. Public Document No. 7 DOCS gij^ tommottttt^altlj of MaaHarljuB^ttfi '^ ' L L , ANNUAL REPORT ADJUTANT GENERAL Year ending December 31, 1928 Publication op this Document approved bt the Commission on Administration and Finance 600 3-'29 Order 4929 CONTENTS. PAGE Armories, List of 99 Register of the Massachusetts National Guard 101 Report of The Adjutant General 1 Report of the Armory Commission 7 Report of the Intelligence Section 10 Report of the Military Service Commission 8 Report of the State Inspector 10 Report of the State Judge Advocate 11 Report of the State Ordnance Officer 12 Report of Organization Commanders 32 Report of the State Quartermaster 19 Report of the State Surgeon 22 Report of the U. S. Property and Disbursing Officer 25 Retired Officers, Land Forces 60 Retired Officers, Naval Forces 95 ANNUAL REPORT. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Adjutant General's Office, State House, Boston, December 31, 1928. To His Excellency the Governor mid Commander-in-Chief: In accordance with the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 465 of the Acts of 1924, I hereby submit the Annual Report of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia for the year ending December 31, 1928. Appended are the reports of the Chiefs of Departments, Staff Corps, Armory Commission, and organization commanders. Enrolled Militia. On December 31, 1928, the total enrolled militia of the Commonwealth was 731,288, a loss of 1,195 over 1927. National Guard. The organization of the Massachusetts National Guard remains the same as last year. The restrictions imposed by Congress and the Militia Bureau still remain and prevent any increase in numbers in the Guard. A recent decision of the Militia Bureau which will abolish the two Wagon Companies of the 26th Division Train on account of the impossibility of providing sufficient horses or mules to properly train these two units, will make it possible to merge these two units into a Military Police Company, the Medical Detach- ment for the 26th Division Headquarters and certain enlisted personnel for the State Staff Corps. If sufficient personnel can be provided, it may be possible to organize a Collecting Company for the 101st Medical Regiment. If these changes can be made it will leave only the Motorcycle Company and the Ordnance Maintenance Company to be organized to complete the 26th Division. The 26th Division performed its fifteen days' camp duty at Camp Devens but the several units of the Division carried out their training program as units. The tour of duty was successful and it is believed that the Division obtained considerable benefit from it. Other organizations of the Guard performed their camp duty as follows: 241st Coast Artillery, at Fort Wright, Long Island, New York. — Considerable improvement has been made at this post. There still remain, however, many important things to be done, such as providing concrete floors for the mess shacks, : 2 P.D. 7. new ice chests for the kitchens, and a certain amount of grading on the parade ground. A brick administration building has been erected out of National Guard funds, largely for the benefit of the National Guard Coast Artillery of New York. This office did not approve this project. The tour of duty was hampered by fog which interfered with target practice. The one Battery to complete its firing program was Battery E which had been on strike duty in New Bedford and was obliged to remain at Fort Wright one week during the period assigned to Connecticut. This was accomplished with the approval of the Connecticut authorities and was greatly appreciated by Massa- chusetts. 211th Coast Artillery at Sandwich, Massachusetts. — A good field of fire was found about six miles from the camp ground. Target practice at targets towed by airplane was successfully carried out and the firing was not hampered by fog and small boats. The firing was done out to sea and was very successful. It had been planned that the 26th Division Air Service should furnish a plane for towing the target, but a short time before camp we were notified that the Army was unable to furnish the towing apparatus and arrangements had to be made with the Commanding Officer, Mitchel Field. The plane carried out its mission in an excellent manner as it was able to land at the camp ground and so keep the oper- ator in touch with the situation and informed of his mission. 110th Cavalry encamped, as usual, at Quonset Point, Rhode Island — through the kindly cooperation of the Rhode Island authorities who allowed Massachu- setts to use her camp ground as heretofore. The organization worked out many problems in the surrounding country with considerable profit to the organization. 