The San Francisco call., 1899-12-10
DIVISION CAMP
FOR GUARDSMEN
IS DISCUSSED
Veterans of the Late
War Oppose 1t.
WANT MODIFICATION OF LAW
CAPTAIN WHO WANTS TO HAVE
THE RIGHT OF LINE.
Recent Changes in the Seventh Regi-
ment-An Election for Captain
of Naval Militia Will
Be Held.
WANT MODIFICATION OF LAW
CAPTAIN WHO WANTS TO HAVE
THE RIGHT OF LINE.

Be Held.
The discussion in the National Guard
during the past week was division en-
campment or no division encampment in
1900. now that the site at Santa Cruz als
been inspected by military board and
! approved. There are many who are OF
the opinion that division eucampment
would be an excellent school for the SOL
diers of the State and that IL would give
them an opportunity to become acQuaint-
ed with the duties Of camp life. Those
| who "have been TO war" are opposed TO
such an encampment for various reasons.
One is that in seven days in camp Off
GERS and men, no matter how we'll they
may be up in theory. would not learn that
which in actual service takes m IRE than
seven weeks to learn; and further, that
Notwithstanding the division commander
might issue an order for the various or
ganizations of the National Guard To as
/ semble for an encampment at Santa Cruz,
| and threaten pains and penalties for fail
| ure TO obey, not one-half of the men
would respond, particularly these an the
sections emOte from the camp site. They
argue that less than one-half of the FIRST
Brigade would come from the south for
/ the reason that the majority Of those who
\ belong to that brigade would have to lose
the better part of two weeks-twelve
days at least-at their own expense, for
the glory Of spending seven days playing
! soldier.
If IL were a case Of duty in nehalf of
! good order and peace or the protection of
the State from invasion, the men, one and
| all OF them, would respond. The same,
the soldiers say. applies to a great por-
ton Of the Third Brigade. so that there
would only be a fair representation, and
that from the Second Brigade, which is
within easy reach of the camp. The item
OF expenses is also talked OF, for, TO
Dring the men from distant points would
cut a deep hole in the appropriation OF
I s5O,vvJ Tor camp purposes, as the railroads
would not carry the troops for much less
than regular rates and they could not be
brought up by steamer. as there is not
vessel that can accommodate a regiment
II Is suggested that II those in authority
INTEND 10 help the guard and make sol
dlers OF the men. they will, for two years
at least, order regimental encampments
so that the men can familarze them
selves with the routine of regimental life.
Ihey VIII then be in position to be pro-
nclent Tor brigade encampment. EXpe-
rlence In brigade formations ana so forth
VIII be beneficial; then IT will be time 10
talk or division encampment. There will
be so many new men and new officers in
the guard in 1900 that they would find
themselves sorely puzzled in the matter
OF conducting division encampment. The
opponents of such a camp say: Teach
before
you make them walk
At the next session of the Legislature
there will be an effort made to bring
about about modification OF that sec-
manders of companies the right TO ask
Tor the dismissal of an enlisted man for
ing any cause for the demand. This
power was given TO commanders for the
purpose OF reaching men who could not
be reached by court-martial nor by "A two
instance "A ha
tried by court-martial for absenting him
SELF from three consecutive drills, but he |
can not be reached If he attends one drill |
out OF three. He might be dismissed by |
a two-thirds vote of the company, but II !
Is seldom that a vote of that character
can be obtained. for man who can shirk |
can always fix II with a majority of the |
company to prevent his being voted out |
Since that power has been given TO cap
have dared TO vote against a captain |
when up for reelection have been dis |
missed FOR the good of the service" A |
recent case in point was that of a young |
man who belonged TO one OF the CITY or
ganiZations He had served six wears and |
nine months and would have had but !
three months more TO serve before obtain
ing his exemption certificate, when he |
took sides against the captain and voted |
for the other fellow. This coming to the |
knowledge OF the captain he used his !
power and had the young man dismissed |
for the good of the service" causing him |
to lose all the time he put into the service
The captain cannot be required to give a |
reason for his action and the young man |
has no appeal. 1t is proposed to ask the |
Legislature TO amend the law so that |
when discharge is asked for on the |
ground OF "the good of the service" the |
commanding officer shall give his reasons |
Company ID OF the First Regiment has
filed a supplemental muster roll with
twenty-three names, so that now the two |
rolls that have been turned i'm make a |
showing OF nity-nye names. With its sup
Elemental roll each company OF the First |
has more than the minimum, except one
which has an even fifty. AS yet the |
regiment has not been notified of the
acceptance of the rolls by superior head
quarters, because the commander in chief |
Is In the southern part Of the State and
the muster rolls have not yet been fully
examined and checked.
No notice for election will have any
effect until after the regiment has been
Officially recognized. Notwithstanding the
fact that the captain of Company CT,
knowing that his company was TO report
back on the 30th Of November, gave no.
tice of call for an election on the Attn
the brigadier general. and the time for
holding an election must be fixed so far
ahead as TO permit of the posting OF the
notice for election In the armory for ten
days prior thereto. The move of the
captain of Company G was probably with |
a view 10 secure the senior captaincy of !
the regiment and thus obtain the right |
OF line.
In the same regiment the following
promotions are noted: Corporal w. +. |
and Private !. Mendelovitz to be corporal |
in Company G.; Sergeant Lewis X. Brown /
TO be first sergeant and Sergeant c. +. /
Ford TO be quartermaster sergeant IN |
Company l.: Corporal w. B. Bowers TO |
be sergeant Corporal Hugh NJ. Day TO |
be sergeant: Privates Emil F. Barton and |
+. c. Hoaster to be corporals.
T II. Derby. who was first sergeant Of /
Company b of the Fifth Infantry, and l
who was recently elected to first lieuten-
ant OF that company. was first sergeant |
OF Company OF the Eighth California I
Volunteers. was advanced to sergeant /
major and before the end OF his term ~ .
service was commissioned first lieuten-
ant. He is said to be one OF the bright
est men in the regiment.
Orders have been issued foT an ELECTION
tain Turner. whose term will shortly ex-
pire. The captain has asked to be placed
on the retired list. consequently he Will
not be a candidate to succeed himself.
The election will be held on the 18th inst.
and Lieutenant Colonel Miles will p-e-
side. The position will go to Nat r.
James. ex-division commander of the Ma
tional Guard. he having been placed for
that position several months ago.