The San Francisco call., 1897-03-08
The Naval Battalion.

WOODLAND, CAL, March 5-Last Wednes-
day evening about forty men appeared for
drill; fifteen minutes was devoted to the set
ting up exercises, ana the balance of the hour
to company drill. Lieutenant Ward was in
command, as Captain Prindle was away and
will not return until some time next week.
The boys will have their first shoot al the
5OO-yard target one week from next Sunday.
The team that is to shoot with the Honolulu
team will be selected in short time. The
boys are working herd to get places on the
team, and the islanders VIII have to shoot
good and strong to win.
The football team is on the anxious seat rs
they expect TO play the Suisun Valley team on
| March IA. The valley team is without exceP-
tlon the best amateur one i'll the State, and if
the boys beat them 1t Will be quite a large,
bushy feather in their cap
The bicycle circuit riders are here now and
the races will lake place at the racetrack
Monday. Two or three OF he company boys
are entered in the amateur events and we are
anXlously waiting TO see how they will come
out. There are three applications on the
board 10 be acted upon next Wednesday even
Ing
semoled IN large numbers last Tuesday night
in the armory on East street to listen to q
lecture delivered Dy Lieutenant Comma nder
Louis H. Turner. His lecture, very interest
ing one from naval standpoint covered a
great deal OF what in the past went 10 make
up naval warfare, and it also treated of
modern warfare. He dwelt upon the We nder-
iul seamanship that was required to navigate
the United States frigate Constitution and
save her from five vessels that were seeking TO
sink or capture her. Then he drew picture
of the fight between that noble vessel aud the
Guerrero and explained the many maneuyers
that were made and which resulted in the vic
| tory for tn oSe of the United States vesse.
| The fight between the Alabama and the
kearsarge occupied the attention OF his hear
| ers. and while he did not find anything to
complain of in the management of that sea
| battle he was of the opinion that the seaman
| ship on steam vessels is not equal TO that re-
| quired TO manage q sailing vessel. He con-
| cludcd by a description and criticism of the
naval warfare OF modern times, particularly
| the ship fights during the recent war in China.
The battalion viii have battalion drill and
| dress parade on The Spreckels wharf to-mor-
row night.
| Lieutenant Everey OF the battle-ship Oregon
| visited The Camanche last week and inspected
| the men, saw them drill. ana after making Il
thorough eXamina tion stated that the naval
battalion at this point is better organized for
work than any OF the similar organizations
on the Atlantic eaboard. He was the guest
of Lieutenant Gum.
The members of the battalion are anxious TO
know If the legislature will make an appro-
priation of $4,000 to enable them to place the
organization on more perfect footing than
II is now. The battalion has an engineer on
the Camanche but no engineer corps and the
organization feels that it is very much like the
boy who had q kite but no string The Kite
was nice to look at, but not OF any use Tor ris-
ing in the space above. They have a ship but
no men TO work her. Their snip, the Ca
manche. is nice TO look at, but if required to
60 into action she is unavailable. The mem
bers OF the Military Committee when they in
spected the ship on Wash .ngtoa's birthday
anniversary declared that the appropriation
asked for was very moderate, and that the
battalion ought to receive what it Desired
Several OF them openly declared that they
wou d see that the measure went through, but
the naval reserves are waiting. still waiting