Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-15
MILITARY NOTES.
Proposed Ieeislation-Report of Major
Weinstock- Trophy Contest.

| Proposed Iegislation-Report of Msjor
Trophy Contest.
At a meeting of the National Guard
Officers Association in San Francisco, De
cember 80, which was very fully attended, the
following proposed amendment to the laws
governing the National Guard were recon-
mended: "The members of cadet COM
panies must be school-boys and will receive
no State support other than having arms
issued to Them This will be equivalen
to their disbandment
Ten new companies will be added to the
National Guard, making sixty companies in
all. OF these new companies, it Is proba-
bic that the First Artillery will be given
one, particularly if the cadet company is
disbanded. 1t is also likely that Red Bluff
Marysville and Auborn will put in claim
for company each.
The maximum membership of compa-
MES was reduced to 103 from 120 and the
minimum from 60 to so.
In addition to the exempt certificate for
seven years service, fine bronze medal
will be given TO all who serve ten years ac-
tive service, silver medal for fifteen years,
and gold metal for twenty years service.
Any man who has served term in times
his past service reckoned as part of the ten,
fifteen or twenty years, by re-enlisting, as
the service, in order to get medal, need
not be continuous.
All regimental and battalion signal corps
are to be consolidated into one single corps
for each brigade, under the immediate
charge of the Brigade Signal Officer Com
manding officers of regiments will be al
lowed signal officer on their stats as now.
1t was also decided TO recommend that
the number of brigades be reduced from
six TO three-one in the south. one in San
Francisco and one in the northern part of
the State, the districts to be named by the
Board for Location and Organization. There
will probably be some opposition to this
scheme from the districts which would be
most likely to lose Brigadier but the
action is right, nevertheless, and would be
in the line of giving the benefit OF regi-
mental organization TO all unattached COM
psnies.
The above amendments will be embodied
in bill and presented to the Legislature
for action this winter.
The Bay papers are still harping on their
good-shooting companies. Ii the sugges
ton made by some officers is adopted
something will be done to determine which
is the best shooting company in the State
The suggestion referred to is that ali the
statfs in the State contribute toward the
purchase of a grand trophy, to be shot for
by say twenty-five or thirty men of any
company in the State forces. If action is
taken it will no doubt be started by Gen.
eral Orton and the staff of the Commander
in-Chief. and will be followed by the
brigade and regimental stats. The Fourth
Brigade and First Artillery statfs will no
doubt back up their troops against all
corners.
Major Weinstock, Paymaster on the
ourth Brigade staff, who was detailed to
look after Company A in October and No
vember, just past, submits the following
report:
Commanding officer Fourth Brigade ~ G. c.
GENERAL: In compliance with General Order
No. 6 visited the arm ory of Company A, First
Artillery Regiment, on three different drill
nights during the months of October and No
vember. and b5 to submit the following report
Attendance at drill october 18th, one Captain,
two Lieutenants, Sc enlisted men. Attendance
at drill october %, 1888. one Captain, two Lieu
tenants, three non-commissioned officers q pri-
Yates Total, 33.
Attendance at drill November 81, 1885, one
Captain, one Lieutenant, seven non-commis-
stoned officers, q priyates- Total, &c.
The company commander, by request, fur
nlshed the names of members who had habitu-
ally abSented themselves from drills. Being
unable to call upon them in person, letter was
addressed to each making a strong appeal to
their sense of duty. and pointing out what the
unpleasant humiliating outcome must be-
should they continue to neglect it. The result
has been extremely gratifying The company
commander informs me that these members
have since been quite regular in their attend
ance, and there is every premise of their con-
tinuing to be so hereafter.
find that the comr any has full complement
OF non-commissioned officers, and | find further
that the admirable practice is followed of drill
ing by squad. The company is divided into
several small squads not exceeding four men to
each
Each squad is placed in charge of a non-com-
missioned officer. who drills his men in the
school of the soldier. These squad drills con-
sumo from 80 to 45 minutes. The company is
then formed, and drilled alternately By Captain,
Lieutenant, and occasionally by non commits
stoned officer. The drill by squad is to be highly
commended.
1t not alone enables the men to become more
thoroughly perfected in the school of the sol
dier but it also creates deeper interest in COM
pany work on the part of commissioned of
ticers and stimulates them 10 become proficient
in the knowledge of their duties.
1t is TO be hoped that the practice of squad
drills will be strictly adhered to in Company A,
and that it may become more generally followed
throughout the National Guald.
The objectionable practice tolerated in Com
pany of permitting men and officers to take
part in drills without being properly uniformed,
is preiudicial to coed discipline
Every company that has been organized
year or more should be amply supplied at least
with fatigue uniforms for all members. To see
the members and oftlcefs oil a c-mpany that has
been in existence some thirty odd years fall in
for drill some wearing felt hats, some with stiff
hats, some in shirt sleeves, some in civilians
dress, with nothing but sword and belt to indi-
cate that they are officers is not likely to i'm
press visitors favorably. Nor is this practice
likely TO create within the minds of company
members that feeling of respect for their mill
tary duties and that feeling of pride in their
appearance which should animate every SOL
der
Company commanders should see to it that
every new officer and member is promptly and
properly provided with uniform. They should
also insist upon answer to roll-call being made
in line and in proper fatigue or dress uniform
as the occasion may require.
No violation of this rule should be tolerated.
In conclusion, permit me TO say that the COM
pany, under its present administration, seems
to have entered into q new era of progress
The attendance at drills, as shown by this re-
] port, is good, and the feeling between men and
officers IS respectful, yet hearty aud cordial.
| Respectfully Yours, II. WFINsTocK,
Major and Paymaster Fourth Brigade.
| Companys B, G, E and Cadets were looked
after during the same months by Majors
Hubbard, Sherburn, Houghton and Captain
| Dillman. Their reports have not yet
reached headquarters.