The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-07

During the month of December the Ma
tional Guard is excused from the duty of
drilling. When the various companies
and bat;alions shall respond to drill duty
next month the revised infantry drill reg
ulations of the United States army will be
available, and the instructions will be IN
accordance with the new tactics, 1t has
taken the War Department long time
TO get the revised regulations in form
acceptable to all the experts, hence 1t Is
presumed tn at the new tactics have come
10 stay until some operations OF actual
conflict render further changes necessary.
Adiutant- General Barrett left California
for Washington last Thursday evening.
He has gone East 10 attend meeting OF
the Board of Managers OF the Home for
Disabled Volunteers. General Barrett
represents the branch institution at Santa
Monica on the National Board OF Man
ayers. The notion is entertained by crit
les of the Nat onal Guard that the State
of California pays the expenses OF the
Acknowledgement on his annual trips to
Washington.
The fact is the State pays no part of the
expense OF his trip. The appropriation
for the maintenance of the National Guard
allows very small sum for travelling and
incidental expenses. Captain Darlington
of the United States army, who Is on duty
as inspector of the guard, is frequently
Obliged to make official trips IN the line OF
his duty, and TO pay from his own pocket
the greater part of hotel and road ex.
penses CT the journeys.
meeting of the executive committee OF
the National Guard Officers Association
was held recently at the office ofthe presi-
dent. General Dickinson. There were
lonoro1e TNf,v II njrEi0SOn
II. Warfield, NJ. w. Muller amt Colonies
Fairbanks, Currier, Bush, Wright and
Duboce, representing the National Guard
of this State, with the exception OF the
First Brigade, General Last being absent.
After considerable discussion 1t was de-
cided TO continus the organization through
its executive committee which consists OF
the officers of the association, the major
general, igadier-generals, regimental
commanders and commander OF the Naval
Battalion. The report of the treasurer
was read. showing balance on hand OF
SI73 So, which was received and accepted
and ordered on file.
General Dickinson rendered his reslgna-
tion as president of the association, which
= was accepted, and q committee consisting
of Colonel Currier and Colonel Bush was
appointed 10 draft and present suitable
resolutions expressive Of their regret OF
such resignation, and recognition OF his
services as such since its organization IN
1883.
An election of officers was then held for
the ensuing year. General n. t. James
was elected president; Generals K. II.
. Warfeld, NJ. W. Muller and G. +. a. Last
we're chosen vice presidents; Colonel ID.
P Bush treasurer; Colonel J. G. Currier,
secrei airy, and Lieutenant Colonel }. Z.
Giesting, assistant secretary.
The meeting then adjourned, subject to
the call of the president. In the mean
time the several brigade associations were
requested 10 hold meetings and submit to
the executive commit zee such propositions
as they may deem proper to be embodied
in the bill to be presented 10 the Leei sla-
ture at lis coming session, such meetings
to be held al as early date as possible, so
as TO enable the executive committee tC
properly prepare the measures which may
be brought before them. The headquar-
tiers of the association in future will be al
the Office of the secretary, 800 Sansomt
street.
The National Guard officers will ask The
Legislature to make an allowance of $40,
600 or $4,000 for encampment expenses o.
the next two years. On this subject Gov
ernor Budd, as commander-in-chiei, may
embody some recommendation in the
measure to the Legislature.
Should the amount be allowed Captain
Darlington will recon mend regimenta
him that the best results are attained by
regiments going into camp Tor week o.
longer, and performing ELL the duties of
small force in the field. The encampmen
10y division presents too many features o
big picnic, besides the troops do not re
quire instruction in brigade and divls!oI
evoutions. The New York plan of
ment may encamp for one week is re
carded as good, and one that might b.
adopted in California with positive bene
fit 10 the service.
tits acknow lodged by I'll observers tina
regiment organized fer exa mple like th
Fifth Infantry Colonel Fai rbanks), witt
companies Stationed respec lively in Oak
land, Alameda. San Jose, San Rafael. Pet
aluma, Santa Rosa and Napa. should hav
regimental encampment every year
Battalion instruction demands this con
centration. What applies Ii this respec
10 the Fifth applies equally to the Second
the Sixth and the Seventh.
Opinions differ as to the relative valu
of regimental, brigade and division en-
campments. Soldiers the equal of Cap
tain Darlington in years CT service anC
intelligence believe that a division EN-
campment of the National Guard of Cali
fornia in the Presidio wouId be highly in
structive and beneficial to the troops O
the State. Thu fact is also recalled tina
the last big encampment at Santa Cru
called out much regimental rivalry.
Colonel Skaters First Infantry, U.
a. marched from San Francisco to SAINTS
Cruz and went into camp on the sam
field alongside of the Guard regiments
National Guardsmen OF the First, Second
Third, Fifth Sixth and Eighth re iment
were intelligent observers of the style an,
bearing OF the regular soldiers. An EN-
campment of the division in the Preside
would offer the State troops many an ex
cellent object lesson.
At the meeting of the organizers of tn
proposed new troop of cavalry hell
Wednesday evening last number o
members were admitted.
1t was decidei 10 close the roll of char
ter mem bers with seventy-6ve and to NEE
again a the Flood building this evenin
TO act upon proposition TO charge d,
initiation fee to applicants after the char
ter roll IS closed and to consider add
D. tn, to- her -