New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-04

in getting our organization and our In
structors. A limited number Of the men
forming each state organization will con-
stitute the national body.
To go back TO the retired officers of the
regular army. Assume that the services
of a considerable number can be secured.
Let's select a group of fifteen or twenty, or
perhaps one for each state, preferably of
the highest rank among those available
that little matter of rank will not have
been forgotten in retirement-to consti-
tute in effect a general staff. The number
need not be very large, for of course this
general staff will have no such work to do
as has the General Staff Of the army. It's
work will be TO provide for and supervise
the instruction and drill and manpuvres OF
the volunteers. and to plan such operations
of extensive scale AS the volunteers from
time do time prove to be able to undertake
This general staff will select and will have
the assistance of large number of retired
officers Of lower rank, who will be, so TO
speak. inspectors of drill and training. The
number should he large enough so that
several may be assigned to each state in
which there are volunteers. AS presum-
ably these men will give their services free
of charge, they should not be overloaded
with work nor should they be expected TO
travel any considerable distances from
their homes. 1t will be the duty of these
inspectors to select from any and all
available material. the drill masters, or in
structors, for each company or organlza-
ton of volunteers under their charge.
They should be responsible for the work
of the drill masters, and should make an
official call on each company or organlza-
ton at regular intervals, say once month
or orce in two months, as may be found
practicable In selecting drill masters the
inspectors will pay no especial attention to
any rank or position previously held, but
should be satisfied that the men are capa-
BILE of giving instruction IN drill, and all
such work as may be performed indoors
or outdoors to a single company. Men VINO
have seen service in the regular army, even
if only as privates, may be available. One
who has been top" sergeant would be
real find" Doubtless some men who have
seen service in the national guard, but who
are no longer connected with it, may be IN
duced to serve for a time, and among the
members of a company there may be found
one or more men who have had instruction
in school or college, possibly under the
direction of a regular officer, and such
man might serve as drill master. The
principal duty of an inspector will be to
scrutinize and regulate the work OF the
drill masters under his control, to suggest
methods to correct any faults, and to gen
eraIlv see to it that the work of the drill
masters is effectively done, and that the
men in the rank are making real progress.
The inspectors will report to the gen
eral staff as often as may be found neces-
sarv as to the state of efficiency of the
men under their control, as to the progress
that is being made in making real soldiers,
as to the fitness of the various organlza-
tons to leave the armories and take up
work in the open, as to possibilities in the
way Of establishing camps for single COM
NAMES or for a number of companies, con-
shutting a battalion or regiment, and gen.
orally on the state of efficiency of that part
Of the volunteer army under their con-
troll. The presumption is that the drill
masters will be men who are not enrolled
in the organizations under their care, but
if it happens that they are so enrolled, so
much the better.
Only Temporary Officers.
Mention was made above Of the officers
Of the volunteer army. At the outset there
should be no officers of any organization
other than temporary acting officers. No
permanent appointment should be made
until many men who are fully qualified are
discovered. If, by any chance, a retired
officer of suitable rank takes sufficient in
terest in a company of volunteers to en-
roll in it, by all means he should be made
permanent officer, and at once. If, by
chance. an ex-nationa& guard officer is Sc
enrolled and is able 10 demonstrate his
.icapacity for command, he should be made
permanent officer. Temporary officers
should be designated by inspectors TO serve
until the next official call, and excepting