The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-10
NAVAL BATTALION GOSSIP.
THAT BODY TO WORK INDIE
PENDENTLY.
Governor Budd Issues a New Order
That is Making Some
Talk.

The San Francisco Chronicle of yes
terday states that Governor Bud, as
Commander-in-C Chief of the Natlonai
Guard of California, has issued an order
making the Naval Battalion Independent
from the land forces of the state, KNOWN
as the division under the direct conf
mand of Major-General James. Hence
the Naval Battalion will be under the
orders of the Governor only.
This order merely carries out the pro-
visions of a general order made SIX or
seven years ago, but among the poll
ticians of the National Guard it is con-
sidered a slap at Major General James.
brought about by Acknowledgement
Barrett whose relations with the d.
vision commander are not the most
friendly 1t is not generally known
that this has any significance in con-
nection with the recent forced retire
ment of Colonel H. P. Bush from the
position of Assistant Adjutant- General
and chief of James staff.
The history of the Naval Battalion
shows that shortly after that body CT
troops was organized General Order 20
of 1891 was issued. By this order the
gun divisions of the Naval Battalion in
this city were made part of the brig
ade of the National Guard stationed IN
this city, and the gun division in San
Diego was made a part of the brigade
in Southern California
Soon after this General Order - of
1891 was issued. 1t stated that, as the
attaching of the sailors to the brigades
of land forces was not deemed advisable,
that portion of General Order 20 in re-
gard to the gun divisions of the Naval
Battalion being attached to the brig
AIDES should become void.
For some time this order was carried
out, but it finally fell into disregard,
and the Naval Battalion practically be-
came attached to the division, but not to
any brigade as before.
This condition of affairs existed until
last Thursday, when LieutenantCom-
mander Louis H. Turner received orders
from Commander-in-Ch Budd calling
his attention to the General Orders OF
1891 and instructing him to carry out
the intent of those orders in the future.
Some National Guardsmen say that
apparently the order is nothing more
than proper, as a General of a body Of
soldiers would hardly be the proper per-
son to give orders to bluejackets, but
that in this case Major-General James
made the Naval Battalion his favorite
part of the National Guard, as he was
formerly a naval officer. James is a
graduate of Annapolis, and did mucn
to properly equip and increase the ETH
cheney of the Naval Battalion.
For this reason. though all admit the
land and sea forces should be separate,
the action of the Governor at a time
when there was no pressing necessity
for a change, is considered a victory for
Adjutant- General Barrett and the other
military political enemies Of Major
General James.
Lieutenant-C Commander L. H. Turner.
who is a patriotic and conscientious
guardsman. had not looked upon the
matter in that light. He had regarded
the order only as advantageous to the
Naval Battalion.
Il cannot consider this he said, "a
slap at the Major General This order
is the logical outcome of the growth of
the Naval Battalion and our progress
toward naval accomplishments 1t
would be the hight of ridiculous to find
ourselves under the control Of a land
General if We were ordered out to sea
service or any service but riot duty.
"All the Major Generals of the Ma
tional Guard have not been naval Off
GERS like General James, nor do / sup
pose those who may follow in the future
will have been. The work of the sea
forces is necessarily separate, to great
extent, from those on land. The order
would have to be put in force some time
so that the advancement of the Naval
Battalion would not be impeded."