Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-25
Ehrntttg Gtrat


the National Guard to reinforce the
United States army on the Mexican
border 1t is a matter of pride and
gratification to the people of Harris
burg to know that its three units in
that great military organization, the
Pennsylvania National Guard, are IL
splendid condition and ready at the
shortest notice for any call to duty.
This is not new departure for these
companies. as they have been noted
for preparedness" long before that
much-used word was given the promi-
nence it has recently attained. AS an
| Illustration, at the Governors Troop
armory at State and West streets,
Captain George c. Jack, the troop
commander, has a much commended
system for storing and caring for the
uniforms and equipment of the men
and the camp stores belonging to the
troop. Rifles, pistols and sabers are
in racks and cases plainly numbered
uniforms and individual equipment
are in lockers; blankets, overcoats,
slickers, flannel shirts, saddlebags,
canteens, meat ration cans and other
articles in cases and closets in the
quartermaSter's room, ready for i'm
mediate issue. The horse equipment
saddles, brides, halters, etc.-are
plainly numbered in the saddle room
and can be. given out in a few min
utes Camp equipment is in perfect
condition and is placed where 1t can
be quickly loaded on wagons. All of
the paraphernalia of the command is
stored on the lower floors of the ar
mofy in most convenient form. The
quartermaster's system of issuing Is
excellent. For the purpose of notify
ing the men in case of n call to duty,
lne squad system has been in use in
the troop for several years. The SER
geant squad leader has the home adj
dress, place of employment, telephone
numbers, etc, of each man in his sec
tlon and is kept posted as to the
whereabouts of the men at all times.
rms leaves the troop commander with
only Tour or five messages to send out
those TO his squad leaders. The bal
ance is attended to by them under the
general direction of the first sergeant.
EVERY man in the troop has a selected
morse ready for his order at any time
In case of emergency.
AT the present time the troop is
1led TO It's minimum strength with
intelligent, able-bodied and active
young men, who have been trained
ana instructed in everything a soldier
should know from the same text
books and drill regulations as are
used in the United States Army. With
the exception of not having the daily
routine of study and OF horsemanship
their training conforms exactly to that
or the regular soldier. Captain Jack,
at the present time, has several extra
! sets of equipment and will enlist good
i men to fill them, il they make appli-
cation to him. There is opportunity
. here for number OF recruits to be
admitted to the organization at once
, and such men would have a big ad-
vantage over volunteers hastily en-
listed in case of a call for mobiliza-
/, ton of the First PENNSYLVANIA Cav
airy regiment. Any capable young
:, man who wishes to enlist should get
into communication with the troop
commander at once.
The members of the two infantry
companies are in just as close touch
| with their commanders as the troop
+ ers. Each company commander knows
! where to put his hand on each man
d and the equipment, while not so OK
:. tensive as that of the troop, is VOL
y arranged, easy of access and we'll prN
u pared under the requirements of the
War Department. whose precepts have
been guiding the Guard for several
j years. The infantrymen have gath
cred at the North Second street ar
mory upon more than one occasion
2 in short order and recent practice has
i demonstrated that the men are lust
as keen in responding to call as they
. were in days when strikes often sent
them into service. The armory con-
y tains a large amount of equipment
J, just awaiting the men.
Then the State arsenal at Herr and
= Eighteenth streets is maintained in a
II state of preparedness which has often
: proved its system. The property re-
$ quired to be kept there is in place
5 ready to move, and what can not be
t stored because of building operations
= Is in the old Paxton warehouse along
: the Pennsylvania railroad below State
u street. whence it can be put into cars
: with little delay. The Guard is ready
n to go into the field with everythinp 9
y that has been asked of the State tc
r provide.
o '"The National Guard of PennsyI.
3 Vania is always ready to respond. Sc
: that there is nothing remarkabIc
s about the lieutenant colonel in com.
u mand of a regiment looking up 2
: place available for winter mobiliza.
ton. It's just like taking out insur.
y ance and should not attract any more
q attention" was the remark of a maj
= well Versed i'll military affairs yester.
E day. Hence, the inspection of YorI
+ fair ground buildings as a place fol
! the Eighth to gather, if call fol
: service comes-note the if-does no
u mean anything. I'll venture to sa,
= that other men have done the same
!, thing in twenty other States. The
IL Guard is ready, but its officers hav,
also to be ready to take care of thei1
Y, men until they are seasoned for out
# door work." The military man aIsc
IS commented upon the fact that in the
t. Spanish war the State troops wer,
l. gathered at Mt. Gretna in a snow
1t storm and some had to sleep il
a chicken show buildings. Others pu
n up tents and slept in the mud realiz
D. weather.