372d Infantry was at Camp Devens, as usual, and had a profitable tour of duty. The 26th Division Air Service went to Mitchell Field at Mineola, Long Island. — It is hoped that next year they will perform their tour of duty with the Division at Camp Devens. A field service landing field can be provided at the old Remount Station at Camp Devens and by using this as a base it is anticipated that the training of the squadron will be of more benefit to itself and the Division, than going to camp by itself. I'he Guard as a whole is showing a steady improvement. During the year 1928 there were 25 deaths, 56 desertions, 1,136 discharges by order, 3,475 discharges by expiration, 858 transfers to the National Guard Reserve, or a total of 5,550 separations from the service. There were 307 restorations to service and 5,599 enlistments, of which 2,379 were reenlistments, making a total of 5,906 enlistments, or a net gain in strength of 356 for the year. The Guard still continues to furnish recruits to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. Recruits have been furnished to these branches as follows Army 82 Marine Corps 14 Navy 75 Coast Guard 17 The situation as regards property losses has improved greatly. Officers and men are beginning to realize their responsibility and accountability. A Board of Regular Army Officers has acted on the old accounts and the Militia Bureau having acted on their recommendations we are able to start the year with a clean slate. The cost of maintenance of armories has increased, as is to be expected, as many of these buildings are over thirty years old. Pointing and painting are the principal repairs that are now needed. Furniture is beginning to wear out and needs repairing. The Repair Shop which has been established at the Commonwealth Armory has been able to save much money by repairing tables, chairs, and desks. Some of the old lockers are rapidly reaching the point where they will have to be replaced. The old claim outstanding for claims for horses which grew out of the horse hire at the time of the Mexican Border Mobilization, has at last been settled, P.D. 7. 3 due principally to the efforts of Captain Horace B. Parker, M.N.G. Retired, on duty in the office of the State Quartermaster, who has persistently pressed the claim during all these years, and whose efforts have at last been rewarded by the receipt by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of a check for $22,867.70 in settlement of this claim. This is a great victory for Captain Parker. On February 4, 1928, the Italian Ambassador was received at the State House. On May 19 President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, came to Massachu- setts to be present at the 150th Anniversary Exercises of Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts. On the same date His Excellency the Governor, Alvan T. Fuller, welcomed the Bremen Flyers. On May 25 Admiral Hyde of the Australian Navy paid his respects to His Excellency the Governor. On October 20 the West Point Cadets paraded in Boston and tendered a Review to His Excellency the Governor on Boston Common. One hundred and seven years ago the West Point Cadets came to Boston on August 7, 1821, and camped on Boston Common for a week. History repeated itself, for in 1821 His Excellency the Governor was escorted to Boston Common by the First Corps Cadets where a review was tendered him by the West Point Cadets, and one hundred and seven years later a detachment from the First Corps Cadets escorted His Excellency to the Common where he was again tendered a Review by the West Point Cadets. On September 11, 1928, Major General William Stopford, a former Adjutant General, passed away at his home in Beverly. General Stopford had long service in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia and served from March 29, 1875, to January 4, 1906, when he was placed on the Retired List. He saw service in the Spanish-American War and was The Adjutant General from January 5, 1905, to January 4, 1906. On March 21, 1928, Major General Edward L. Logan, commanding the 26th Division, was retired by operation of law. Brigadier Generals Alfred F. Foote and Thomas F. Foley were retired by oper- ation of law on March 21 and 22, 1928, respectively. His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief appointed Brigadier General Alfred F. Foote as Major General commanding the 26th Division, and Colonels John D. Murphy and Albert C. Gray as Brigadier Generals commanding the 52d and 51st Brigades, respectively. The Training School, Massachusetts National Guard. The Training School, Massachusetts National Guard, established under orders dated October 17, 1927, has been continued successfully this year. The School opened November 26, 1927, with 51 Cadets and at the closing of the term in June, 1928, it had 35 Cadets.