The herald., 1897-10-17
NATIONAL GUARD NOTES


It was genuine surprise TO the omcers
ana men of the N. G. c. when they were
SSllsd out for inspection last Friday
night. A few of the members Of the
different companies have a lurking idea
that it was a prearranged scheme, got
ten UP to see how many would turn out
ON an emergency call. The facts, how
ever, are substantially as given in The
Herald last Saturday morning, and 1t
was as much a surprise to Col Berry
az anyone.
There were some funny scenes at the
armory. More than one man was to be
seen asking: Where are we ordered to"
a. in many instances the messengers
who went out to summon the men mere
ly told them to report at the armory at
once. A number drew the very natural
conclusion that there was trouble some
where or that it was another of those
confounded" emergency calls.
These sudden calls do not find great
deal of favor among the officers and men,
as they naturally are reported at head
quarters A great many of the men cam
not be found on such short notice, or
live at such distance from the armory
that they could not get there in time 70
answer to their names al roll call. This
last sudden turnout has set number of
guardsmen to thinking of the emer-
gency call that took place early in the
year. One OF the officers said: "The
next emergency call will find us no bet
ter equipped for long campaign or
even a few days stay in the field. There
is only one company in the regiment
that have overcoats and blankets for
all of the men. Those who were on the
last emergency call have very dis
tinct recollection of the inconveniences
and discomforts of that one nights at
tempt to sleep in the open air and on
ground which was still damp from recent
rains. To take man out on a call like
that, directly from a. home where he
has been used to a dry and warm bed
and make him sleep on the ground with
out even an overcoat to keep him warm
amounts to but a little less than abso-
lutte cruelty
In the recent advertising for bids foi
uniforms by the uniform board there
was no mention made of overcoats or
blanket rolls, and even leggins were
omitted so there is but little help to be
looked for from that quarter. .....
Several OF the company commanders
are making an effort to raise suficien.
money among the members of the COM
pany and by different arrangements to
purchase these much needed equip
ments.
1t is reported that at the meeting Of the
armory board resolution was passed
asking that the police commissioners do
not grant the application of Henry Cor
man for saloon license in the new arm
ory building. The officers and men are
unanimous in saying that no such IL
cense should be granted, and while they
do not wish to pose as saints. they say
that saloon in the armory building will
be detrimental to the guards
General Barrett, who is now in Wash
ington, D c., is expected to return to
California some time this week Cen
eral Barrett has made this trip east for
the purpose of impressing the needs of
the N. G. c. on the minds of the officials
in the war department. Particularly is
the need for new rifles felt. Many OF
those now in use are aged pieces that
were made in tn early '7O's and would
shoot around a corner great deal
better than they would shoot straight.
There are number of the la test pattern
Springfields lying useless in the different
arsenals of the United States, and these
are available for National Guard pur-
poses, but their custodians seem to cling
to them as to last hope.
Col. Berry when seen said that he did
not believe that the California guard
would be equipped with the new United
States repeating rifles, but that IL the
off Int 1c I, i
to give a complete new armament of new
Springfields that would fill the want for
the present.
The program for the opening of the
new armory has been adopted as it was
first outlined, and still includes the Off
GERS ball. which the enlisted men will
not be allowed to attend in uniform, and
which has, principally by the efforts of
few malcontents, caused more than a lit
tie feeling.
The contract for the making of the new
uniforms was to have been let last Fri
day, but no public announcement of the
successful bidder has been made
The recent trouble which resulted in
the arrest of Captain jerks, comm ander
of troop A, San Francisco, on charge
of cruelty to animals, has not yet been
settled. Captain jerks has taken an
appeal from the judgment which was
given against him in the police court
Captain jerks says that he is not afraid
Of there being a court martial on the
same charge, as the ration which was
fed to the horses was the regular United
States army ration.
Company will soon hold an exam
ination for corporals. There are five or
six vacancies to be filled. The examina-
tion will be sharp one, and only those
will be given the much-coveted stripes
who display a sufficient amount Of
knowledge of corporal's duties.
Company c has full platoon at
Compton and has a good set Of men,
During the past week these have fur
nished the ground materials and labor
to build a good rifle range. The targets
are built on piece Of ground as level
az floor, and the shortstop for the
bullets is an immense bluff.
Last week, in giving the dates for the
state shoot. company AS date was
given as the 11th. instead of the 14th,
as it should have been.
On an order from Colonel Berry COM
pany M will shoot on Tuesday, instead
of Monday, as the orders were first given
out. The change has been made on
request from a committee of the G. A,
r.. 80 that the company will be able to
take part in the drill which the veterans
will give as part Of the barbecue day
Company G, Second regiment, has
challenged company M to friendly
shooting match. Each company will