The record-union., 1898-04-19
GOOD MEN, BUT POOR RIFLES
OUR STATE TROOPS AND THEIR
WORKOUT GUNS.
What Adjutant-Genera1 Barrett
Has to Say About the Ma
tiona1 Guard.

While there are 200 men in the CAL
ifornia National Guard, nobody seems
TO know just how many effective rlI1es
are on hand for use in case OF n2ces-
sity, but from existing reports ana
from the strenuous efforts that nave
been made within the past two years
by Adjutant- General Barrett to ex-
change the worthless rifles now on
hand for the model Of 1884, it may be
inferred that there are not above 2,oUo
serviceable rifles in the entire force
And instead of a reasonable hope that
the exchange will be made and the
National Guard put on war footing
the chance is steadily receding, and the
worthless sticks with which some of
the men drill are likely to remain.
Almost every company in the Nation
al Guard Of California has its full COM
plement of men, nearly all Of whom nave
through their company commanders,
signified their willingness to turn out
If, in case of war with Spain, their ser
vices are needed. That the entire 4,Z0O
men are fairly we'll drilled is attested
by the officers in charge, and While the
uniforms recently ordered are not vet
all in, there is plenty of clothing for all
present need.
Adjutant- General Barrett's biennial
report for the year ending June 81,
1896, showed that there were 4,l9o ri
fles on hand, of which 1,oSS were OF
the 1884 model and 2,307 of the 1870
model of 45-caliber Springfield rifles.
The same report showed that over ooJ
of these had been condemned by
board Of survey as being entirely
worthless.
In the introduction to the report the
Adjutant- General said:
Since I have assumed the duties OF
Adjutant-General I have corresponded
with every Adjutant-General in the
United States, as well as with the War
and Ordnance Departments at WASH
ington, also with members of Con-
gress from this State, relative to the
exchange of the Springfield rifles, mod
el of 1873, of which we have about 2,3OU
(many of which are obsolete and use
less). for Springfield rifles, model OF
1884. as the Government has adopted
the ag-Jorgensen rife, and has q
large number Of the improved Spring
fields which are not in use. The Ord
nance Department in Washington in
formed me that it was necessary &c
have a special Act of Congress allow
ing the exchange of these guns. Sen
ator Hawley, at the last session OF
Congress, introduced a bill in the Sen
ate for that purpose, and there was also
a bill introduced in the House by Mr.
Curtis of New York; but neither OF
these have yet become a law, although
favorably reported on by the Commit
tee on Military Affairs; and trust that
at the next session of Congress we viii
be able to get these bills passed, which
Will allow the exchange of these arms :
AS a matter Of fact, in February
1897. Congress did pass an Act for the
exchange of worthless arms, but the
Joker" in the bill apparently applied
to California only. The provisions OF
the Act allowed of exchange by the
Government of the 1885 model Spring
field rifles, 45-caliber, for rifles Of any
other make, or for Springfield rifles any
other than 45-caliber. The returns
made to the Adjutant-Gene showed
that the California National Guard was
armed only with Springfield rifles OF
45-caliber, and any exchange for this
State was clearly shut out The Act in
question, which is still in full force and
effect, is as follows:
BE it enacted, That the Secretary ol
War is hereby authorized to issue tC
Governors of the several States anC
Territories such number of Springfield
breech-loading rifles, caliber .45, as now
required for arming all the regularly
organized and equipped militia (gener'
ally known as National GuarD Of eacl
State and Territory that are not al
ready supplied with this arm.
Provided, That each State and Ter
ritory be required on receipt of the new
arms to turn into the Ordnance De
partment, United States army, an equa
number of the arms now in it's posses
session, except Springfield rifles, cali
Der .45."
But Adjutant-General Barrett did no
stop with the Act alone. He forwardet
an exchange order to the Ordnanc
Department at Washington, relating
the fact that there were on hand :,
300 obsolete rifles, and requesting tha
that number of the model of 1884 b
forwarded. The reply, which was
sumner, was as follows:
In reply to your letter Of the 2Stl
ultimo, I have to state that the Ac
of Congress approved February q
1897, does not permit this department
to issue new Springfield rifles, calibe
45, in exchange for Springfield rifles o