The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05

hostile powers?" 1 think we do. And we
also know or should know that 1.-the surest
guarantee Of peace is the power of nation
to resist invasion and punish aggression"
Let US see what professional opinion is in
this matter. And should we not defer to
the professional soldier, to those who are
interested in the National Guard and to
those who know that the National Guard
is the true standing army of the country?
In the Endorsement of the staff of the ar
tillery school on Major Tidbalrs Manual
OF Heavy Artillery il is stated "that it
(the manua) is probably invaluable for
the instruction of militia artillery, upon
whom in any war the defense of the coun-
try will largely devolve, and whose atten-
ton should undoubtedly be directed TO
heavy artillery instruction in time of peace
and not to field artillery merely, as is now
the custom"
The report of the general commanding
the army embodies the following with
respect to the reorganization of the regu-
lar artillery and infantry: He says: THE
strength of infantry, cavalry and field
artillery forces which might be required
in war with Il foreign power does not ad-
NIT OF very accurate estimate in advance.
Not so in respect to the seacoast artillery.
War with any considerable maritime ma
ton would require that all the seacoast
defenses of this country be fully manned
The force requisite for this purpose has
been very accurately estimated at $4,000
men, while the peace garrisonS estimated
as necessary for the care of these defenses
and instruction of the militia reserves is
only 1900 men, or not more than one TWEEN
tleth OF the war garrlSonS. Nineteen
tWentleths OF the war CarriSons must be
drawn from the local militia. Manifestly
a considerable portion of this artillery re-
serve should receive some instruction in
tIt,on of
directed to the importanc of organizing
in the seacoast States an artillery reserve,
to be instructed annually in connection
with the regular seacoast garrisons
Measures in this direction have already
been adopted in some of the States, and
these should be extended throughout all
the States bordering on the oceans and the
gulf"
Lieutenant McIver, late inspector of the
National Guard of California, recon-
mends in his report 1.-The maintenance in
San Francisco of a four-company bat
talon, 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 force as
an auxiliary to the regular artillery in
case of war is we'll recognized. The con-
venlent proximity of the forts form ing the
defenses of the harbor of San Francisco
and the excellent material in the City for
such force seem TO be favorable condi-
tons" General Guy V. Henery, special
inspector of the National Guard of the
State of New York, recommends: zone or
more regiments for service with heavy
artillery guns should be a part of the
National Guard.
Many other officers of the army, among
them the officers of the Fifth Artillery,
stationed at the Presidio have from time
to time urged the necessity of the forma-
ton of a reserve to man our defenses in
case the regular garrison be Withdrawn
and ordered to other duty or to provide
for casualties occurring to the regular
force.
In conclusion I quote from an article
that appeared in the Western Soldier of
June, 1891, written by an ex-regular army
artilleryman, which is apropos. He says:
AN artillery soldiers duty does not SIM
ply consist of knowing how to load and Fl re
a big gun. Surprising he is sent to fort
where the guns are lying about in all direc-
lions, their carriages upset and broken; he
must be capable of taking hold shifting
his guns from broken to servceable car
riages, dlsmounting some and mounting
others. All this is not to be learned in an
hour or day, and the time to prepare for
the contingency above limited at is not
when 1T might occur in time of war; but in
time OF peace; that is now"
If the foregoing somewhat loosely con-
nected remarks will in any manner cause
authorities to arrange for the early forma-
ton OF CALIFORNIA; artillery reserve | will
be amply repaid. JOHN A. MILLER,
Captain Second Artillery, N. G. c.