The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-28
STATE RESERVES.
Shall Formations Be i'm Single
or Double Rank?
The New Regulations In Use Decorations for
shoOters-Mcved by the Rumors Of War.
Exemption of Honorary Members

basis that in this city and out of twenty in
fantry companies two and possibly three
could hope 10 make parade of a minimum
tactical company; in the Second Brigade of
twenty-siX, two and possibly three, and in
the division of ffty-seyen three and posi-
bly, four-if they paraded 100 per cent MEN,
bership. and if they did not then that only
two companies in the city can make that
parade for the division.
The National Guard" of Washington, D.
c., which has also sounded the note of
warning on the subject is of the belief that
the general apathy in the National Guard,
as evidenced by the struggle of companies
everywhere not to fall under the minimum,
yet never paradng with that minimum
number of membership if it has it else
where than on the company roll, has been
largely caused by the monotOny and eXac-
lions of the old drill system, aud that the
simplicity Of the new regulations is likely
TO obviate much Of the difficulty COM
plained Of.
The journal also takes much comfort be-
cause the cordial welcome accorded the new
drill regulations, and their instantaneous
popularity. has exceeded expectations
But as if sensible that it may have gone too
far in its admission, and fearful that the de-
SIZED end may not be attained solely by the
adoption and use of the new regulations, it
questions itself and makes The following
argument:
ACTIVITY OR CONSOLIDATION.
Blu Will his result IN such an increased activ
lty IN National Guard ranks as Will induce the
renewed attendance Of careless members, or put
new men IN heir paces2 lfuut the alternative
Is cousullda ION, and 10 our opinion the manner
In which mis- IS 10 be effected Is Of the highest
Importance 10 tn future of the National Guard
in some of Tie States men are enlisted for the
general setNiee for Period OF five years or less
and are allowed 10 select the company in which
thy !Teler 10 serve, but are held 10 service Tor
Tue tuu period, unless sooner discharged for
legal Causes.
In others they are enlisted for particular COM
pdnles. and on the disbandmenI, of such COM
paHy, necessarily follow il out OF the service
In siIl others IL Is not tie practice TO keep men
~ tile service any longer than they care TO stay,
upon tie x ouud that an unwilling soldier is OF
ntlie ben Ill 10 The state, ana hence applications
Tor discharge are invariably granted. lie e.
then, arises The difficulty attending an attempt
al consolidation, which means the transferring
Of men from heir present companies 10 COM
pauies ether than those IN which they enlisted;
lie reduction Of many competent nJu.cOmmis-
stoned officers, aud tie mastering out of many
excellent officers, for no other apparent reason
ludn the necessity OF conforming 10 the new dTilI
regulations.
that much dissatisfaction Is certain 10 result
is beyond question, and 10 allay this Will require
delicate treatment. Ofncers mustered out, and
uUn-cUmmisSoued officers reduced whose appIi-
cation for discharge VIII reasonably follow,
means the loss To the guard of some of lis best
ana most earnest material Some of the States
can lily afford such a situation, and are likely to
resist II. Consolidation from any point OF view
has not an agreeable outlook.
THE ONLY SENSIBLE CONCLUSION
And this brings US TO the reflection which, aft er
all, Is the only sensible conclusion 10 be arrived
al IN the matter. Consolidation in the present
RpatheIic condition Of the National Guard Is
above all things 10 be avoided. and its alterna-
tive Of an immediate doubling Of tile mel beT-
snip OF companies may pc regarded as prac;i-
caly Impossible. But one or the other of these
proceedings must be accomplished IN order 10
conform 10 the iuvariable double rank formation
insisted upon by the new drill regulations.
The remedy, therefore, lies 10 modification
OF the regulations, so as 10 permit The National
Guard. in the discretion of its proper authorities
10 dril 10 sIDgle-rank formation We believe
Tie question 10 be OF The highest Importance to a
con .luued mautg nance OF the National Guard
org nlzalion In, perhaps, a majority of the
States. 1t is well known that tile present dis
lrDutlon Of tile new tactics are mere expert
meuL.l ana that the views OF all military ill.,
siruceOrs as 10 their pTacicabllity have been ill.,
vIled by the War Department.
