The San Francisco call., 1897-03-15
Talk About the Election of
the Colonel of the
Third.
Officers From Whom No Expla.
nation Was Deemed
N cessary,
Long Delayed Decisions - The o d
Springfield R. f S 10 Be Rep a. d
by Some of Later Date.

There was considerable talk in the
National Guard ranks last week about the
turning down of Lieutenant Colonel
Duboce for promotion for the position OF
colonel of the First Infantry Regiment,
Second Brigade.
Twenty-four hours before the election it
was ascertained that there were more than
enough among the forty officers entitled
to vote to secure the lientenant-colonel
the position he would have been pleased
to fill, but which he did not electioneer
for, he having long ago declared that if he
were the choice of his brother officers for
the colonelcy OF the regiment he would
feel proud of the honor and would do all
In his power to bring the regiment up to
a standard of efficiency of which every
man in the regiment might justly feel
proud.
There were number of the officers who
called on him and rendered their sup
port, and there was no pledge, only their
honor. But when the eve before election
came some one started the rumor that if
disappeared on the first ballot that the
lieutenant-colonel did not secure the po-
sition combination had been made by
which Major Charles L. Tilden was to
have it.
This rumor reached the ears of the ma
ior, who on the night of election, before
placing the lieutenant-colonel in nomina-
ton, declared that he was not candidate
for the position of colonel and never had
been after the announcement of Colonel
MacdonaId's resignation had been made
known. Not only did he not have any
thoughts in that direction, but on several
occasions he had been approached and
told persons who spoke to him of the va
cancy that he was not a candidate.
In spite OF this assurance there were
some of the officers VINO thought they still
saw the com bination, and they voted
against the Iieutenant-colonelw with the
result that James F. Smith was elected.
The new colonel of the First is good
soldier, a very diplomatic man, and one
who, it is believed, will work hard to ad-
vance the interest of the regiment, but
there are some OF the officers who sin ce
the election have come to the conclusion,
in view of possibilities, that 1t might have
been better had they voted as they origin
ally intended to. Three of these called
upon the lieutenant-oolonel last week and
said they desired to offer explanations.
ibid you call on me and offer TO vote for
meH asked the lIeutenant-colonel 'Y es, I"
pid &6s Ina yoa si Rote for said ons
of the three, who acted as spokesman for
all, that is what we have come to ex-
plain" Then" said the lieutenant
colonel, waving his hand in the direction
of the door, ''there is no explanation, and
with that the trio retired.
The new colonel will probably assume
command within the next ten days. and
the proba bilities are that at that time, or
shortly thereafter, there will be several
surprises in the First which will cause
several individuals to exclaim Where
are We at?" What these surprises are is
kept secret, but there are those who
when asked what they are, do as Cissy
Fitzgerald does-wink-that and nothing
more.
A long time ago man named Douglass
was brought before court of inquiry in
regard to the management OF certain
matters connected with the naval bat
talon, and the court, consisting OF Major
'Tilden, Captain D. A. Smith and Lieu
tenant Cunior grade) Underhill, presented
their report last October, and since that
time, so it is slated at division nead-
quarters, the case has rested in the hands
OF Judge Advocate James F. Smith.
Another case is the investigation of
Troop A. cavalry, and what Captain jerks
had TO do with its finances. In that case
a conclusion was reached some time ago.
but no action, that Is final action, has been
taken. There are some members of the
guard who are curious TO know the result
of these Investigations.
Another mater is occupying the at
tention of the guardsmen, and that is why
no order has yet come from the Office of
the adiutant-general at Sacramento in re-
gard To target practice. More than two
months and half have slipped by and
no State shoot has been ordered, and now
that the new shooting regulations are to
go into effect in June next the officers and
men are at loss TO know what is going to
be done. Possibly after the adjournment
of the Legislature in few days the Sacra-
mento office will give some attention TO
this matter.
The guard will at last cast aside the old
Springfield rifles of the issue of 1873 and
receive from the United States Govern
ment the modern Springfield that were
called in to make way for the Krag-
Jorgensens, with which the regulars are
now armed. The Government will issue
rifles within 10 per cent of the total equip
ment of the guard in this State.
The bill relating to retirements. pub
lished in last Mondays issue OF THE
CALL has become a law, having been
signed by the Governor.