The San Francisco call., 1897-08-23
NOTES FOR THE
NATIONAL GUARD
Value Of the Presence of
Regulars at a National
Guard Camp.
Talk of a Lyceum for the In
struetion of Non-Commis-
stoned Officers.
Some Comments About Suffer"
Who Go to the Encampments of
the State Soldiers.

The brigade encampment at Santa Cruz is a
thing of the past. but it is one that has been
of benefit to the Sixth and Seventh regiments
of infantry and to the two troops OF cavalry,
B OF Sacramento and of Salinas, which were
permitted to go into camp with the Third
Brigade.
The presence of Troop l, Captain Lockett,
Fourth Cavalry, United States army, at the
Santa Cruz camp, had a most beneficial effect
upon the men of the National Guard, particu-
larly the cavalry, which gained some very
valuable information by observation of the
manner in which United States camp is
conducted 1t must be said 10 the credit OF
the cavalry of the Ma tioDal Guard that they
made the best of their observations, and the
advice given by the regulars as the result of
the knowledge gained was made apparent at
their quarters and at drill and reviews. There
was such q marked improvement in the ap
pearance of the men and their soldierly bear
ing that they were complimented on all sides,
and one who spoke well of them was Captain
Lockett OF Troop 1.
The system of detailing United States troops
to the summer camps of the National Guard
OF State is being enlarged upon each year.
This year there were joint encampments in
Rhode Island. Kentucky, Alabama, New Jer-
sey, Michigan. Kansas, Vermont and Cali
fornia The several branches of the service
from the United States army were sent out to
camp with the National Guard in addition to
the special inspectors and the experience of
past years show unmis takably that the joint
encampments have resulted in a great deal of
good to the citizen soldiery. for many of the
men learn from observation of the regulars
that of which they have but theoretical
knowledge The object lesson of regular
army camp life and its routine creates an i'm
preston on the minds of the members of the
National Guardsmen that is more lasting than
all the verbal instructions their officers could
give them in year or more. The joint en-
campment at Santa Cruz WAS the only one in
this State this year but ii is likely that in the
future some branch of the regular army will
be sent 10 each camp.
The men who were at Santa Cruz are not
pleased with the weather during the time
they were in camp. 1t was foggy most all the
time, and therefore unpleasant The volley
shooting by the companies was one in which
the men took great deal of interest and the
records show that the shooting was not bad.
The departure OF the First Regiment of In
fsntry for Camp Macdonald last Saturday
leaves only OF the National Guardsmen in San
Francisco the Signal Corps of the Second
Brigade Troop A, First Cavalry, and the First
and Second divisions OF the naval militia.
The men OF the First Regiment as they left
the regimental Rrmory presented fine ap-
pearance, the majority of those in the ranks
being bright-looking, intelligent young fell
lows. All the comp panies in the assembly
room Just prior to the departure, with the ex-
ceptlon OF one, appeared IN their service uni
form. as per regulations, the one exception
being one company, the members of which
ali punched their hats up and then dented
them alter the fashion of the hats worn by the
hoodlum element. The attention of one of the
superior officers called to the matter and
within few minutes every man had his hat
as 1t should be-the hat OF q soldier. The men
who belong TO the guard certainly want to
gain the good opinion of the citizens when
they are on duty, but they cannot gain it by
appearing on parade in manner that will
not entitle them to respect. The wearing OF
hats in the manner described makes the
wesrers look tough, but it does not make them
look like soldiers.
Now that Lieutenant-Governor Jeter is at
the head of the government, in the place of
Governor Budd, who is absent on leave, and
that the adlutant-general has returned from
the south, it is likely that the demands, which
for several months past have not been issued
Tor want OF signatures, Will be signed and for
warded 10 the company commanders.
During the week Lieutenant-GoverEor Jeter
and Governor Budd's staff will visit Camp
Macdonald at Ukiah; so will Division Com
mander Major-Generai N. T. James and staff,
and Colonel Fairbanks of the Fifth Infantry
who in the absence of Brigadier General
colonel, in command, will, with Adiutant A.
D. Smith, also visit the camp. Each of the
officers will be rendered review
When the camping days are over arrange
ments will be made for the next shoot OF the
Second Brigade, under the new firing regula-
tions. 1t is probable that the Presidio range
VIII be secured for the purpose, but that is a
matter that has not yet been fully de termined.
Some complaint was made some time since
because men who have the leisure and belong
to one regiment have gone into camp with
another regiment, and such have been de:
nominated as "stuffers." There are officers of
the National Guard who do not look upon
such men as "stuffers." In conyersat ation on
this subject one of the officers said: 81 do not
look upon such men as suffers Hook upon
them as substitutes. We have in all COM
munities men who are happy in the knowl-
edge that there is in the State body OF the
National G6ard to protect their property in
case of need, and these men have in their EN-
ploy men who are membe of the guard but
when the employees ask for permission to go to
camp these employers tell them, If you want
to go TO camp you can, but there is no GER
tainty that your place will not be filed during
your absence DEPRESSING l must say that
that is not very good spirit for citizen to
have. Well, in such a case the mem ber of the
company who is fortunate enough to have a
situation feels that he would like to have his
company make as good a showing as possible
and in order TO make up for his absence he
will ask some one OF another regiment who is
out of work to go as his substitute. Certainly
such man is not suffer. II he has already
been In camp during the year he acquires a
better knowledge of a soldiers duty by being
in camp TWO weeks than by having been there
but one week.
CAS- Captain Darlington. U. S. A, inspector
OF the National Guard of this State, said: "A
man in camp no sooner gets a clear under.
standing of what is expected of him than
comes the order to break Up camp, and unless
he has an opportunity to go to a second camp
what he did learn in week will not be as
valuable as what he would learn in two for il
taxes at least two weeks TO thoroughly ap-
preciate the duties of camp life' l believe
that II we had more such suffers at our camps
it would be for the good of the guard"
There is some talk of establishing a lyceum
for the non-commissioned officers in the First
Regiment of Infantry, in which competeni
officers can teach them their duties and make
better soldiers OF them. The result OF such a
lyceum, If it is established, will be to impari
uniform instruction TO the "non-coms" and il
would avoid great deal of confusion. This is
particularly desirabl at this time, in view OF
the fact that the National Guard law has bee n
tinkered so often of late that there ought to be
one recognized head that will construe the
different sections, and not allow the sections
to be construed by every ind iyidual at will