The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27
AWAIT REPORT
WITH ANXIETY
Guardsmen Wonder as
to Result of National
Inspection.

The dispatches from Washington, D. c.,
TO the effect that the reports of the army
officers charged with the inspection of
the National Guard of the various States
have all been filed with the proper Of
fcers at the War Department. but that
some of them are so uncomplimentary
that it has been decided not to make such
reports public except to send to each Gov
ernor the report for his State and allow
him to make it public if he desires, has
excited the curiosity of the National
Guardsmen of this city and possibly the
entire State of California. The question
keTe is, Does this mean us?" From the
amount of indifference that has been
manifested in National Guard affairs in
this State since the return of the boys
from the Philippines, except in an organ
iZatiOn here ana there, 1t is but small
wonder that the army officers have found
reason TO be uncomplimentary to the
State soldiery There has been great diff
ficUlty in this State in keeping up even
the minimum of organization; there has
not Eeen that spirit that is requisite to
make good soldiers, and outside of a few
organizations the guard in California as
one Of the line officers recently said, has
been dead for some time, but has not yet
discovered it."
FEELING OF APATHY.
A feeling of apathy has been apparent
in the upper line for some time and that
feeling has descended and affected every
guardsman and the condition is such at
this time that it will require a mighty
effort to put the National Guard on its
feet again and to save it from adverse
comment by inspectors from the United
States army. Much of this feeling is no
doubt due to the uncertainty as to who
will be at the head of the organization.
during the term Of the present command
er-in-chief. Those who are in and ex-
pect that the official will cut short their
military existence have but little inter
est In the organizations and the rank
and file below the superior officers are
apathetic because they are in doubt as
to who will rule, and they do not take
much interest in the work, as there is no
one TO encourage them. There is no doubt
that if occasion presented itself the
several organizations would again be
ready TO go to the front, as they did in
1898. but at this time 1t will require some
thing Of that kind to arouse mo e than
70 per cent o. the National Guarc of this
State.
Colonel Wilhelm, U. S. A. who has dur
ing his stay on this coast given much at
tention to the National Guard and has
offered many valuable suggestions for its
Department at Washington, D. c, to act
as inspector Of the Guard Of California
Ensign E. ]. Louis of the naval militia
has been assigned to the special examin-
ing board, vice r. n. Miller, resigned.
An election will be held on board of the
Marion this week to select q lieutenant
junior grade, vice Smith, term expired
The leave Of absence heretofore granted
G. r. Kingsford. chief engineer, n. NJ.
has been extended sixty days
NATIONAL GUARD VETERANS.
The veterans Of the National Guard of
California gave an entertainment and
dance in the armory of Troop A, cavalry
at z8 Golden Gate avenue last Friday
night, which was well attended and
proved a very delightful semi-military
function. In the audience there were
quite number of gentlemen in uniform
and the gold braid added splendor to the
effect during the dance that followed the
rendition of the programme. During the
dance there was a pretty play of electric
and lime lights. The following was tbe
programme that entertained the guests
OF the veterans:
Selection by the orchestra; Julian Eisenbaoh
barytone; Louis Myers, club swlnger: Mis-
Cello Jacoby recitation: / b. Myers mons
Iogue; Richard H Hunt. tenor; Edith scott
dialect imDersonator: Alois Hank p5sno as
companist
The affair was under the direction of
the following committees:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NJ. J. Myers Chair
NAM Sergeant c n. Radebold Sergeant F I
Engle, o. Nolte and w. Merkelbach.
Floor--ColoneI J. c. OConnor. Captain f. C
Eisen, Sergeant F. j. Engle, c. e. Kneer.
Captain ] 7. Eggert, Major G. F1l!rner Ser
geant J. Myers, Sergeant n. Cohn
Reception-A. Shula. Colonel Mason I<inne
Colonel G. B. Burdick, Colonel L. Barrere,
colonel T. Barry Captain j. E. Klein, Captain
l. A. Nerney. Captain G. Harvey
The same evening Company D. First
Regiment of Infantry. Captain Mathew
son commanding. entertained its friends
In the assembly hall of the Ellis-street
armory. There was a large number of
persons present, who greatly enjoyed the
following programme:
'-Humor of Every Day Life'' Augustus F
a,oweii eontralto solo. Miss Mabel Gordon;
Ne and Jim" Field). Frost on the Pun; kim
(Rley). seein' Things at Night Fieid).
Augustus F. Howell; barytone solo, James Rem,
wick; The Old Settler Of Deep Hole" (''Eben
Holden ,. Aunt Pollys Visit to New York
Iyheatsr" ('David Haruu''1. Augustus f.