The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-09-08
STATE MILITIA
IS DISSATISFIED
Regulars at Army Post Also
Displeased with War
Department
PROMOTIONS DELAYED
Is OFFICER DECLARES
Lack of Decision Felt Keenly by Both
officers and Men = Reporter Tries
Vainly to Get Information from In
Spector General

The state militia is as disguised with
the vacillation of the war department
as the regulars are themselves, and vice
versa. Those are the strongest superla
tives that could be used, says the
Burlington Free Press. Officers of the
lst Vermont Infantry and army officers
at the post are inpatient at the I'M
certainty that has prevailed in Wash
ington during the past few months.
An army officer of high rank who
should know says that half the officers
at Fort Ethan Allen are waiting for
promotions to take effect that were
scheduled July l. The latter are among
1900 officers in the regular army, he
said, whose promotions have been de-
layed. To hold up a promotion more
than two weeks was unprecedented be-
fore this, he declared As for the mill
tia, a recommendation had been made
in the proper quarters that the remain
ing companies and unassigned recruits
in the state be either sent to the border
or discharged from active service.
Asked by whom and to whom the re-
commendation was made, he refused to
say.
The lack of decision at the capital is
| felt quite as keenly among the militia
| both officers and men. The event of a
week ago when the state guard didn I
90 to Eagle Pass merely heaped injury
upon insult in their minds. One officer
called it huge "ioke,D but there was
anything but a smile ON his face when
he said it.
"Any chance of the mobilization
camps being demobilized9' a reporter
81
/ lain of the department of the East. who
| ing the militia. 'sYou I'll have to ash
Mr.. Wilson, y was the reply, made il
all soberness, the intimation being that
the President was the commander OF
the army, as of course he is This i:
the inspector generals first call upor
the militia of the state He doesn 7
| express opinions. as he said. but the
criterion of excellence which he hel(
up to the militia will probably sticl
in their minds for some years to come
He said he and his subordinate inspec
tors were inspecting each of the !,
mobilization camps in the eastern de
partment.
i Last June Colonel Tillson, one o
these inspectors, was at Camp Governo
Gates on his rounds.
The militia officers have opened head
lquarters at E12 barracks, where fiv
Irooms have been assigned to their use
Adiutant General Lee S. Tillotson ha
been at the post almost daily since tn
militia took up their quarters there
week ago, but Wednesday moved hi
headquarters to st. Adams His wor
in connection with the militia there
finished, practically speaking.
! Major S. S. Watson of st. Albans
who was in charge of the quartermas
ter's department of the militia, ha
been mustered out of the service, an
the headquarters at what was Cam
Governor Gates has been nailed up an
the rest of the tents removed. Sergean
Carl Henkel, former clerk at the camp
has left.
The work of the unassigned recruit
has not been changed either in kind O
amount, but is being. executed niue
better. The marching and alignment ar
superior to what they were, and tn
men S appearance is more soldierlv.
-Four enlisted men who came bae