The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-21


a6ording an agreeable relief and diver
sion from the usual monotony character
istic in military maneuvers. The nava
reserve stands on higher plane anC
has a loftier purpose than the lane
militia.
A man who is rated az good infantry
or artillery officer might not be accepted
ON any condition as a naval officer, fol
the reason that in addition to the neces
sary qualifications of the former, ths
latter must possess the accomplishments
and propensities which characterize the
seaman and navigator. Great care ID
also taken to enlist only q desirable
class of young men in the ranks. and
most of them have high social stand
ing. The object, or one of the objects,
of the laval reserve, is to train men
for officers. and the seaman in the ranks
today may be Lieutenant or chief of a
division next year; therefore, intelli-
gence and natural ability are very neces-
sary qualifications. The uniform is q
picturesque affair. For the men, the
dress uniform consists OF a shirt blouse,
of blue, with wide collar trimmed with
three rows of white braid and cuffs
trimmed with the same material; the
trousers are of blue cloth, cut very
broad from the knee down and fitting
snugly about the hips; about the neck
are worn the black neckerchief and
white knifelanyard, while the head
dress is the wide navy cap with flowing
streamere and decorated with the name
OF the organization in gold letters.
The officers are uniformed exactly as
those of the regular navy, whose ami
forms are conceded to be the richest in
the United States service. A flag, con-
sisting of blue field in the center of
which are two crossed anchors fouled
on their cables and surrounded by Is
white stare, represents the colorB of the
California naval battalion.
The recent organization OF a new
company OF reserves il Los Angeles has
attracted much interest on the part of
the citizens of this lsnd-locked city, and
some doubts have been expressed az to
the practicability of such a movement,
on the ground of it's inaccessibility to
the sea. This apparent obstable, how
ever, has proved the smallest the local
organization has had to contend with !;
the success of the movement in various
inland cities OF the Atlantic states,
some Of which are distant hundreds of
mile5 from ths sea, demonstrating the
feasibility of the enterprise in Los Ange-
les.
The leaders of the movement in this
city have prospected the ground very
carefully before launching forth in their
venture, and the progress that has been
made during the few months that have
elapsed serves to assure the public of its
permanency and succese. Substantial
encouragement has been volunteered
the local division of reserves, not only
on the part of the state officials but by
the navy department direct. Gen. f. P.
Johnson and Adj.-Gen. @, @. Allen, of
the state national guard, have taken
deep interest in the progress
OF the company, assuring it's officers
OF their hearty appreciation in the
movement and guaranteeing their as
sistance in procuring the necessary arms
and equipments from the state. Sem
ator Stephen NJ. White is expected to
exercise his influence with the navy
department in the matter of obtaining
certain privileges for the company, such
as drilling on board war vessels which
from Tins to time visit ports in South
ern California, securing a vessel of the
Pensacola type to be permanently 10
Gated at San Pedro Tor practice purposes,
and other favors.
AS in the case OF the other four COM
panes. which now constitute the state
naval battalion, it was necessary to or
ganize the Los Angeles division on an
independent basis. 1t has the firm
assurance, however, of leading officials,
that at the meeting of the next legisla-
ture it will be mustered into the service
of the state. In the meantime the
expense Of maintaining the organization
falls on It's members, who, nevertheless,
are very sspguine as to their ability to
make it self-supporting. Preparations
are now being made for a grand naval
ball, to be given upon the arrival of the
coast defense vessel Monterey, which
will visit Southern California ports
in January next. The ball will be at
tended by the officers of the battleship,
and an effort will be made to have
detail OF sailors present. for the pur-
pose OF giving an exhibition drill for
the entertainment of the guests
1t is intended that the proceeds OF
this ball shall go towards paying for the
uniforms OF the men, which are now be-
ing negotiated for. 1t has been sug-
eested that quarters be furnished the
company in the new boat house about
to be erected at Westake park. The
city would certainly lose nothing by
taking such an interest in this move
ment, as the reserves propose within
short time to have beautiful barge on
tine lake, to be used for drill purposes,
which will add another attraction to the
park.
When the San Francisco companies
were organized great encouragement
was held out to them 90 the part OF the
merchants of the city, who subscribed
nearly $4,000 towards promoting the
movement. The local reserve company
has, as yet, appealed to no one for aid,
but the business men OF the city could
well afford to volunteer some financial
encouragement. The company at pres
ent musters 40 men, exclusive OF the
officers, and great care has been eter-
cised to enroll IS members young men
OF good moral character. The organiza-
tion is commanded by Lieutenant Frank
Van Week, who is proving himself an
energetic and efficient officer. Lieuten-
ant J. S. Oliver, jr., ia second in COM
mand, and Ensigns T. B. Emery and A.
W. 2. Kinney complete the list of COM
missioned officers.
Wherever else an attempt has been
made TO organize naval reserve force
the effort has invariably met with per-
and UNQUALIFIED success, and