The San Francisco call., 1897-10-11
NOTES Of THE
NATIONAL GUARD
Too Much Business in Pri-
Vate Life for the
Officers.
designations From the Division
Commanders Staff Still
in Order.
Company Appropriation for Camps
Cut Down-An Instance of Happy
Go-LuCky Work,

OuS Dy one lne DCIS Oh the SbdIl OA tue III
vision commander ere deserting their superior
officer, and esignations have for some time
past been in order. The lstes hose resigna-
tion has been rendered is Lieutenant-Colonel
George Stone, engineer ,flicer, who no longer
desires military glory. AS usu1l, the excuse
announced is that business viii not permit
the retiring oficer TO attend to the duties of
the position. It's also stated that the lieuteu-
aut-colonel has contemplated for some time
sending III his res ignation, but that he had by
request deferred so doing until al ter the close
OF the last encampment. Rumor, which is al
ways busy in National Guard circles, has it
that there are several N ore designations ready
to be presented by officers of MajOIGeneral
James staff.
The vacancy created some time ago by the
resignation of Colonel F. W. Sumner has
been filled by the appointment OF A. B. C.
Dohrmann by the major-generaL
An election ha> been called for the choice
of capita n first and second lieutenant of Com
pany a. the Second Infantry.
W. B. Kellogg of Company G, Second Infan-
try, has applied for q teu-year service medal.
The officers of the Fifth Regiment OF Infan-
try have applied for permission 10 hold the
State shoot during The current month, having
been unable, by reason OF delay in issuing
orders for The shoot and the lack OF suitable
range TO shoot, TO carry out orders, in the
Captain John D. Shoemaker and Second
Lieutenant John L. Hughes of Company F.
Second Regiment Infantry, have been re-
elected.
The Nationals Companies and G of the
First Infautry) cele brated the forty-second an
nivers sary of The organization by Il bali last
Friday night in the Z. lis-s street armory. There
was large attendance, and all present had an
enjoyable time.
ihe members Of the signal corps of the Sec
ond Brigade were out yesterday for mounted
The officers of the First Regiment of Intan-
try hav.ng obtained perm lssion 10 delay their
Stale target shoot are now negotiating lot Ger
tain lands near the terminus OF the car line
10 Inglesde on which to eSta bish the ranges
that are required under the firing ragu-
latiops These ranges are to be erected al 200,
300 and 500 yards. The land upon which 1t
i proposed TO erect the ranges is owned by
the Spring Valley Water Company, and it is
said are well adapted for the purpose, as at
one end there is ground sufficiently high 10
make the territory beyond the line OF ranges
sa e from stray bullets. The officers OF the
compauv and Colonel J. F. Smith nd Lieuten-
ante Colonel Duboce and other officers of the
regiment have had several conferences in re-
gard 10 this mat ter. but as yet nothing defn-
ite has been accomplished. The members OF
the regi iment favor a spOt in the vlcinlry OF the
CITY proper. where they can at any time go
and practice a. the ranges, so that they may
perfect themselves in rifle shooting. They do
not feel ike going into another county 10
seek ranges on account of the expense, te-
lieying that paying for ammunition Is a sufi-
GENTLY heavy tax on the individuals who want
to indulge IN target practice. IL tne site Sc
lected is secured the cost TO reach there viii
be trivial. To erect such ranges will be re-
quired will cost the regiment from $1,000 TO
$1,000.
There are a Der of officers wondering
how it IS that the appropria tions for camps
have all been cut down when the bills were
presented at the adjutant-g n"raPs Office. 1he
gene raj cut has been about $50 per company,
and the excuse given is that The aggregate of
the appropriate IN was not sufficient to meet
the bi Is preseu led.
The camp at Fsirfax, at which the cadet
corps of the Flrs Regiment was for one week,
was. so lar as the young soldiers are concerned.
a decided improve ment on the camp OF the
same corps held last year There was dis
played more military spirit, and the young
men, as a whole, seemed anxious to benefit by
the instruction that would be impaired dur
ing week in the tented field; but, while this
j. true it is 50 true that the only instTuc-
tion they received was from the captain and
the lieutcnants OF the CORPS, who have the
theory of m ilitary life but on account of their
youth have not had the experience necessary
10 qualify them for the duties of camp life
If the cadets had had field officer with them
during the week. one OF experience and who
has the interest Of the National Guard a
heart, he would have been able to i'm part to
the young men great deal that would have
been of benefit to them, and taught them 10
avoid censure, such es was heaped on the
corps last year by Major Jensen, the brigade
inspector.
Major Sine had been detailed to be with the
cadets during their outing, but he did not al
tend the camp. Tne excuse given for his ab-
sence was that he had sickness in his family
and could not absent himself But no one
else was detailed to perform the dn,ies he
should have fulfilled. Captain Carrington
u. S. A.. the Inspector Of the National Guard
of California, having attended all the camps
this year and having forwarded his reports 10
the Office ut Washington, ID. C., ex-
pected to be with the cadets for several days
but he was not, and they lost the benefit OF
his experience and advice. The cadets being
part OF the National Guard and going into
camp for a week or more, during which time
they were in charge of arms and property be-
longing to the State, it Certainly was the duty
OF either the State inspector or OF some supe-
rlor officer to be present and see that the
cadets took proper care of that property. But
this is only one of many instances of the
happy-go-lucky way in which the guard is run
in this state.
The members of the naval militia have fin
lshed the state shoot for September. The
Third and the Fifth divisions were the only
ones that complied with the regui ations as TO
the 200 800 and 500yard practice. the Others
not having the ranges to shoot at TO meet the
requirements
The Secretary of the Navy has notified the
adjuisnt-genera of this State that seventy of
the Lee magazine rifles will be loaned to the
Fifth and sixth divisions of the naval militia
Commencing next Tuesday night the new
drill tactics cf the United States navy will be
adopted by the naval militia There is con-
siderable change in the tactics and it will
keep the officers md men busy Tor some time
to familiarize themselves with the innoya-
tions.