THE NATIONAL GUARD.

December 31st, 1908.

To His Excellency, John C. Cutler, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operation of the National Guard of Utah for the years 1907 and 1908, as required by law, showing its present condition and the expense connected with its maintenance, with recommendations for its improvement.

ORGANIZATION, 1907.

As shown by the first monthly reports on file for the year 1907, the strength of the guard, including officers and enlisted men, the organizations to which they belonged, together with their respective stations, was as follows:

The average membership for the year, including officers and enlisted men, was 370.6. Excluding the field and staff and hospital corps, the average number of drills held

per organization was thirty-nine; the average per cent of the total strength present at drills was forty-nine, and the average strength, per cent, of the respective organizations of the strength prescribed by the President under the law of Congress relating to the militia, commonly known as the "Dick Bill," except signal corps, which is figured at twentythree, and the battery at eighty, was sixty-one.

The attendance at Government Inspection was 68.95 per cent of the total strength of the Guard.

The average standing in the performance of duties, counting as factors the average strength of the respective organizations, the average per cent attending drills, the per cent of drills held, the average per cent strength of the authorized strength, the per cent attendance at Decoration Day parade, the per cent attendance at Government Inspection and the per cent attendance at Camp of Instruction, was 61.5 per cent, on the basis of fifty drills per year, and sixty-six per cent on the basis of twenty-four drills per year, the number required under the "Dick Bill."

The organization showing the highest per cent for the year was Company H of Salt Lake City, its standing being 81.65 per cent.

The staff of the Brigadier General, Company E, of Bountiful, and Troop A, of Salt Lake City, were returned in the Adjutant General's report for the year 1906. These organizations ceased to exist by reason of resignation and muster out in the early part of the year.

The First Battery, Field Artillery, was reorganized during the summer and fall and excused by the commander-in-chief from attendance at the Camp of Instruction. This fact lowered the average per cent of the organizations of the guard substantially.

Company "E" of Richfield was mustered into service on the 20th day of December.

ORGANIZATION, 1908.

As shown by the first reports for the month of January, 1908, the strength of the guard, including officers and

men, the organizations to which they belonged, together with their respective stations was as follows:

The average membership for the year, including officers and enlisted men, was 390.8. Excluding field and staff and the hospital corps, the average number of drills held during the year was 42.50, the average per cent of the total strength present at drills was 60.70, the average strength, per cent, of the respective organizations of the strength prescribed by the President, under the "Dick Bill," except the signal corps, which is figured at twentythree and the battery at eighty, was 70.60.

The attendance at Government Inspection was 78.14 per cent of the total strength.

The average standing in the performance of duties for eleven months of the year, counting as factors the average strength of the respective organizations, the average per cent attending drills, the per cent of drills held, the average per cent strength of the authorized strength, the per cent attendance at Decoration Day parade, the per cent attendance at Government Inspection, and the per cent attendance at Camp of Instruction, was 69.20 per cent, on the basis of fifty drills per year, and 71.36 per cent on the basis of twenty-four drills per year, the number required under the "Dick Bill."

The organization showing the highest per cent was the signal corps of Salt Lake City, its standing being 81.50 per cent, the band being second, with a standing of 80.50.

The strength of the guard as shown by last report for the month of December, and the organizations composing the same with their respective stations, was as follows:

Hdqrs. F. & C. 1st Infantry..... 17 Salt Lake City

While the numerical strength of the guard as shown by the foregoing three tables does not vary greatly, it is believed that the membership is more substantial than at the opening of the year 1907. It will be observed that none of the companies then existing have been mustered out of the service.

It is the writer's opinion that when a company is once organized at a station, the better policy is to maintain it permanently, even at some extra effort, and build up a local pride in its maintenance and efficiency. Under this policy, after the lapse of years there should be no difficulty in sending out strong organizations from cities where companies have been maintained in case of necessity. During the year 1908 the system of company rating by percentages as heretofore indicated, was adopted, thus bringing the organizations into competition with each other. As under this system the percentage of the membership present at drills was a factor, the tendency has been to cut down the paper membership, and leave only the substantial working membership, resulting to the betterment and efficiency of the service. From the fact that the numerical strength remains constant within certain limits, it is not to be inferred

that the personnel has not changed. On the contrary, enlistments are constantly expiring and discharges being given upon personal requests, and new enlistments being made.

DUTIES AND CEREMONIES.

During the year 1907 the guard was regularly inspected as provided by the law of Congress, by Major Robert L. Hirst, 29th U. S. Infantry. A gun detachment of the 1st Battery, F. A., participated in the exercises commemorating the birthday of Brigham Young, the respective organizations participated in Decoration Day parade at their home stations, and all organizations except the 1st Battery, F. A., were present at the annual Camp of Instruction.

During 1908 the regular annual Government inspection was made by Major T. May, 15th U. S. Infantry. Decoration Day parades were participated in by practically all of the organizations, the entire guard participated with troops of the regular army and the militia of the States of Colorado and Wyoming in the biennial camp of maneuvers, held under the auspices and control of the United States, on Crow Creek Indian Reservation, Wyoming, a State rifle competition was held and a rifle team attended the national rifle competition at Camp Perry, Ohio. In addition to the Government inspection above mentioned, the ordnance and ordnance stores of the 1st Battery, F. A., and the ordnance stores in the general stores room were inspected by Lt. Col. Charles H. Clark, Ordnance Department, U. S. Army, under orders of the War Department.

GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS.

These inspections are held under act of Congress, and orders of the War Department, and are general throughout the United States. They are made by officers of the regular service, detailed for that purpose, the object being to determine whether the guard of a state is organized, armed and equipped in accordance with the armament and equipment of the army, and what the condition of the guard is as to discipline, efficiency and availability for service. The report of the inspecting officer must be satisfactory in these regards to enable a state to participate in the appro