The morning call., 1891-05-21
SUMMER CAMPS.
An Instructor Detailed-General
Aliens Circular.

As Will have been noted in the dis
patches from Washington, D. c., Captain
John j. O'Connell, First Infantry, L. 5. A,
has been detailed by the Secretary of War
TO duty for a period Of four months from
and after the 1st prOx., in connection with
the National Guard Of this State, both as a
general Instructor and to report upon and
inspect the Summer eDcampments. Captain
OConnell was the gentleman detailed for
the same duty 10 1890, and his detail this
year was at the unanimous request Of the
officers Of the guard
In connection with the annual encamp-
ment Adjutant-General c. c. Allen has is
sued an extraordinary circular addressed to
the commanding officers Of the division, the
bTigadeS, regiments and companies OF the
\. @. c. 1t reads as follows:
As tie time approaches for the annual encamp-
meut the following suggestions are offered for
your consideration.
First-The camps are held for the improve
ment OF The troops, and The orders and exercises
should be 10 this end While IL is desirable the
men should have all the eu1OymentS and reerea-
ton possible, so that In The future enCampments
shall be looked forward to with pleasure and as
d recreation, The military part OF the meetings
ought not TO be neglected 1t Is the opinion OF
this department that the practice Of ludiserimi-
male entertainment ana the accompanying use
OF Splrtuous liquors al the various headquarters
I'm camps OF instruction are detrimental 10 the
GOOD OF The service, and cause subSeTvance OF
military observance aud duty TO hospitality and
good fellowship.
oecond-The taxpayers Of California are
practical people and VIII look for results. The
liberal appropriations made for camp purposes
make II The more necessary that nothing should
b allowed 10 camp nor no line OF conduct fOl-
lowed hat could call for adverse criticism. The
experiences Of older STATES than our own, and
whose National Guard Is doubtless more eff
cIent than Is OURS Is that the Objectionable ele-
ment referred to Is not necessary 10 successful
camps, but that on the contrary. the absence,
particularly II known beforehand, not only re-
iieYes the camp OF a considerable circle OF WISH
OTs OF doubtful value and the officers " large
expenditure OF money that can III be Afforded;
besides, il keeps the officers and men In better
condition for their legitimate duties. While it IS
admitted hat this idea IS an innovation IN Cali
fOrnia, and perhaps one that cannot be Wholly
adopted for the present. II is hoped that all OFF,
GERS VIII consider the matter seriously, with
view OF adopting Il so far as may be possible
during the coming brigade encamDmens.
ThlTd-The practice Of ladies' remaining In
camp nights is very Objectionable and should
not be permitted. There IS a delicacy la the fe
male mind that should be respected besides,
II deiracts from the dulles that should De given
solely 80 Improvement Ia the art o. war.
FOurth-IOO much time should not be given to
receptions and reviews. They are fdtgung 70
the men aud Of not much practical utility. The
Official visits OF the CommandeT-inChef aud the
MalOr-General commanding should receive the
donors belonging 10 them, but no other reviews
should beEOTdeTed. On.tbese occasions the arms
should be clean and IN good Older. Clean shoes ;
where practicable, wide-tOed and wide-sOled sub
stanilal shoes should be worn. Clothes clean
and On good repair. Knapsack In good order !;
straps servieeable. OyereOats Carefully rolled
and strapped thereon. BlOuSeS, caps and leg
giugs tcl, am in knapsack. All brasses bright.
Helmet worn square on the head, tipped neither
10 one side nor The other. Gloves clean. At al
tenuon, men should stand as prescribed 10 tac-
tics head and eyes 10 the 'front.' gazing about,
no talking. Captains should see that no tobacco
is used when In ranks
1t is only common justice to add with re =
gard to the third paragraph that as far as
known the only organization which sane
toned 'the practice Of ladies remaining in
camp nights" in fact, menued and tented
them at the expense of the State, was the
First Artillery Regiment. Colonel j. w.
Guthrie, located in and about Sacramento,
and that this extraordinary practice was
severely commented upon ana condemned
Dy the late Lieutenant Colonel j. w.
STABLES, InspeetoT-General. and by Captain
O'Connell. u. s. A, both Of whom made re-
ports upon the camps.