14. State appropriations.

$45,000 per annum. Expended under direction of the adjutant-general for camps of instruction, equipment, and general expenses.

15. National appropriations.

$6,900.

16. Armament-Cavalry, artillery, infantry-Character and condition of.

Infantry armed with Springfield rifles, caliber .45, and a few of caliber .50. The caliber .50 rifles are soon to be exchanged for caliber .45, and requisition has been made for revolvers to arm the officers of the Fifth Regiment.

17. Equipment-Cavalry, artillery, infantry--Character and condition of. "All three regiments are equipped with Mills's cartridge belts, haversacks, canteens, meat cans, knives, forks, spoons, and tin cups issued by the ordnance department. The First and Fourth regiments are equipped with the blanket bag issued by the ordnance department, while the Fifth Regiment has a knapsack of patent leather."-(Lieutenant Evans). The equipments generally are in a fair condition, fit for service.

18. Uniform clothing-Character and condition of.

"The First Regiment has the United States Army undress uniform, except that the old-style cap is worn by the enlisted men. The Fourth Regiment has the United States Army undress uniform throughout. The Fifth Regiment has a gray dress uniform similar to that worn by the Seventh Regiment of New York; its undress uniform consists of a gray cap, gray trousers with black stripes, and blue blouse, a modification of the United States Army regulation blouse. The condition of the clothing was very good in the Fourth and Fifth regiments. In the First Regiment, most of the clothing was in a very good condition, but some of it should be replaced by that of more recent cut and shade."-(Lieutenant Evans). No campaign hats have been issued. Overcoats and blankets are stored until needed. Enough uniforms in reserve for recruits to raise most of the companies to their limit.

19. Horses owned or hired.

Mounted officers furnish their own mounts. State pays stabling and forage in camp. Noncommissioned staff mounted at expense of State.

20. Ammunition—(a) Character and amount of, aetually in hands of troops. (b) Amount that could be supplied on arrival at point of concentration.

21. Camp and garrison equipage—(a) Tentage, etc. (b) Mess outfits.

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(a) "764 common tents, 25 hospital tents, 106 wall tents, and three tents 12 by 20 feet, and one 12 by 16 feet."-(Lieutenant Evans.) (b) Each regiment is equipped with Buzzacott ovens, for detached service in the field. The chief quartermaster of the brigade has in store sufficient quantities of tableware and kitchen utensils to supply the brigade in regimental messes. In addition, the Fifth Regiment owns five large cook stoves and a very comfortable mess outfit for each company. The officers mess together and have a separate outfit. 22. Property accountability—Nature of. Are regulations in regard to, strictly enforced? Each company commander is required to give bond to the State for security of public property, and to make semiannual returns of such property belonging to his company, through military channels, to the adjutant-general. These requirements are of long standing, but were practically ignored until the passage of the new militia law in the spring of 1896. It is expected that the law will be strictly enforced in future.

23. Subsistence-Rations-Component parts of. How furnished. How prepared. The legal ration is that prescribed by the United States Army Regulations, or commutation at a rate not to exceed 40 cents per diem. I quote as follows from the report of Lieut. E. W. Evans, Eighth United States Cavalry, on the recent

23. Subsistence-Rations-Continued.

encampment, showing the method of furnishing and preparing rations: "In the camp each company was allowed by the State $4 per day for the rent of stoves and the employment of cooks and waiters. In addition to this the State allowed 40 cents per man per day for rations. This latter amount was furnished in kind only by the chief commissary on the requisition of the regimental commissary. The articles furnished by the chief commissary, and from which the regimental commissary could select, were beef, mutton, ham, bacon, fresh bread, corn meal, beans, pease, coffee, sugar, rice, potatoes, onions, eggs, butter, canned corn, canned tomatoes, dried fruit, salt, pepper, mustard, milk, candles, and soap. In addition to this, 300 pounds of ice were delivered to each regiment, for which no charge was made. The rations were issued each day to the regimental commissaries and were prepared under their supervision by hired cooks. All the supplies were purchased in open market by the chief commissary. The commissioned officers of the command messed in regimental messes at their own expense."

24. Pay and allowances.

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The adjutant-general receives $2,000 per annum. The inspector-general or other officer ordered to inspect troops receives such transportation and pay as is allowed by United States Army Regulations to officers of same rank. "Whenever any of said organizations shall be ordered into camp, or whenever ordered out by the commander in chief, each enlisted man shall receive the following pay for each and every day of service, viz: Noncommissioned staff and first sergeants, $1.75; sergeants, $1.50; corporals, $1.25; musicians and privates, $1; and in addition to said pay each enlisted man shall receive rations as prescribed by the United States Army Regulations, or commutation thereof at a rate not exceeding 40 cents per diem: Provided, That on the reenlistment of any enlisted man within one week of the expiration of his previous enlistment he shall receive an increase of 10 per cent of his pay in his preceding enlistment; and the officers, according to their rank, shall be entitled to pay at the same rate per diem that officers in the service of the United States receive."-(Extract from sec. 32, militia law of 1896.)

25. Stores (a) Purchase of. (b) Amount required, in addition to those now on hand, to enable the command to take the field for sixty days. (c) Medical supplies.

26. Drills and ceremonies-(a) Number and nature of. (b) Proficiency in.

exercises.

(c) Field (a) From October 1 to June 1 there are weekly company drills; in the Fourth and Fifth regiments, frequent battalion and occasional regimental drills. Guard mounting, dress parade, and review are practiced in armories. (b) Marked improvement in knowledge of the duties of sentinels, due to armory instruction. (c) None.

