The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-21
NATIONAL GUARD.
Annual Convention of the
Officers To-Day.
PRACTICE OF SIGNAL CORPS.
exchanging Messages From the Roofs
OF ffigh BuiIdings-VaIuabIe in
Case of Riots.

considerable interest is felt In local MILL
tary circles in the eighth annual convention
oi the National Guard Officers Association,
WHICH assemblies in the First Regiment Ar
mory THIS evening Representatives from
an the regular military organizations in the
Daale VIII take part In the proceedings.
lhe main object of these proceedings is to
confer as to what legislation is necessary 10
promote the efficiency of the militia and
then 10 Unite on the proposed measures and
70 present them In an Ineligible shape for
the consideration and action of the Legis-
lature..
lhe oihcers of the association are Gen.
erai John Ii. Dickinson, president; Gen.
eiais Sheehap, Montgomery and Muller.
vice-presldents; Lieutenant Colonel II. Z.
nusn, treasurer; Captain John A. Roster.
secretary, and Lieutenant-Command +.
ID. Chandier, assistant secretary.
AT tue last annual convention seventy-six
oincers were in attendance. In his address
ueheiai Dickinson, the president, directed
attention TO the benefits derived from such an
association. DE showed very clearly how the
VIE OF the officers were broadened as to
TUG opJects OF the National Guard. and the
ways and means indicated by which those
OBJECTS were to be accomplished. He made
a strong plea for concert of action; calling
the attention of the members particularly
10 the Proposition that in all matters of
legislation success could be attained only
by Standing together. They were all, he
salu, animated by The same desire, namely,
the dement, OF the entire organization, and
not Oh any particular part OF ii, TO the detri-
ment or disadvantage OF any other part.
uenerel Dicklns0n's advice on that occa-
SlUn has Inst of "a foroa sinPQ "a
uueranee. While there should be the
widest latitude in discussion at the meeting
Tonight, conclusions once reached ought TO
De pinding upon all, and differences OF
opinion on matters for legislative considera-
tion set aside, The National Gnard of Cali
iornia has much TO ask for. Its best friends
90 not claim that il is perfect. Though il
compares fayorably with the best organiZa-
Tons OF its kind in Eastern States, its off,
GERS are not blind to defects which call for
correction through legislative channels.
The adoption Of a new system of drill
regulations renders imperative fundamental
changes In organization. This work alone
Will call for the exercise of the best military
experience aud Intelligence 1t cannot,
however. be achieved without disposition
Delng manifested on the part of many Of
TIE officers to cheerfully make concessions.
mere must be willingness to subordinate
selfish and personal considerations to those
which relate to the whole body before the
hrst step can be taken. Officers and men
may come and officers and men may co. but
the organization. like Tennyson's brook,
goes on forever. and If all are animated by
q resolute and patriotic purpose to consider
the welfare OF the whole National Guard as
an enduring institution, no fear need be en-.
tertained that the National Guard Officers
Association will make any mistakes.
Ihe Second Brigade Signal Corps, which
received such unstinted praise from Captain
Barry In bis inspection report of Camp CO.
lumbns, turned out yesterday for practice.
Signal stations were established on the City
Hall tower, the roofs of the Mills building,
the railroad building at Fourth and Town
send streets, the Market-street ferry DEPOT
and Of the First. Second and Third Regiment
armories. Captain Evans, who commands
the corps, established his post on the Mills
building, from which he was in communca-
ton with the City Hall. ferry depot and
Fourth and Townsend streets. Lieutenant
Hanks at the City Hall tower directed the
operations of the system which connected
the armories with his station. The details
were under charge of non-commissoned
officers as follows: Mills building, Sergeant
Bordeman; City Hall. Sergeant Perkins;
ferry depot, Sergeant De Witt; railroad
building, Corporal Ellsworth; First Regi-
ment armory, Corporal Clay; Second Regi-
ment armory, Sergeant Curtis, and Third
Regiment armory. Corporal Porter.
Notwithstanding the thick haze that set
tied over the city the practice was very
satisfactory. Messages were tagged be-
tween the various stations from 10 80 A. NJ
until 80 p. NJ. Pedestrians in the streets
collected at many corners and wondered
what's all tie flag waving meant, and those
to whom II was profound mystery lis
tened with awe to the man who knew all
about it and who could read the waving
symbols.
In the event of q riot the services of the
signal corps would prove invaluable to the
officer directing military operations. With
headquarters at the City Hall or Mills
building he could not only receive timely
notice Il the movements of one or of sew
eral mobs. but could promptly communicate
his orders where 10 intercept the rioters TO
officers in command of detaehments.
A week ago last Thursday the signal
corps gave their annual reception in Union
square Hall.
Seeond-class SIgnalmen E. E. Stoddard,
w. w: Healey and c. ii. Whitney having
passed the required examination and have
been promoted to the first class.
Captain Kinsman of Battery f. Second
Artillery Regiment. has applied for certi-
hcate OF honorary membership in his bat
terry for Edwin K. Chapman.
Captain Heuber, retired, OF the Second
Artillery has been at his own request re-
lieved from duty as commissary of his regi-
ment.
Colonel Fairbanks of the Fifth Infantry
has issued an order hoDoraby discharging
from the service Privates g. w. Hall, W. w.
Miller. Thomas Stevens aud W. f. Young
OF Company A; j. Cesar, III. Jones, Ii.
McGlyn, ID. f. O'Brien and NJ. Reilly Of
Company ID, and +. r. Harkinson of Com
pany +.
In the same order he says: "The atten-
ton OF commanding officers and members
of companies is called to the near approach
of the time for the Maze Trophy shoot,
and it should be the endeavor Of each com.
pany TO have twelve men in good practice.
as the shoot will be decided by the scores
of seventy men from the regiment, who
must be chosen equally from the six COM
panies as far as possible. Ii is hoped that
all officers and men will assist the inspector
OF rife practice, Lieutenant Heller, who is
taking great interest in this match, and
make strong effort TO win"
The following is the reports of attend
ance. of the companies Of the Second
Brigade during the month of 0efnhar 1000.