The San Francisco call., 1895-05-21

discipline and thoroughness of equip
ment," said Adjutant-General Bar
rett when questioned as to the
future of the National Guard
under the system of reorganization shortly
to be perfected. There is no reason in the
world why within brief period it should
not successfully compete in point of or
ganization and efficiency with any branch
of tbs United States army. We have plenty
of excellent material in the ranks and
scores of ambitious and competent officers
to command.
'We also have in Governor Budd an en-
thusiastic commander-in-chief, who pos
sesses every attribute of soldier, ardently
desiring to lend every assistance in his
power to perfect the new system, and he
without doubt will secure the hearty CO.
operation of officers and men. Personally
have always been an enthusiast in mat
ters pertaining to the National Guard, and
feel natural pride in attempting to make
the soldiery of California rank foremost to
that of any other State.
"When the Governor announced the orig
inal system of redistricting the State into
three brigades it was at that time the in
tention to have the San Joaquin Valley
district included in the First Brigade, with
headquarters situated at Fresno. This
plan was not at all satisfactory to the peo-
pie in the southern portion of the State
and number of US met in consultation
with the Governor on the matter and ex-
pressed our views on the question. These
seemed to meet with his appreciation and
changes were made that are eminently sat
isfactory to all concerned.
s'There can be no possible doubt but
that Los Angeles and San Francisco are
the proper places for the headquarters of
First and Second brigades. They are not
only central locations, but have a para
mount value in possessing water commu-
nication with important neighboring
points, so that in case of hostile invasion,
cutting of telegraphic communication and
destruction of railroads troops may always
be transported to threatened points by
water. This in itself is sufficient at
tribute, considered from military stand
point, to insure the location of head
quarters at these cities.
ssThe First Brigade has an immense
stretch of sea coast, reaching as it does
from Santa Cruz to San Diego, to protect,
and it is eminently requisite that water
connections be possessed with all points
from brigade headquarters. The same ar
gument may be advanced in favor of San
Francisco as the proper position for bri-
gade headquarters. Under the existing
law there can be but sixty nine companies
comprising the National Guard of Califor-
MIA, sixty of these to be infantry and
artillery, five companies of naval reserves
and four troops of cavalry. Of the latter
San francisco already possesses one. and
another will probably be placed at Sacra-
mento. The other two troops, if it be
deemed advisable to form them, will prob
ably be located in the SOUTH
"Of the naval reserves San Francisco
and San Diego possess two companies
each, so that should the formation of the
fifth reserve be considered necessary it will
probably be located at some other point.
OF course you fully understand that at the
present time matters are in state of en-
bryo and nothing absolutely definite has
been decided upon.
my appointment to the position now
occupy was matter of extreme surprise
to me, and as have only been an occu-