The herald., 1898-03-09
ARE READY FOR WAR
THE N. G. G. NOW IN EXCELLENT
CONDITION
VIEWS OF GENERAL BARRETT
He Does Not Believe There Will Be q
Conflict but Is Prepared if One
Should Come

Adiutant- General A. w. Barrett has been
in this part of the state since Sunday, and
his presence here coupled with the press
reports. gave rise to the report that he
was quietly inspecting the different com
mands of the national guard of California,
with a view to being thoroughly prepared
for any emergency which might arise.
Usually when the general comes south he
makes the rounds among his numerous
friends here and his presence is soon
known to all of them. This time, how
ever, comparatively few of them knew he
was here, and the announcement of his
presence added color to the supposed cause
of his visit
According to his own statement, his
trip to this part of the state at this time
has no special Significance and the rea-
son he assigns for being unable to call
upon his friends is that he has been busy
at the Soldiers Home, which he frequent
ly visits. He will go north this morning.
He was seen at the Van Nuys last night,
and In response to an inquiry as to whether
his presence in the city might be taken as
having any connection with all the war
talk, which is about the only general sub
ject of conversation wherever crowds con-
gregate, said:
mo; you can positively say that have
not come here for any business which has
even the most remote connection with
the present trouble with Spain. If there
was to be any necessity for military action
it would not be necessary for me to come
south, for thej national guard of this state
is always ready for service. have been
In of f,11c tl1n SO16iprS'
Home, which / visit periodically"
what do you think of the prospect of
war?" was asked.
II do not think the present trouble will
result in actual warfare" was the reply.
II know that the reports are such as to
| point to war, but 1 cannot believe that
we shall become engaged in an actual
| conflict. The Maine disaster. and by the
| way, l believe the destruction Of that ves-
| sci was from an outward explosion, wha t.
ever the cause Is not necessarily cause
| for war. Spain has her jingoes, but she
also has her cool. calculating statesmen
| who we'll know what the result of a war
would be for that country. OF course, an
| indemnity would be demanded, and 1 be-
| lleve it will be demanded. The attitude of
other governments will have great infu-
ence upon the action of Spain. No power,
civilized or savage, would for a moment
deny the justice of demand for repara-
tion If 1t is shown that vessel in peace
full harbor was maliciously blown up, even
by fanatic. I believe the work was done
by some Weylerite, and that it is but a
relic of Weylerism There are many such
in Cuba, and Spain is of course responsible
for their action. Spain could not refuse
demand for indemnity, although the pay
ment of that indemnity might be long de-
layed."
I'm event of war, what service would
the California troops be called upon to
PERFORM"
National guard of California prepared for
any emergency. We are better equipped
better trained, better in every way to en-
gage in active service than ever before.
l think the duty of the troops here would
be that Of guarding our own coast. 1t is
hardly probable that the California Ma
tional guard would be called east. We
have long coast line, and this would, of
course, have to be protected. Take this
city, for example. A fleet might appear
off San Pedro. and there we have no de-
fenses. We might not be able to save that
city, but we could prevent the landing of
an army which could take Los Angeles.
The guard would not be needed east. for
there are so many states in the in
terror which could be drawn from that it
would not be necessary to send men from
this coast. At present the total strength
of the N. G. C. is about 1900, but it could
be recruited to 1900 within forty-eight
hours, and we have in addition more than
200 900 men in this state available for mill
tary duty. We are soon to exchange $500
old Springfield rifles for that number of
Springfields of the latest pattern; in fact
expect the resolution authorizing the
change will pass congress in few days"
"How about the naval reserve?'
"That branch of the service is the best
of its kind in the country. We have 5000
or more men well trained, equipped with
the Lee rifle, who could be depended upon
for any kind of naval service. You may
not know it, but we have at hand suf-
flcient number of mem to equip and man.
age any vessel in the United States navy,
and do it well-as well, almost, as their
own crews could manage them. This state
leads in that branch of the service, and
we are pointed to as model by the officers
of the navy department. We would be well
able to take care of ourselves If the neces-
sity to do so was presented but I do not
think we will be needed this time"
General Barrett informally inspected the
new armory of the First brigade last night.
Welch, Col Berry, Maj. Owens and Capt.
Baker.