over last year. In almost all cases the artillery harness is reported as old and practically worthless. CLOTHING. The undress uniform in all the States is that of the Regular Army, except that in many States a State button is used, and sometimes the facings are slightly differe it. A few organizations have dress uniforms differing from the Regular Army. Pennsylvania issues uniform shoes. HORSES. Most of the field and staff officers in all the States own their mounts. In Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah the cavalry horses are generally owned by the troops as organizations or by the riders. In California, Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, and Ohio some of the cavalry horses are owned by the men. In Montana the horses of two troops of cavalry and part of one battery are owned by the men. In Pennsylvania the horses are owned in one troop and partly owned in another. In Texas the horses in five troops and one battery are owned by the men. In New Mexico two troops own their mounts. In Washington one troop keeps about eight horses at its riding hall. In Wisconsin the troop is now buying its horses. TENTAGE. During the past year there has been a slight increase in the number of shelter tents, although only five States report any at all-Alabama, 100; Georgia, 50; Illinois, 1,200; Michigan, 250, and Ohio, 1,558. Alabama now has a requisition submitted, which will give the State shelter tents sufficient for 500 men. The tentage is reported as ample for the entire Guard in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Arizona and Oklahoma have no tentage of any kind. MESS OUTFITS. Five States report no mess outfits of any kind-Idaho, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Arizona, and New Mexico. The following eighteen States report from two to sixty Buzzacott ovens: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The following twenty-five States report complete field outfit: Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wyoming report a small number; Nevada almost enough for entire Guard. In addition to her twentyfive Buzzacotts, Massachusetts has thirty Sevey field cooking outfits, The report from Arkansas does not mention the subject. PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILITY. Property accountability seems to be strictly enforced in about thirty-five States, and in thirty-eight the responsible officer is put under bond. In thirty-four States returns are required, some annually, some semiannually, and others quarterly. In some States no returns are required, but property is verified at inspections. Returns of property issued by the General Government to the several States are necessarily very carefully made, but it appears to be a very difficult matter to get at the exact amount of military supplies on hand belonging originally to the States, some of these supplies having been on hand since the war. SUBSISTENCE. Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have no prescribed ration. The Regular Army ration is used as a basis in the remaining States, in the majority of cases being supplemented both in quantity and in variety. For regular encampments many of the States allow a certain sum a day for each man, on which allowance the companies either subsist themselves, or subsistence is furnished by caterers under contract. PURCHASE OF STORES. In as many as twenty States supplies are purchased by the adjutant-general or on his authority; in fourteen States, at least, by the quartermaster-general. In Alabama purchases are made by the regimental commissary officer; in Kansas, by the military board, which is also the case in Oregon, except in emergencies, when they would be made by the adjutant or quartermasters general. In Michigan purchases amounting to over $200 are also made by the military board; but under that amount by the quartermaster-general. In Washington, by the military board, through the Quartermaster or Ordnance departments of the General Government. In Louisiana, by the governor and the major-general of the first division. In Maine and Wisconsin, by the heads of departments. In New York, by the chief of ordnance. In North Dakota, by the "chief of supply." In Pennsylvania, by the quartermaster, commissary, and surgeon generals, when authorized by the adjutant-general. In Utah there is no law governing the purchase of stores; in practice they are made by a designated officer. In Virginia, Arizona, and New Mexico no purchases are made except through the Quartermaster and Ordnance departments of the General Gɔvernment. South Carolina makes no appropriation for the purchase of stores. The report from Oklahoma does not mention the subject. Many of the States purchase in open market, others under the contract system, and still others under both systems. DRILLS AND CEREMONIES. Weekly drills by company are reported to have been held in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, Arizona, District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. California reports 3 drills per month; Idaho, 2 drills per week in the winter season; Kansas, weekly drills in about one-half the Guard; Louisiana, “many” weekly drills; Maryland, weekly drills from October 1 to June 1; Nevada, 2 drills per month; New Jersey, about 25 per annum; South Carolina,“many”; Washington, 4 per month; West Virginia, 1 in two weeks; Wisconsin, 5 per month. The reports from Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Vermont do not mention the number of drills at home stations. Field exercises were held in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Some of these States have had only "battle exercises,” but most of them have had exercises in security and information, and also more extended work in the attack and defense of positions, marches, etc. The reports from Vermont and Washington do not mention the subject. More detailed information will be found under the heading "Field exercises," in the Appendix. THEORETICAL INSTRUCTION. Twenty States report a regular course of instruction at the home stations during the winter months. Eleven States report no theoretical instruction whatever at the home station. Especial attention is called to the schools for officers which are held by Iowa, Vermont, and West Virginia. At the encampments in almost all of the States theoretical instruction was given daily during the encampment. As mentioned in last year's report, it is to be regretted that the War Department editions of publications containing information that is valuable to national guardsmen are so limited as oftentimes to prevent even the State adjutant-generals' offices being supplied with single copies. GUARD AND OUTPOST DUTY. As stated in last year's report, guard duty is performed in a manner far from satisfactory. This is partly due to the short time the organizations remain in camp, but much more to the fact that there is so little attention paid to this important duty at the home stations. However, a great improvement over last year is reported. There has been a marked increase in the amount of outpost duty. The following States gave instruction in it: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. TARGET PRACTICE. Target practice is reported in thirty-four States. In addition, six report "some," while only seven report "none." At the Sea Girt competitions the Georgia troops won all the team matches which they entered (five) and ten out of the eleven individual matches. INDEPENDENT COMMANDS. Although many of the States permit the existence of independent commands, an examination of the reports shows that the tendency is more and more to discourage their support or organization, particularly in the near vicinity of the home stations of the Guard, for the reason that they absorb material that would otherwise find its way into the ranks of the regular organizations, and besides, not being subject to the uniform administration and discipline of the regular State forces, they can not be counted on in an emergency. SERVICE IN AID OF THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES. In the following States the Guard has been called on to aid the civil authorities in maintaining the law: Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and New Mexico. For more detailed information on this subject, see Appendix. OTHER SUBJECTS. Information on other subjects, such as pay and allowances, transportation, mili. tary laws and regulations, maps, arsenals, and armories, is given under the appropriate headings in the statements of the condition of the State troops. 14884-No. XIX-25 |