Here, then, Is a point TO which we call atten-
tlOn OF National Guard officers and invite their
opinion. Is our guard on so secure q foundation
IS 10 permit US 10 trite with IT'S organization
Can We safely submit to a consolidation, and The
consequent certain loss OF many OF our most en-
thusia>tlc and best-drllled officers, non-cOmmis-
stoned ana men? Can We reasonably expect our
snail companies TO double themselves immedi-
ately?
ONE OIHER ALTERNATIVE.
The man who did not enlist when Upton
ruled will not do SO now because of the reg
ulations. No man who has ever enlisted
has been moved to do so because SCOTS,
Casey's, Hardee's, Upton's tactics, or the
drill regulations have been in force. The
company commander who hopes for ian
immediate doubling of The membership"
because one OF another system Of drill is
the order is hoping in vain. There Is no
promise of anything in the future that the
now existing apathy will not continue.
Undoubtedly there will be a short squirt in
recruiting as the time approaches for the
Columbian Exposition in 1888. but that re-
cruitng will positively do the guard no
good. Those recruits are coming in in order
TO go to Chicago, and having been to Chica-
go will leave their companies as soon as
they have heen returned by them to their
homes from that exposition. There are,
however, two sensible conclusions to be
arrived at"
ReJrganize the guards on the basis of the
regulations, and the three batta ion plan :;
DO away with all stats of Commanders-in-
Chief; have no more than one Division
Commander in a State, or better, none at
all; pare down the number of Brl gadiers to
three in State; lop off the vast excess of
ColOnels and reRmental staffS; pull down
the present rdiculously top-heavy and reel
ing organization, and in rebuilding begin
with solid foundation of real companies
In battaliOns under commands of Majors,
which VIII numerically make better show
ngs than do the paper regiments now.
If all this demands too much sacrifice and
the reorganization plan is too radical fail
loosely adhere to the regulations by contin-
ulng the single rank formation. No angel
need come from heaven to announce this
last alternative will be the one embraced.
NOT BEHIND IN EVERYTHING.
Who will say that the National Guard is
In all things behind the times? The Ma
tional Guard of Washington, ID. c., makes
the following comment: 1t is rather a sin
gular anomaly of the situation, by the way,
that while the new tactics are now in use in
nearly every regiment of the National
Guard throughout the country, and in many
of them taken the place Of the old, the army
for whose use they were formulated, Will
not receive them until some time after the
LIST of January, 1892.
The National Guardsman says: tine
present year opens with plenty OF work for
all to do; Congress must give US greater
aid; the new drill regulations must be
studied, dlgeSted and put in use; systematic
and thorough training is necessary for
creditable showing al Chicago in 1893"
To Judge by the discussions in Eastern,
service journals devoted to the National
Guard, the question Of 1.-THE honor of having
first introduced the new drill regulations"
Is receiving as much agitation as the unset
tied problems: Who was the youngest SOL
der in the war and who struck Billy Pat
terson?
Exemption ce rtifcates have been received
at brigade headquarters for Lieutenants
O'Brien aud Sullivan Of A, Drum Major
Mayhery and Post Quartermaster Sergeant
Koch. all Of the First Infantry, \. q. C..
NEW RULES ADOPTED.
The Board of Officers of the First Infan-
try Regiment, N G. c., has adopted new
rules and regulations for its civil govern
ment while not in active service" The
monthly meeting has been changed to Tues
day; delinquent dues OF line officer are
made chargeable to his company; of the
staff to the commanding officer; of the field
t. the officers fund and for delinquent as
sessmrntS to this fund also. The new rules
are going up t. Sacramento for approval
According to the National Guardsman on
the subject Of the national encampment of
$1,000 militia and 10000 regulars at the
Worlds Fair, August 9TH to August 90,
1898: 1T was the general opinion at the
recent convention in Chicago that Congress