The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-17
NAVAL BATTALION AFFAIRS.
More Money Expected From the State
Than Will Be Allowed for the
Next Two Years.
Santa Cruz Will Come to the Front
With New Company-A Carrier
Pigeon Service.

Some uneasiness has been expressed by
members of the Naval Battalion lest the
State appropriation for the ensuing two
years should be below the requirements.
''In that case" remarked one of the
officers, eve would have to disband and
return all the arms and ammunition that
we have received from the General Gov
eminent"
This idea seems to have gone abroad to
an alarming extent, but is not INDUCED in
by those who have the interests of the
battalion most at heart.
Adjutant Frank A. Brooks says that the
battalion is on such firm basis that it
would still exist even if there were no
State appropriation at all.
The bill now before the Legislature al
lows $185,000 to be divided among seventy
companies. At the present time there are
four companies of reserves organized
three in this city and ore at San Diego.
An effort is now being made to organize a
fifth company at Santa Cruz. Los Angeles
is in the field, but naval men prefer fifth
company at Santa Cruz. The remainder
of the appropriation will be divided among
sixty companies of State militia and five
other companies whose service is to be
designated. Adjutant Brooks said yester-
day:
is perfectly ridiculous. We are asking the State
to allow us some very necessary things, which
we will not obtain For instance, we want
500 year for the signal service $500 for
target practice: $500 for tents, and 800 a
month rent for each company.
II we do not get enough for all these we shall
have to go without tents and some other
As it is now the men pay so cents a month
dues and the officers pay 81. Before there was
any State appropriation at all collected
"a bllSiOPSS n
purchase uniforms.
There are nearly 400 reserves in the
service at present and Com
mander Stable and the adjutant hope to
see double the number in short time.
The General Government has supplied
them with $780, 900 worth of arms and more
are to come. They have three Hotchkiss
rapld-tire rifles, two three-inch breech-
leaders and one Accles Calling gun, $50
Lee rifles and 100 Colts revolvers.
The Santa Cruz company IS ready to go
into service with the full eighty men. 1t
is backed by such men as L. J. Jeter, who
was the Democratic candidate for Lieuten-
ant-Governor; Senator Burke; A. A.
Moorey, banker; Colonel Ruff, formerly of
the staff of General Grant; General Z. B.
Bunting and j. L. Brooks. The adiutant
saws:
To show how perfectly we are organized, if
we were ordered out now, inside of an hour l
could have five days rations on wagons and in
readiness to move in any direction. Our order
is always good for that. We are now trying to
get quarters in the upper story of the new ferry
building, where we viii be near our boats, and
we can have flash light and other conven-
fences for drilling.
But the carrier pigeon service is what 1 am
trying to develop. There is a regular depart
ment for this line of service at Annapolis, and
it is used to q considerable extent in the East.
1t would be very valuable out here. warship
coming from Honolulu or any other point
could let out bird that would take news TO
destination days in advance.
This important service we want to perfect as
soon as possible, and with company at Santa
Cruz the training would be easy