The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-03

9HB NATIONAL GUARD.
Preparations for Columbus
DaV Parade.
LAPSES AT HEADQUARTERS.
Gatling.Gun Dispersion Military Reform
Legislstiou-B Battalion Drills-Naval
Reserve Anniversary.
LAPSES AT HEADQUARTERS.

character Of the turnout is to be is now
awaiting solution at brigade headquarters.
Whether for work or for show is the ques
ton. The opinions OF the colonies have
been invited. General Dickinson is wrest-
ling with the problem, and he is endeayor-
Ing to combine the two ends. The public,
who are taxed to help pay the cost of sup
porting the National Guard, are always
anxious to see the troops cut on parade. and
the desire TO accommodate the taxpayers
with the spectacular feature is not wanting
on the part of the National Guard. On the
other hand, both officers and men feel the
need Of field exercise, which itself is the
most Rrduous kind of work, aud if there is
TO be an exhaustlng street parade first the
men will be III no physical condition for
smart and instructive brigade drill.
General Dickinson has written to Ad-
miral Irwin TO secure his cooperation 10
series of maneuverS at the Preside. Ii
the cruiser Charleston can be had that day
the Naval Battalion can be exercised in
making a landing in the surf, and. in con-
junction with the land forces, give an inter
esting public exhibition OF operations on
shore.
Leaving the various commands TO reach
the Preside by streetcars the men would
be in good condition TO engage In the
msneuvers on the field, and the public
would not be deprived OF an opportunity
10 enjoy spectacle far more attractive
than march through the streets
The Second Brigade staff visited Sausa-
Ito yesterday afternoon for pistol practice.
Military Legislation Needed.
The National Guard Officers Association
of California will hold their annual con-
yention in this city on the third Monday IN
November. By way Of preparation for the
convention the officers Of the various CON-
mands Will assemble one month before the
meeting Of the association TO discuss sub
n Is oil al Ia
benefit of the service. Many imp
questions are now engaging their attention
and will be fully and intelgently discussed.
Among these we may mention reorganization
10 conform with the new drill regulations.
State armorIes, appropriations for full
camp and garrison eQuipage Of State rife
ranges, ana many other subjects.
In reply 10 number of inquiries the new
army coat illustrated in The MORNING
CALL OF Monday last is designed for an IN
dress coat
Form in Military Orders.
Care in regard to prescribing forms OF
military orders is threatening to become
somewhat unpleasantly conspicuous by its
absence. Among the qualifications of all
officers examined for promotion that of
their acquaintance with these forms is in
sisted on. The example OF strict compliance
with them should certainly be presented by
officers at headquarters charged with the
duty OF their preparation. We note in re-
cent rsgmenIal order the omission entirely
of the date and the use OF tile word "Tegi-
ment" instead Of "TegimentaP' as prefix 10
the word orders" The rubber signature
stamp in authentieating the orders also ap-
pears at the foot This last violation is not
practiced. however. by regimental officers
alone. General headquarters al Sacramento,
where better things are 10 be expected, II
not always found, is at fault ii this regard.
The same criticism applies also TO Second
Brigade headquarters. In this connecticut
may be timely TO quote IN full Paragraph
625 Of the Rules and Regulations for the
National Guard of California" as follows:
All official communications, such as lstters,
Endorsements, etc, must be signed or autheRil-
Gated with the pen plainly and legby, and not
by stamps or fac-similes. Signatures must be
followed by the actual grade aud once OF The
writer il by order, stating By whose order.
Carelessness is also revealed in other
= respects. Military orders should be models
/. Of style il s9reelsiGE as Well as Of good
: - - 1870 incumbents." for in
stance, is not good form, the idea conveyed
by present being already embodied in
the word incumbent Calling court
martial a "couTt-mRfshalP may rob the
military tribunal of some OF its terrors, but
the military order should keep up the delu-
slon that it is a terror to evil doors. de-
tail for the Court and not Detailed Tor
the Court" is the prescribed form. These
may be merely typographical errors, bu:,
admitting them to be such, they are evil
QelceS OIL chTel6cSueoo III PtAubS0 OiOcAs ~
be scrupulously avoided.
Scattering the Gsti1iDgs.
About three weeks ago. pursuant to or
ders from general headquarters at Saera-
mento, Captain Roster was ordered TO send
one of his Gatling guns TO be placed on ex-
bIbition at the State Fair 10 an historical an
mex. The gun was forwarded, but, instead
of being returned to Battery A, another
order was issued directing it to be sent TO
Company a of the Fifth Regiment at Oak
land Acting under the same authority
Captain Roster some months ago sent an
other OF his Calling guns to the Seventh
Regiment ar Los Angeles. He has now only
two Gatlings, both out of order. This
method of disarming battery may be
unique The credit for originality belongs
to BIigadier-General c. G. Alien and the
responsibility to the Governor. Should
sudden emergency arise requiring the pro-
duction Of these guns by Battery A, IL is
easy to predict that there would be many
ingenious attempts made TO shift the blame
for their not being on hand from Sacra-
mentO to San Francisco. The military ad-
ministratioD at general headquarters bOr-
ders very close on imbecility. If Governor
Markham's adjutant- general ever had any
experience in the field of actual campaign
ing beyond his connection with the Freed
mems Bureau 10 Missouri, be seems TO have
derived very little benefit from his alleged
war service. His course IN this GatllDg-gun
affair is a reproach 10 his administration,
and Governor Markham, about whose mill
tary service IN the field while lieutenant in
a Wisconsin regiment there is no question,
ought not to fiQd much difficulty in correct
ing the abuses in the Office Of his adjutant-
Associated Retired Officers.
Retired officers Of the National Guard OF
California are requested to report to Colonel
Sheldon /. Kellogg at Shell Mound Park
next Saturday afternoon at ] O'Clock for
Ena fata
for the year 1892. Arms and ammunition
will be furnished at the range. The CON-
mander of the Associated Retired Officers
request that each member Of this association
will make a special effort TO be present and
have his score recorded. A circular to this
effect has been Issued, signed by George w.
Reed, major n. G. G. (etiTed), acting adju-
tant.
First Regiment.
The week just closed has witnessed
series of very instructive drills in the school
Of the battalion. the four senior captains
SUCCESSFULLY acting as instructors. Colonel
Sullivan was present each evening as an in
terested spectator. The junior captains are
to be given an opportunity to demonstrate
their ability to drill the two company bat
talions this month. Companies and G
will drill under Captain Woodruff on the
q4th inst Companies q and II under Cap
tain Eisen on the 9th; Companies and 4
under Captain Mango on the 9th. and COM
panY n enu the cdueIs uuuoE MAJOR OuIuick
on the 18th inst.
First Sergeant Edward j. Hughes and
Corporal John &. Shields of Company ID
have applied for certificates of exem ton.
The team rife match between representa-
tives from Company of the First Regiment
and Company Of the Fifth Regiment at
Petaluma on the 18th of September resulted
In victory for Company b by score OF So
TO so out of a possible 100.
An election for captain and first lieutenant
OF Company K will be held at the regim-ntal
armory on Thursday evening, the 18th inst.
at IS O'Clock. Captain Carlton c. Coleman,
sid-de-camp Second Brigade, will preside.
CorpOrals u. A. Taggard and ]. G. Hnlt