The San Francisco call., 1898-03-17

ten days. About 80 per cent would turn out for sixty days, service. during the year for emergency as test Of its ability to respond Results were, in most alarming character came from settlers of Shasta County some months since as to l threatened outbreak of Indians in that locality. 1 By order f the Governor of the State pro | ceeded to the scene of supposed trouble with steps in the use of troops I saw lit. In July | the Sheriff of Colusa County called for troops Two companies were placed at his disposal and responded and performed their duty. in very | satisfactory manner. The Sheriff places great value upon the support they gave him. kquipment-No change since last report ex- cept that all troops have been equipped with Webb cartridge belts
 Horses-Horses are generally hired from liv same horses for each drill These horses could, no doubt, be purchased in emergency, but and parades the National Guard cavalry have are generally unfit for field service Good 1 lieve large supply could De secured in very | short time entirely suited for cavalry pur- Ammunftion-The small ammunition, caliber 45, is purchased from San Francisco firms. It manufactured by the United States Govern ment. For target practice each regiment re- loads.
 Each company keeps on hand in its armory 1000 rounds.
 Camp and garrison equipage-Each company has in its armory from ten to thirteen wall tents, mostly of private manufacture and in good SerViceable condition These tents are somewhat larger than the army wall tent and furnish ample covering for the men, few ply of army hospital tents is ample for the present force No shelter tents are owned by the stata or in the hands of the troops. All the companies provided with field mess outfits and Buzzacott ovens.
 Property accountability-Captains of com, panies are required to give bonds for S2Oo0 and to render quarterly return of property to the Adjutant-Gene of the State. No property is dropped from returns except by transfer, condemnation, etc. Regulations are now strictly enforced.
 Subsistence-Rations = The subsistence de- partment is imperative except when troops are in camp called into active service In these cases rations are supplied through the senior commissary officer, present generally through contract, though emergency purchases are made from time to time in open market. The army ration has been adopted and prescribed though but little adhered to up to the present time In recent encampments the first attempt was made to issue rations regularly, and except in regiment, each company messed 1tself. The cornrnissary officers all found that there complaints of insuffctency, but as l predicted, this dissatisfaction greatly de, creased. The companies. being now provided with Buzzacott ovens and individual mess out fits, prepared their meals, their first cook being generally hired man, assisted by an
 There was some dissatisfaction with the Bus- zacott oven, which I believe. from my expe- rience with the oven, results largely rom the lack of knowledge of its use.
 Drills and Ceremonies-Companies are re- quired to .av three drills a month, except In December. Battalion drills have been held in all the regiments. The First Infantry. sta
 
 advantage in this particular over the other t regiments, none of which has more than two or three companies locared together, though the encampment brought them all together and very considerable progress was made Tn battalion and regimental drills. All companies have made great improvement in close-order drill, and with the exception of two or three well as companies of regular troops In ex- tended order there has likewise been great i'm Der of companies have attained proficiency The encampments held during the year have field exercises Written reports were required from commanding officers and umpires of all cussed and commented upon before all the officers. The intelligent manner in which the ly reported and discussed was highly satisfac- tory and showed that great interest was taken
 As a result of the interest awakened some of the regimental commanders are now arrang- ing to assemble their commands for bivouac over Saturday night for an exercise in minor tactics the following Sunday. I have offered my services for all such occasions and will endeavor to make them both instructive and interesting.
 Guard Duty-I recommend to regimental com manders the practice of guard duty while in barracks, so that upon going into camp their would have some knowledge of their duty on guard. The camps of such duration that it is impossible to make good sentinels of green men. when they do only one tour of guard duty during the encampment Only a connection with the field exercises in camps;
 Target Practice-Since my last report the scope of target practice has been extended This practice is held at home stations; Dur ing the encampment considerable practice was held especially In the Seventh Infantry. In addition to this. all the infantry companies held competitive firing, silhouette targets, this scheme of firing having been arranged by the inspector-general of rifle practice, and con sisted of firing at the c target at known dis tances. twenty shots being fired between 600 and 200 yards.
 Arnories-The State owns no armories, but rents buildings for the quartering of the guard The buildings occupied by the San Francisco regiments were constructed for arrnory pur- poses but are only fairly suitable. Neither arrnor-y is large enough for the entire regi- ment eight companies of which occupy one and four the other. The matter of State own ership of its armories in large cities Is being agltated.
 Recommendations-The necessity of replacing the old and worn Springfield rifles now in the hands of the guard with serviceable rifles of the model of 1884 is urgent The resolution for exchange which passed Congress last session was so worded to apply to but a few States This exchange should be made at as early date as possible or the efficiency of the troops will be greatly reduced in case an emergency should arise for their employment.