The San Francisco call., 1896-10-12

The banquet at the California doCel tnis
evening in honor of General Graham,
U. A. is the event of the hour in Ma
tionaI Guard circles in San Francisco.
The suggestion to give farewell dinner
in honor of the distinguished officer met
with universal favor, and so the attend
ance of active and retired officers will be
unusually large. The first intention was
to give the banquet at the Bohemian Club,
as the leading officers of the Fifth Artil-
lery are mem bers of that institution, but
the prospect OF an attendance much larger
than was originally intended induced the
committee of arrangements to secure the
large banquet-hall of the California Hotel.
Among those who haze signifed desire
to be present are officers of the staff OF the
Commander-ln- Chief Governor Budd).
Maior-General N. T. James and staff,
rigadier-General Warfield and staff and
Colonel William Macdonald and staff.
Among well-known officers on the re-
tired list who will be there are General
John h. Dickinson, Colonel George w.
Granniss and Colonel II. Z. Bush. Twenty
or more officers of the United States army,
belonging chiefly to the Fifth Artillery,
Will be present.
The division staff has been REINFORCED
by the appointment OF Lieutenant-C Colonel
Thomas A. Nerney, formerly of the Sew
enth Infantry, to the position Of inspector
of rife practice. Colonel Nerney is pro-
eressive officer, who has had long expert
ence in the National Guard.
Captain Darlington, First Infantry,
United States army, who rs serving on the
staff of Governor Budd as inspector of the
National Guard of this State, is preparing
his report for the War Department The
report will be forwarded to the Secretary
of War before November 1.
In his line of duty Captain Darlington
has visited nearly every organization OF
the Guard in California. He is capable
officer who understands his business. 1t
is believed that he will speak his mind
freely regarding the weak points in the
organization.
Second Brigade.
The Officers Association of the Second
Brigade will hold another meeting to-
morrow evening. Since the meeting that
created the association was held members
of the campaign committee have inter
viewed many candidates for the Legisla-
ture to ascertain the sentiments regarding
appropriations for the Guard. The COM
mittee is composed of Lieutenant Colonel
Victor Duboee Major G. L. TiIden and
Captains Thomas f. 0'Neil, u. A. Smith
and George Filmer.
Officers express the hope that the First
and Third Brigades will form assocla-
tions similar to this one recently organ
lied in the Second Brigade. The purpose
of entering into politics is disavowed, but
the position is taken that candidates for
the LEGISLATURE should be informed as to
the requirements of the National Guard,
so that when they get to Sacramento and
settle down to the work of appropriating
public money they will know what amount
the State troops should be allowed. Up
on the line of the Donahue railroad the
Fifth Infantry skirmishers have captured
all the candid ateS for the Legislature.
A meeting of the board of officers of the
First Infantry was held at the regimental
armory last Thursday evening. Colonel
Macdonald is anxious to have aregimental
field day and a com mittee has been ap-
pointed TO select grounds for the outing.
1t iE proposed that the regiment shall
start from the armory with one days ra-
tions and have series of company and
battalion drills. The silhouette targets
will be taken along for rife practice.
There is talk in the regiment of the
proposition to secure rife-range on the
peninsula. The trip across the bay is in
convenient, and takes more time than the
men can give. Tie regiment has secured
from the State a set of tools for loading
shells. This may bring about an i'm prove
ment in the ammunition, and perhaps re-
suit in the saving of money. An effort is
to be made to get Lieutenant Barrere, the
inspector of rife practice, to assume the
responsibility of charging the shells, or at
least have the duty performed under his
direction.
Companies and had an agreeable
anniversary party at the Ellis-street
armory last Friday evening. Many ladies
who were present were cordially enter
tanned.
Company K, Captain Thomes ]. Cum
ningham, had a successful outing at
Guadalupe ranch. The meat-ration cans
recently issued to the State troops were
found to be very convenient and service
able.
Company F, Captain John a. Miller,
went to Stockton for an annual outing and
returned last Tuesday, highly delighted
with the trip and the Stockton welcome.