy special sta
sute If necessary, and that both ONT
GERS and men, including those who have
already resigned or been discharged,
or. who have otherwise left the ser
vfce WITH honor. may upon their own
appffca ttur-he placed on this reserve
list. and thar from this list the GOV
eruor may select officers and men 10
MI vacancies tina, may occur in time
Of peace, in the volunteers: or cali
ann them for special service. and that
eligible officers and men on their list
may at any time he ommcnded IN
the President for appointment to of
nce In any volunteer army of the United
states going into the field,
The suggestion appears to be well
worth considering, and II the plan be
tudiciously CARVED into effect will keep
many good men in close touch with
the service who may otherwise be
lost"
Work In Camp Fur Efficiency.
las Il In generally believed that the
next Congress will enact law pro-
viding for the payment of volunteers.
this opportunity is awaited of to sug-
vest that the authorities charged with
The duty OF seeing that the govern
ment gets a quid pro quo. may well
consider making the larger part of
the amount SO appropriated payable
for duty performed at camp. II Will
he better to pay enlisted men, say 81. so
to $500 a day. for a good days work
in camp than to pay 81 driii per
week. covering an hour or so, SUBJ
jet to the whims. tender heart liher-
nj Interpretation of his orders, or
other weak spot III the drill @r~eer,
At camp n regular routine can be
ordered. and under the eyes of all the
officers no one can shirk. Men can
afford to remain in camp for ten days
or more il paid the amount suggest
ed. and ten days of punched work
will result in more complete instruc7
tion than forty nights of armory work,
scattered through forty weeks, with
the absences excuses. headaches and
sore feet that will interfere with
fair performance of the contract
ColcrcI Hhettow's Report
Colonel khettow. Judge advocate
general in his report to the adtutant-
general recommends reorganization of
riiitary court practice for greater ef-
ficienrv, suggests a new and complete
ser Of forms such as will show every
NJ trtn nj ~, IN ftr-