The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
NATIONAL GUARD.
Military Information of the
War Department.
THE CArIP AT CHICAGO,
Variations From the New Drill Pepu-
lations-Miiitary Blunders i'm Mod
ern American War Dramas.


itary Information in the War Department
has. says the Army and Navy Journal, re-
suited in thoroughly systemizing the infor.
nation on file there concerning the National
Guard. 1t Is possible now to furnish at a
moments notice tabuated sheets giving
Iull information concerning the militia OF
any State, its organization, armament and
equipment; discipline aud efficiency; the
system of mobilization at certain given
points within each State; points of concen-
trahon for service within or without the
State and time required, and the percentage
that would turn out under arms for sixty
days. 1t is proposed TO consolidate all the
data that could be required In concentrating
Federal and State troops at any point in the
Union In any given time. Information will
also be tabulated showing every water
course. railroad and other avenue of trans
portatlon to and from all the central points
OF the United States. This will enable the
War Department 10 act promptly and INTEL
ligently in any military emergency that
may occur. The system is TO be extended
TO foreign countries.
a bill recently introduced in the United
States Senate provides for Camp of In
struetlon at or near Chicago, TO be composed
OF such number of regulars as the President
may direct and $4,000 volunteers, for fifteen
days, In August, 1893, who shall be men,
Ders OF militia organizations in existence al
the time OF the passage Of the act one-half
OF whose members at least must volunteer
and who have lad at least three months
previous military instruction and train
ing. Transportation, subsistence and med
fcal supplies are to be supplied to the vol
unteers by the United States, but no paw is
to be given for their services. A general
officer OF the Army is to be designated to
command the camp, ard the Secretary OF
lRtaii of ha A
as may be necessary TO carry out the provi-
slons OF the act and also for the purpose of
instruction. Sl.500,000 is appropriated to
carry out the provisions Of the act
A report which can be studied with great
advantage by many officers and men was
recently made by staff officer of the New
York Twelfth Regiment. who was directed
TO watch the company drills and report
upon the shortcomings of each. The fol-
lowing are the variations from the drill reg
ulatons noted in the different companies.
and tie colonel has called the attention OF
each captain 10 them, in order that tie nee
essary corrections may be made: Com
panies should be formed by par 1877 or 1S8
and not by par. 1885, Open ranks (par 1907
very frequently is improperly executed, file
closers do not step back promptly at first
command, s they should. The common
error, TO which for several years attention
has been called, still exists. that the pivot
man In all wheels by fouTs, hRlts and turns
in his place (par. 1866. In change Of direc-
ton In column OF fouTs, the first man takes
step oil ten Inches, In quick time (par 200
Par. al, not enough time is taken to exc
cute the half face, and move each man ir n
straight line. Par. 207, rear rank Of sets of
fours should close to facing distance during
wheel. Pars. n to 81 and 142 10 100 great
ignorance exists amoDgbo officers and men
as to these sections. instruction in them is
given in careless and perlunctory manner.
1 he private opinion Of an officer as 10 the
necessity Of their close observance does not
give the proper rule of conduct in reference
TO them. Errors most frequently noticed in
executing friugs-Neglect to give object
and range and 10 have sights arranged :;
tendency TO have finger on trigger when at
ready ignorance of existence and use of
satety match. In only one company did
the rear rank men step off in loadings and
hrings as prescribed. Extended order-Too
much talking and noise. not enough de-
pendence on signals. Par. 515 entirely
neglected; par. SIC not understood: par.
go not carried out, officers apparently ig-
norant Of II. FirIngs Improperly executed
Pars. $50. $50 and 572 executed in a very
slovenly manner. General faults and in
structions-Ioo many men In line OF file
tiosers; men habltualiy or frequently late
should be returned to the delinquency court
uniformity in the naattar 0f collars raAas Ue
established and men must present them
selves for drill in a neat. clean uniform,
with shoes BACKED, and II necessary the
lea her belt BACKED Names of all officers
absent must be returned TO the adIutant
after each drill.
the Seyenty-firSt New York National Guard
Regiment was laid on the 18th inst. by
Mayor Grant. The building Is being erected
on Fourth avenue. between Thirty-third
and Thirty-fouTth streets. New York city.
1t was begun last April and will cost
about $3.50, 600. The land cost s437, eco.
The style of the architecture is a phase of
the Norman type, known as the Scot
fish baronial. The walls will be of
rough granite. The structure will be strong
enough TO resist attacks Of street mobs.
The building is 200 by 237 feet. It's front
occupies the entire block. A method OF
construction was employed which did away
with supporting columns in the drill-room,
which thus has 200 feet square OF clear
space.
Some few of the local National Guards
men have had an opportunity to engage in
MIMIC war operations upon the theatrical
stage within the past two weeks. One of
the Infantry companies has been seen
nightly to march up Market street and into
Stockwel's Theater, there TO take part In
Margaret Barrett Smiths remarkable mill
tary composition entitled Captain Herne.
u. S. A" These young men have. there
fore, been behind the scenes long enough to
gather some very unmiltary notions regard
ing realistic campaigning. Dramatic writ
ers OF American war dramas entertain very
curious conceptions, for instance, of the
course to be pursued in dealing with party
from the enemy's camp arriving under
flag of truce. In Captain Herne. Z. s.
A." as in Shenandoah" the hostile visit
ing delegation is extended very perilons
privileges. Instead of being detained at the
outposts they are allowed to enter freely
the camp of an army threatened with an
immediate assault. They are not, even in
this case, blindfolded, but have full freedom
TO study the topography of the ground, the
measures taken for defense and the univer-
sal strength Of the force defending the po-
sition.
The playwrights, by studying the pro-
cedure to be observed in regard TO flags OF
truce, might discover more than one way 10
retain this feature OF war dramas without
sacrificing any of the dramatic unities.
Shakespeare never introduced herald
from a hostile army or court without pro-
viding for preliminary flourish on trunl-
pet; and as in modern war flag OF truce is
accompanied by bugler, the announce
ment OF its approach could De Indicated to
the audience in the wings and the officer
bringing the message afterward introduced
IL his actual presence In the scene Is re-
qnired TO subservc dramatic ends.
There lie also a curious commingling OF
biyouac and camp in captain Herne, u.
s. a." The audience Is introduced to q
tented field. some distance, evidently, from
the works, and the troops are In bivorac
when they could just IS we'll sleep
under canvas. Rest and silence in
such cases are enjoined ana enforced.
ret while the weary soldiers are
seen taking their needed sleep others are
permitted to disturb them by singing camp
songs II there are 10 be any war melodies