The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-26
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
What Would Be Required of 1t in
Case of War.
a Wild War Rumor Denied-But the
MiIitiamen are Ready if Uncle
Sam Needs Them.

sam Needs Them.
1t was telegraphed here yesterday that
q story was abroad in San Francisco to
the effect that Adjutant- General Allen
had received an order from President
Harrison to report Immediately the num-
Der OF available men for coast defense in
the State forces.
a RECoRD-UNIoN representative called
on the General and found there was moth
ing IN 1t. The conversation drifted into
the matter Of what part the National
Guard would play in the prospective war
drama and how it could be recruited,
equipped, etc.
General Allen, in common with other
officers who were familiar with the for
nation Of the volunteer forces during the
civil war, stated that in case of trouble
with Chile there would be a call for troops
Ia California, no doubt The men would
volunteer for service in the United States
army in Chile, or elsewhere. This could
be done under the supervision of the
Governor of the State, but the General
Government would have TO meet the ex-
pense.
1t is probable that each company would
De allowed to elect its own officers ifthere
were not regular officers that could be
spared from the United States army.
This practice of electing officers in such
emergencies is perhaps not the best way
CT obtaining good commanders, as here
i where the good fellow' often gets in
his work, and faVOritism places him
where a competent officer should be-
There would be plenty of volunteers,
now members of the National Guard,
fafaT Il 4
and they might get the appointment. 1t
would no doubt be better plan than the
elective system.
There are many excellent officers in
the National Guard, as well as some that
are not, so that care should be used in the
selection.
This would be the manner in which
troops would be selected for service
abroad. For coast defense it is an alto
Eether different thing. If troops were re-
CURED for home defense, or to man the
notifications in the harbors Of California.
Governor Markham, as COMMANDMENTS
Chief, would no doubt first order ont the
Second Brigade of San Franchises; the
First, in the southern part of the
State, and follow it up with the Third
and Fourth the latter in this city
and then the regiment in the san
joaquin valley. they would all be
placed on a war footing, their arms
every officer and man would have to go.
The First and Second Artillery would
no doubt be placed in the forts to man
the heavy guns and for this reason our
home regiment would probably be one Of
the very first to be called out.
The idea Of the higher officers here is
that, in case Of trouble, volunteers will be
called for to I'LL up the First Artillery to
twelve hundred men-making triple
battalion regiment. Preference would
be given first to the Grand Army veter-
ans, many Of whom are III this brigade
district; next, to eX-members of the
National Guard of whom there are a
great many who have some knowledge
of the use Of arms. If more than this
number were required from this district,
The brigade commander would be ordered
- open recruiting offices in the various
counties comprising the brigade-Sacra-
mentO, \ OlO, Suffer, AmadOr, Alpine
IL Dorado, Placer and Nevada-and if
sufficient men did not respond, draft
would be ordered, taking in men avail
able, as per the brigade report filed on
the lst of October.
1t is just here that the utility of the law
maintaining skeleton brigades is shown.
he brigade staff would be ready for
duty at a moments notice, and all that
would be needed is TO recruit the forces
to the requisite number. The staff of the
Fourth Brigade are an exceptionally
able lot Of men-cool- headed, keen bust
ness men-and there can be no doubt
they would render a good account Of
themselves. In a fight, though. they
might not remain so cool. Major Vein
stock has been known to get very much
excited in sham battle, and there is no
telling what the veteran Major Hubbard
might do when his blood was up.
Judging from the present feeling there
need be no drat, and full brigade from
this section can be depended upon on
short notice. Any considerable number
of men could not be expected from AL
pine, as there were only tifty-nine avail
able men there subject to military duty
at the last report, but the other seven
counties are populous and the citizens
patriotic. Alpine might, however,
eclipse them all in patriotism, as her en-
tire fifty-nine citizens might enlist.
Some of the brigade officers have been
sounded on the question of being put on
a war footing, and all, so far as seen, are
up In arms, so to speak. Even Major
Leake, about whom the brigade COM
mander was in doubt, will throw the
State Library to the dogs and buckle on
his sword, If the call is made. The Grand
Army men are also rampant, and feel as
Coltish as they did in 81.
If trouble arises, Surveyor-General
Reichert will have to get someone to fill
Major Ennis place in his office. Colonel
Bob" Murray swearS he will desert his
superior officer unless the latter takes to
the field; but there will be no need to
urge the veteran on when the time comes.
General Allen has fine lot of reyolvers
for all officers in the National Guard and
Tor Captain Cooks and the San Francisco
batteries. He will keep them for their
exclusive use.
The cooler-headed officers of the Ma
tional Guard still believe there will be no
trouble; but, as something might hap
pen, and in order not to 'sget left" if
there is to be any fighting, the Com
mander-in-Chief has been notified
through his Adjutant, that the Fourth
Brigade is at his service at any moment,
and that the First Artillery Regiment
can be recruited within two weeks to
200 men who have had some experience
in the use of arms. The National Guard
would be more effective than most people
Imagine, owing to the fact that their
work would be mostly in the forts, and
because they would not be called upon
to do much campaigning, in which they
have had very little experience.
The Barometer Falls Rapidly.
The Weather Bureaus reports show the
highest and lowest temperatures yester-