The herald., 1898-04-28
outside of the armory on South Spring
CAPTAIN st.ere's Battery

outside of the armory on South Sprin
street.
Captain Steere's Battery
Occasionally an old and often quote
axiom does come true. 1t was so with Cap
tain Steere, whose special ambition was (
command a heavy artillery-any othe
| kind would be out of serious consideration
with the captain. General Last commun
icated the joyous news to him yesterda.
| that he could open a recruiting office TO
the enlistment of men for one of the heav.
artilleries that the government expect
from this state. 1t was thought advisable
by the army department here to recrui
the men from the outside and not disturb
the volunteer militiamen who are already
formed into companies, each Of which has
the necessary 1903 men and full compile
ment of officers.
This is a genuine opportunity for men al
ready volunteered in one of the many or
ganzations for, enlisting with Captain
Steere, they get the first chance to go tt
the front, which will probably be in day
or two. At least present indications would
justify this prognostication. The approval
of General Last in the matter enables the
company to become at once a part of the
National Guard and so will entitle it to be
enrolled into active service under its owr
organization.
A recruiting office for the purpose was
opened yesterday afternoon and half the
necessary 200 men have already signed
The captain thinks that by the setting OF
the sun today there will be room for nc
more. Captain Henry Steere. who will be
in command has his office for this pur-
pose at 14S West Fifth street. The other
details have not yet been arranged for tho
movement was only born yesterday morn
ing.
Volunteers Not Cheerful
Promoters of volunteer organizations
were excusably uncheerful yesterday, fol
they had read Adjutant-G General Barrett's
circular. Not that they would admit that
they thought any of the clauses or SEN
tences it contained had any reference to
them-no indeed, military man that is q
military man admits nothing-he always
neither denies nor afflrms, never anything
else.
So how can one expect the commander
of company to concur in an opinion gen.
believed especially when 1t may be a mat
ter of life or death to his ambitions. The
fears of the National Guard, in the matter
of the government call for troops, had
long ago been dispelled, for 1t is now some
time since 1t was authentically announced
that they would be given preference.
Now it is the volunteer mems turn to
fret. They cannot bring themselves to
recognize the Importance of General Bar
rett's communication, more particularly
wherein it says, 1.-THE National Guard must
be recruited and maintained even after
these 1000 men are furnished, as we must
always be prepared for duty, and there
may be- a demand for troops for the defense
of our coast"
A man prominent in local military cir
cles construes this to mean that If there is
n second call the National Guard will again
be directed at Independent volunteer or
that they join the state militia
when the Seventh regiment has been called
away. This, the informant believes, is the
only hope of these volunteer companies
and their commanders and promoters. And
herein is where the difference of opinion
exists.
Mass Meeting Tonight
All arrangements are completed for the
patriotic mass meeting under the auspices
of the Silver Republican club tonight
which will occur in the lot adjoining the
club rooms on South Main street The
president of the evening, Judge Murphey
will open the affair with a few short re.
o ID far T..
and a half before that all the companies re-
cruited for the Southern California volun-
teer cavalry and infantry will parade the
streets, and that in itself will be an adver-
tisement sufficient to insure the speakers
a large audience. The speakers selected for
the occasion are men of local prominence
and honor and have such divergent busi-
ness pursuits as to make their words and
opinions of general interest. Nothing but
matters of war will be referred to in the
speeches made.
Notes
Though caustic criticisms have been
made against the benefit to be given this
afternoon at the Burbank theater in be-
half of the fund for the battleship Amer
lean Boy" it is not thought that it will in
terfere materially with the number OF
young persons who will pay the small ad-
mission price of Is and % cents to see the
great Chinese play, THE First Born" The
will begin at 3:3O o'clock, and
every penny of the receipts, it is promised,
will be turned over to the local agent OF
the fund.
The Merchants and Manufacturers asso-
citation appeals to the business men of this
city to close their places of business on the
day that the first regiment of troops leaves
this city for the front, and join the mem
bers of the association as escort of the
troops to the depot.
]. c. Webb veteran of the civil war, has
opened recruiting office at the Y. NJ. C.
A. for the purpose of enlisting men for the
war the especial purpose being to secure
the names Of members of the association.
A well attended meeting was held last
night in the association rooms and num-