The morning call., 1894-10-24
NATIONAL GUARD.
The Report of Lieutenant
MCEver.
DEFECTS ARE POINTED OUT.
Sharp Criticism of the Tactics
at Sacramento.
TOO MANY STAFF OFFICERS.
recommendation Made for Imprcy-
ing the Service Throughout
the State.
DEFECTS ARE POINTED OUT.
TOO MANY STAFF OFFICERS.

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 23.-Lieutenant G.
W. McIver of the regular army. who was
detailed to report on the condition of the
National Guard. to-day filed his report
with the djutant-general. he first deals
with the June encampments of the First
and Sixth infantry regiments at Santa
Cruz and Stockton respectively, and that
of the Seventh and Ninth at Santa Monica
in August.
In the Stockton camp he says there were
unseemly proceedings after taps and little
effort made to check them, the officers in
some cases taking part in the disturbances.
In the formations Of companies the men
were very slow. the delay being sometimes
ten minutes. He was told the men were
sleepy and could not be made to turn out
The camp regulations were good. and
he found much to please him, and the mon
presented good appearance. but were lax
in the details of drill. Enlisted men were
careless about saluting officers.
He also gave instruction 10 the men at
Santa Cruz and speaks we'll of their con-
duct and efficiency. good account is
also given of the Santa Monica camp.
space to the service performed by the Ma
tional Guard during the railroad strike,
going over the ground previously covered
in other military reports. He SAYS the
San Francisco regiments went TO Sacra-
mento poorly equipped for service;
speaks of the meager breakfast they re-
ceived on their arrival. and of the sensa-
tionaI events of the memorable Fourth oil
f,11v- To find in, ii1a
and 113 officers, more than one-half of The
latter being field and staff officers. The
placing of the Sacramento men at the head
of the column to confront the strikers
massed at the depot was, he thinks. au
unwise disposition of the troops, as the
moral effect that might have gone with the
strange troops was lost. With the crowd
OF men, women and children mixed up
with the soldiers and strikers he says it Is
doubtful ii arms could have been used if
| the order had been given. The lienten-
ant refers to the fact that ''no effort was
made to effect an entrance with the San
Francisco troops at the east end OF the
depot, which was open and unobStructed.
| After devoting considerable space 10 the
situation at Oakland Lieutenant Mc1ver
closes his report with the following recon-
mendations:
First-A reorganization of the National
Guard into three districts. each under the COM
mand of brigadier. general, with headquar-
ters at San Francisco. Sacramento and Los An
! geles respectively.
Second-A reduction IN the number of divi-
| sion, brigade and regimental staff officers to
something like the requirements of actual SER
Vice. The excessive proportion OF staff officers
| in service during the strike is 4 matter Of sons
/ CaIsE
| eriug that they were all under pay. For exam
pie, the First Infantry had with 1t at one period
| eight regimental staff officers performing du-
ties which in the regular service would ordi-
narily devolve upon two lieutenants.
Thrd-A material reduction in the number
OF companies and increase IN the enlisted
strength of each company, so that each shall
consist of not less than sixty enlisted men, in
| stead of forty seven as at present. Under eX-
| isting conditions some OF the companies
are with difficulty maintained up 10 the mini
mum limit prescribed by law. In San Francisco
there are twenty-seven company organizations
| included in three regimental organizations, u
battery of artillery, troop Of cavalry, naval
| battalion and a signal corps. l am inclined TO
believe that this is too large number for all 10
be maintained up 10 the proper standard in
numbers.
In many cases throughout the State there is
babitualIy a small attendance at drills aud
| companies often appear at camp as insignlti-
! cant squads. AT one encampment OF two regi-
ments at Santa Monica it was necessary to
| combine the two-fOurueen company organiza-
tions IN all-in order 10 make four-cOmpany
bal ltalon of sufficient size to Illustrate some of
the movements in the "drilI regulations"
Fourth-O Organization Of companies when
practicable into twelve company regiments,
otherwise into eight company regiments; Or il
! companies are 100 widely separated for a regi-
mental organization, then into four company
| battaiOns.
Fifth-1he maintenance In San Francisco Of
| four company battalion, to be uniformed and
| designated as artillery, and which in addition
to being drilled as infantry, shall receive as far
| as practicable Instruction in the handling of
heavy guns. The value OF such Il force as an
auxiliary to tile regular artillery In case OF war
is well recognized. Tie convenient proximity
| OF the forts forming the deienseS OF the harbor
or San Francisco, and the excellent material in
the city for such force, seem TO be favorable
| conditions.
Sixth Provision Tor examination for appoint.
ment in any staff department and for appoin-
ment On the regimental staff.
| Standardization of company officers for a
term of four years instead of Two, as at present.
Eighth-A physical examination upon enlist
msnt In the National Guard aud upon every re-
enlistment.
NlniH - IIONlSloH IoF pSIhdueut camp
grounds-one IN the northern or central and
the other in the southern part of the State.
Tenth-Provision for good rife range in the
vicinity OF San Francisco, and more encourage
ment for long.rang firing.
Eleyenth-Provision for State armorles. be.
ginning first with the larger cities and towns.
Twelfth-A complete equipment for every
company in the National Guard. Including
servceable Springfield rifles.
IltrteeQth-It a ded N
armory drills more attention be paid 10 the
school of the soldier. This drill should be by
squad under the non- commissioned officers,
who thereby gain Gnowledge and confidence.
aud the men in turn get more and better In
struction in the school OF the soldier which is
the foundation OF good drills.