1,000 Canteens, tin, Ordnance Stores: 340,815 Ball Cartridges for target practice and such other articles as may have been required to replace worn out or undesirable articles of a like kind. The value of a perfectly new and serviceable field service equipment in the Military Storehouse, available for issue approximates nearly.. The value of the property in possession of the $130,000.00 three Infantry Regiments approximates in value.... 200,000.00 In possession of the Field Hospital.. 14,000.00 In possession of Troop A.... 10,000.00 In possession of First Company Coast Artillery 8,000.00 5,000.00 $230,000.00 $367,000.00 The supply of field service uniforms now in store, with the serviceable portions now in possession of the several units of the Maryland National Guard, is amply sufficient to fully equip the minimum strength of the various organizations of the State Militia. MILITARY STOREHOUSE. Many changes have been made in the arrangements of the Military Storehouse, noticeably the office and issue room which has been properly celled, floored, wired, painted and lighted. In addition, cupboards for the storage of property required for immediate issue have been completed, putting the issue room in a complete condition inasmuch as it now has sufficient cupboard room to keep each size of the field uniform separate, a very great convenience, when the matter of issue is considered. The office, made first class in every particular, has been fitted with modern furniture, including filing cabinets for the safekeeping of the official correspondence necessary for the transaction of business. The lower part of the storeroom has also been supplied with locker room to accomodate the various articles of field Ordnance equipment continually being required for issue, thus reducing the labor of making issues, one of the greatest difficulties this Department has had to contend with for many years. All office work pertaining to the several supply departments is now performed in this office and the system, as inaugurated, though in operation only a few months, demonstrated the necessity and value of the change. MILITARY PROPERTIES. The property of the State at present devoted to military purposes is as follows: In Baltimore City... Fifth Regiment Armory; In Annapolis.. In Frederick. In Salisbury. In Pikesville.. In Anne Arundel ..Company M, First Regiment, Armory; Co..Saunders Range. Property loaned or leased from the city of Baltimore: Howard Street Armory. In the latter Armory quarters are provided for: Field Hospital, No. 1, Medical Department, First Company, Coast Artillery, and Naval Brigade. All companies in the First Infantry, excepting Companies A, I, and M, are provided with buildings of varying type as armories, wholly inadequate for the needs and purposes of a military organization. ARMORIES. The Legislature of Maryland, at its January session of 1912, provided an appropriation for the building of armories for Companies A, I and M, First Infantry. The armory for Company M is now occupied by the Company. It is located in Annapolis and is considered one of the finest for a Company of Infantry. The armory for Company A has been finished sufficiently to allow the Company to occupy it. The same attention and care required for a military company was shown in its construction as in the case of the armory for Company M. The armory for Company I is in course of construction and the plans and specifications insure a building as a model armory. All buildings are to be substantially built, of best material obtainable and will prove a valuable asset to the State. It is believed that by providing every two years by legislative enactment for the purchase of land required as a site and construction of armory building for at least two of the remaining companies of the First Infantry, will reasonably meet the requirements of this regiment without any large outlay on the part of the State. It is practically impossible to lease in the counties, buildings of adequate size and reasonable security as armories, and it is to the best interests of the State, that each company of the First Infantry be provided with an armory. The armory of the Fourth Infantry is entirely unsuited for a regiment, the drill floor being only of sufficient size for a Company. I unhesitatingly commend to the Legislature favorable consideration for a new armory for this organization. IMPROVEMENTS. During the last two years extensive repairs and improvements have been made to the State Rifle Range-necessitated in every instance by fair wear and tear, natural deterioration of material or to meet the needs and purposes for which the Range is required. Among these items may be mentioned: The reconstruction of the skirmish run; rebuilding butts and pits; repairs to administration building; repairing former water supply system and installation of additional engine power with an additional storage tank; necessary improvements to firing line; removal of useless timber and underbrush; installation of a furnace heating system in administration building; a new roof on the building; new pistol butts; a re-survey of range property, which added 16 acres to the range of which there was no previous record; replacing practically all concrete pits on the range, owing to either complete wreck or dangerous conditions. Improved walk-way from range station to buildings. All improvements are of a permanent