27. Personnel and discipline.

The personnel of the brigade is very good. Most of the officers are business men who devote much of their time to military matters from natural fondness for the profession. The esprit de corps is strong among both officers and men, and they would form a very efficient body of troops for active service. The discipline is fair while on actual duty and the men seem to be obedient to their officers at other times, but the neglect of the prescribed official recognition of superior military rank is very marked among the enlisted men, and there is no effort apparent among the officers to enforce it.

28. Theoretical instruction.

Weekly school for the noncommissioned officers in First Regiment. In the Fourth and Fifth regiments there is a regimental school for officers held monthly; a

28. Theoretical instruction-Continued.

battalion officers' school, also monthly, and a monthly battalion school for noncommissioned officers.

29. Guard duty-How performed. Officers and noncommissioned officers well instructed. Sentinels well instructed. Any outpost duty.

As no encampment was held, I have had no opportunity to observe progress under above heads; but, as already stated, efforts have been made in the armories to properly instruct officers and men in the duties of guards and sentinels. 30. Target practice-Cavalry, artillery, and infantry-Range and gallery-Any held at stations of troops. Any held in camp. Under what system of instructions, and quantity of.

No gallery practice. No practice required by general orders. Two or three of the companies of the First Regiment have practice at 100 and 200 yards at their home stations once or twice during the year. The Fourth and Fifth regiments have practice at same ranges on the Fort McHenry range, each man firing five shots at each range. The system and classification are taken from the Regulations for Small-Arms Firing, United States Army.

31. Transportation-Wagon, railroad, river.

No transportation of any kind owned by State for military purposes except two steamers and thirteen sailing vessels constituting the so-called "Oyster Navy," which vessels could be used as transports in case of emergency. Railroads connect Baltimore with all portions of the State, and numerous steamboat lines run to points on Chesapeake Bay.

32. Military code-Date of, etc. Do State laws provide for State troops being called into service of United States?

March 27, 1896. The law provides for calling out the militia in case of " war, rebellion, insurrection, or threatened invasion of this or any neighboring State," but does not expressly provide for entering the service of the United States.

33. Regulations.

There are no published regulations. When necessary, general orders are promulgated from headquarters.

34 Maps Scales and character.

None, except that some fairly executed topographical maps of the Georges Creek mining region have been received.

35. Armories-Location and description.

The companies of the First Regiment hire rooms or buildings at their home stations, most of which are little better than storerooms. The Fourth Regiment will soon be housed in a building which was turned over to them by the city authorities, and which is being prepared for armory purposes at the expense of the State. It is situated on West Fayette street, near Paca street, Baltimore. The Fifth Regiment armory is situated over the Richmond Market, Baltimore, and was built by the city. It is conveniently arranged and handsomely fitted up. The drill floor is large enough for close-order drill of a battalion. 36. Arsenals-Location and description.

The State has no arsenal. Surplus stores at present are kept in Fifth Regiment armory and in the cellar of a safe deposit company in Baltimore.

37. Independent commands within State.

The Fifth Regiment Veteran Corps is the only organization not brigaded, being under the orders of the governor only.

38. Recommendations.

That instead of annual encampments each alternate year should have the encamp ment period devoted to campaigning under service conditions; daily marches to be made with advance and rear guards, flankers, patrols, outposts, pickets, etc.,

38. Recommendations-Continued.

as in a hostile country; camp to be pitched each night, each company to do its own cooking, and all supplies to be carried for the command in a properly organized wagon train. These campaigns could be made by regiment, so that little or no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining suitable camping places. The practical experience gained in this way would be of the greatest value to the troops, and I believe such exercises would be popular among the

men.

39. Remarks.

I wish to record my opinion that under the new militia law and the energetic and intelligent supervision of the present adjutant-general of the State the future of the Maryland National Guard will be a bright one. The superior officers of the brigade and the several regiments are men of high character and standing in the community, and the material in their hands is of the best. I see no reason why this organization should not take rank with the highest in our great national reserve.

STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE MILITIA OF MASSACHUSETTS IN 1897.

AUTHORITY: SAMUEL DALTON, ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

1. Official designation of State troops.

Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

2. Strength-(a) Authorized. (b) Organized. (c) Per cent attending camp. (d) Liable to military duty (latest estimate).

(a) Officers, 438; enlisted men, 5,896; total, 6,334. (b) Generals and officers of their staff, none; noncommissioned staff, 16; cavalry, 248; artillery, 239; infantry, 4,157; special corps, 545; total, 5,205. (c) About 95 per cent attended camp. (d) Number liable to military duty, 433,948. (Two towns estimated.)

3. Number, organization, and stations of brigades, regiments, and battalions. Two brigades (First and Second) stationed at Boston. Six regiments (infantry)— First, Fifth, and Ninth stationed at Boston; Second, Springfield; Sixth, Marlboro; Eighth, Salem. Two battalions-First Light Artillery stationed at Lawrence; First Cavalry, Boston. Two cadet corps-First stationed at Boston; Second, Salem. Naval Brigade (eight companies) stationed at Boston. Battery A (light artillery) stationed at Boston; Troop F (cavalry) stationed at Chelmsford. Two signal corps, attached to First and Second brigades, stationed at Boston; ambulance corps stationed at Boston.

4. General officers-Number and manner of appointment.

There are two brigadier-generals of the line, and they are elected by the written votes of the field officers of the respective brigades. The election is ordered in case of vacancy by the commander in chief.

5. Brigade, regimental, and battalion field and staff-Number and manner of appointment. Brigade, 18 staff officers; regiment, 30 field officers and 42 staff officers; battalion