The morning call., 1894-07-16
Jack Turns Soldier Over
at the Mole.
SOME USELESS "HARNESS.
Trappings That Look Nice, but
Are Awkward.
PRETTY GIRLS WATCH DRILLS
1t Is Not Natural for the Sailors to
Handle Bayonets, but They
Do It Gracefully.

Go tell il to the marines that Jack has
turned soldier over at Oakland mole.
The sailors of the Charleston. Monterey
aud Thetis are drilling, drilling. drilling.
They do not lay aloft nor sepa rate into
gun crews at the order. There are no
steel decks beneath their feet, nor any
Sponsors or gun shields TO stand behind.
Nothing divides them from the salt water
but few inches OF asphaitum paving and
layer OF planks. At all sides of them
stand curious crowd of onlookers from
Oakland, Alameda and San Francisco.
Jack drills twics day at the mole: COM
pany drill in the morning and battalion
drill or dress parade in the afternoon. It's
The hardest work he ever had to do, and
worst of all the press and public speak of
the maneuvers as "the drill of the
marines"
The men of the Thetis. Charleston and
Monterey that are guarding the railroads
property over on the other side of the bay
are not marines. They are plain. un-
sophisticated Jacktars who chew tObaccO,
hitch their trousers and long for days
leave OF absence to go the rounds OF the
places where steam beers flow freely
through polished brass faucets.
Jack doesn't altogether fancy being con-
verified into q landsman and made to pack
a Springfield rifle about with u inches of
bayouet on top of it, A handy boat hook,
or better still a cutlass, would serve his
purpose best in a rough and tumble fight.
To have to form into platoons and COM
pany front, charge bayonets and forward
double time" without free use OF arms
IL 1T ln1 60 fla
training OF Legitimate marine or infantry
man, no: a healthy and well regulated
seaman.
Bnt the sailors of the warships now in
port have accepted the inevitable with more
than ordinary grace. Perhaps they are
moved to forgot their prejudices against
foot movements" in view of the fact that
an unusual amount of interest is taken in
them by the fair maids of Athens. They
have lost their sea legs and can evolute in
a manner that calls forth much praise from
the sweet lips Of the pretty spectators.
Jack has his headquarters at the mole
on board of the steamers Alameda and
Encnal, which are drawn up alongside
the north end of the structure and have
been converted into Quarters" There
isn't much to do on board ship and
aggravatingly few and far between.
Ii only the order would arrive to fall in
and rush quickly TO the scene Of the
strife every tar of the battalion would feel
as happy as if he had received an invita-
tion to enjoy glass of grog.
The man who throws brick at the
hardy-looking chaps with the blue
blouses and round navy-caps Is likely to
regret his error. Jack hasn't been TO sea
for nothing, nor has be failed to profit by
mis- years of experience with boarding
house thugs and "scrapers." When he
fights he does 80 with vengeance and he
does not care much how often he gets hit
himself just so that he can manage to get
a good square crack at his adversary.
The harness" bothers the men at the
mole more than does the mob. The har-
ness is cartridge belt, leggns. canteen
and straps and bayOnet-scabbard.
When there is any fighting to be done
Jack proposes to be cleared for action and
he don't believe in having too much para
phernalia about deck when under fire.
Company drill in the morning with in
structions IN loading and firing and ia the
manual Of arms are not altogether new to
the sailors, but they feel that they are de-
generating bit when they stoOp to do
work that is better adapted to landlubber
of a soldier. The battalion drill is like
heaping insult upon injury. but what can a
poor sailor 90 when the Government sends
him thirty miles away from his ship and
Notwithstanding the dislike of the man
o'-war's-man for land drills. they have
demon strated to those fam liar with tactics
that they ire not slow in perfecting them
selves In military movements.
The drills at the mole call for good
deal of complimentary comment from eX-
perts. The boys make splendid showing
and they seem to know it.
At a little before 2 o'clock the bugle
sounds the three commands and sOuads N
charge of the Calling guns march into the
main depot frcm which the overland trains
are usually dispatched.
The battalion is formed on the south
side, the necessary evoiutions for getting
the companies into line being executed
with precision and without confusion.
Jack looks well lined up in battalion
front, the Gattling battery on the left, with
each man that handles the dragropes as
rigid as bronze statue. The whole mass
OF men forms a battle picture that is pie as
ing to the eye and imDresses one with the
idea that it would take a pretty bold mob
to tackle the tars.
After the command. "Officers to the
front an0 CENTER" and the final, "Oficers
10 your posts" the battalion is moved off
the drill floor by company, and the people
see how we'll sailor can step out on dry
land, even il he is embarrassed by a lot of
useless gear that would only hamper a fell
low in good fight.
The men with the Calling guns make
all wheels. in double time, turning a
corner by right or left flank movement.
The gun crews get back TO quarters first.
The sailors idea of the strike is in most
cases very peculiar one He has never
acquainted himself with the dolngs of
George NJ. Pullman, and he therefore onlv
knows that the United States laws have
been set al defiance and that he is called
upon to do his share of protecting the
Government. To meddle with the Gov
eminent is heinous crime that should be
punished by immediate death in the eyes
of a man-o'- war s-man.
He does not see why it is that the same
discipline that applies to him on board ship
should not be enforced with men who show
any disregard for the honor Of the flag. A
ritiZen should be held strictly TO account
for mutiny as well as a seaman.