character, thus adding to the value of the property as well as to its conveniences and attractiveness. The cost involved in these repairs and improvements was met by the military funds of the State and without additional appropriation by the State. Among the remaining necessary improvements to be made at the earliest practicable date, is the erection of a suitable building to house the regular employees and to contain a mess hall for the troops while on duty at the range. During the present year the indoor rifle range at the Armory of the Fourth Infantry was rebuilt and put in excellent condition for use in connection with course of instruction for the rifle on armory ranges. The rifle range at the Howard Street Armory was completely rebuilt, and, is now a first class range. The Range is used by the Naval Brigade, First Company, Coast Artillery and First Separate Company. The Armory and gounds of Troop A have been materially improved by the installation of a heating system and concrete walks which were not provided at the time the armory was constructed. Indoor ranges have been provided for all the Companies of the First Infantry. INSPECTIONS. As required by Section 14, Act of Congress, approved 21st January, 1903, the First Brigade was inspected in 1912 and 1913 by Army officers detailed by the War Department. Their reports indicate that our troops were organized, armed and equipped as required and with minor exceptions were found to be properly instructed and such deficiencies therein as were noted were given prompt attention. Concurrently with the Federal inspections and in obedience to paragraph 59, Militia Law of Maryland, 1908, as amended, an officer of the Inspector General's Department of the State make like inspection of the First Brigade; his report upon the condition of the troops will be found in an appendix to this report. The inspection report upon the Naval Brigade will also be found appended to this report. CAMPS OF INSTRUCTION. During the year 1912 the first Officer's Camp in the Maryland National Guard was held. Seventy-five per cent. of the commissioned officers attended and received instruction in their duties in the field. The Camp was held for five days near Westminster, Maryland, with Officers from the U. S. Army, detailed by the War Department as instructors. This camp meant the initial step in a radical departure from the ideas and theories theretofore held and followed in the course of instruction to be followed by commissioned officers, due regard being had to their rank. It is a recognized fact that an instructor to be able to impart instruction successfully must be competent in his subject, otherwise failure is the result, no matter how worthy otherwise the instructor may be. Officers in the Military Service are essentially the instructors of the service and with this view in mind, the camp was organized and the course of duties outlined to give the officers elementary instruction and coaching in subjects they would be called upon to teach subordinates, whether commissioned officers or enlisted men. The principle was to have our officers well grounded in the minor elements of the service and then afterwards take up a progressive course in the larger duties of tactical problems. It was gratifying to observe how readily our officers took to the idea and thoroughly appreciated both the wisdom and practical results obtained. The Camp was highly successful in every respect and was repeated in 1913 in connection with the Brigade Camp held in July last, at which over eighty-five per cent. of officers attended and received instruction. In 1912 two regiments of Infantry from Maryland participated in the Camp of Instruction held by the United States at Mount Gretna, Pa. Field problems on a large scale were held at this camp and the regiments returned benefited by their par ticipation in them. In 1913 a Brigade Camp of Instruction was held at Bel Air, Maryland, in which all troops, excepting First Company, Coast Artillery, participated, and at which Your Excellency attended for several days and had the opportunity of witnessing the troops work out field problems. The results obtained at Camp Phillips Lee Goldsborough were very gratifying and the practical training and efficiency of the troops augmented. In 1912 the First Company, Coast Artillery, reported at Fort Howard for fourteen days' course of instruction and practice in Coast defence exercises as planned by the Commanding Officer, Artillery District of Baltimore. Reports submitted by the Army Inspector upon the tour of duty of the company showed marked improvement of the company, and especially commended the officers and several non-commissioned officers for the technical knowledge displayed in handling the intricate mechanism of the guns and working out the problems. In 1913 this Company, owing to unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances, did not participate in any Coast Artillery exercises, confining its drill period exclusively to armory instruction and drill. INSTRUCTION ON RIFLE RANGE. By reference to General Orders No. 47 and 54, Series 1912, and No. 67, Series 1913, issued by this office, and published in Part II of this report, give in comprehensive form the results obtained in the instruction of troops on the rifle range during 1912 and 1913. Briefly stated our troops qualified in the use of small arms as follows: 1 |