The San Francisco call., 1907-06-10
MILITIANEN OF STATE
ARE To De TAUGHT HOW
To HANDLE LARGE GUNS
Seventh Regiment Will Be
Ordered to Report at
the Preside
TWO WEEKS OF DRILL
Encamprnent at Atascadero
VIII Not Be on Program
This Summer

Instead of the usual military ma
neuvers and annual encampment at
Atsscadero the state militia will be
ordered this year to take part IN coast
defense maneuvers. The object is to
train the men TO handle the great guns
along the coast, so that they can use
them In case Of attack by d large hos
tile Pacific feet.
Orders will issue shortly from the
Office OF Adjutant General Lauck, COM
rnanding the Seventh regiment of ma
tional guard Of California to report at
the Preside in San Francisco July 5,
10 remain there until July 20. The
Fifth regiment will have similar orders
10 report at San Diego. These troops
have had some previous training In
coast defense, but for the first time
they viii be put through all the ma
neuvers Of an actual conflict The chief
exhibition will be on San Francisco bay,
which offers unusual advantages for the
spectacular. With both sides Of the
entrance Of the bay, from Point Lobos
70 Fort Winfield Scott, and from Point
Bonita 10 Fort Baker, lined and double
lined with disappearing guns IL would
no opportunity TO approach anywhere
near the Golden gate. But there has
never been so thorough an investigation
OF this possibility as General Funston
and Adjutant General Lauck are plan
ming. II would seem that the disap-
nearing guns, so placed as to command
- full sweep of the ocean, could keep
any number Of hostile warships stand
ing out OF range. but a practical
demonstration will DO much to
prove the impregnability of San
F'rancisco's gateway in time Of
war and at the same time will teach
the militiamen of California a very i'm
portant duty
The coast defense service, on account
Of the isolation Of the posts, is always
in need OF men, and in case OF war
there would hardly be enough men in
the active service to attend the wants
of the monster guns The militia and
regular coast defense artillerymen will
spend two weeks together, and the
militiamen viii learn considerable
about the handling Of the coast defense
artillery pieces
A system Of very powerful search
lights is also being installed along the
shore line near the Golden gate and by
their aid spectacular night attacks can
be planned and discovered These
searthlights are among the most pow
erful made and bore holes into the
night that viii challenge a hostile YES
sci far of shore and make the life of
a blockade runner exceedingly danger
Gus With the aid of these the militia
men viii also learn the trick of spot
ting a vessel with a searchlight and
then training one Of the big guns upon
IL
The part Of the hostile feet will be
played by smaller vessels. probably
launches. merely indicating position,
but serving just as we'll an actual
lull sized feet for the purposes of prac-
tice
The cavalry branch of the national
guard viii be ordered into encampment
al Santa Cruz July Is.
The war department is planning to
spend 100000 in the coast defenses
about San Francisco bay. IT will in
stall fire control systems and make
other needed improvements. Captain
johnson Hapgood, assistant TO the chief
of artillery. who was IN San Francisco
p short time ago, is about TO make his
report TO the secretary of war. and in
st will recommend this expenditure.
Similar work going on in the Puget
sound district under an appropriation
Of S45o.o00 will be finished this summer.