The San Francisco call., 1908-03-02
GUARDSMFN EAGER
FOR RIFLE TEST
California Citizen Soldiers Deeply
Interested in Approaching Ma
tional Range Competition
Officers Found Inefficient Or
dered to Undergo Ordeal
of Dead Line"


the men OF the national guard in the
International rife match which is to
be held in Camp Perry next August
Each company will have it's men shoot
at company ranges and select the best
narksmen. who will be sent in May to
regimental camp for a -tryout," when
the men holding the best average will
De selected TO make up the California
team TO be sent to Camp Perrya
This preparation has created much
discussion OF rifle ranges The officers
and men say that the government
wants them to become good marks
men, but there is no provision made
for ranges at which they may perfect
themselves in Workmanship. There
are some ranges. it is true. but they
are not maintained by the state, nor
are they, in many cases. within easy
secess- For instance, when Company
Of the Fifty infantry wants TO prac-
tice it must go by rail- from San Jose
70 Ltysrmore. many miles away. and
that at large expense in money and
time. Another EFFORT viii be made at
the zsxt session OF the legislature to
have the state provide ranges and
transportation.
In regard to national ranges, General
o. Hamilton. who made a report on
the international match OF 1907. says
ment should secure and retain tho
ranges at Camp Perry. Ohio. it ought to
have one national range in the east.
one II the middle west, one IN the
southwest and one IN the state Of
Washington, this with the idea OF hsv-
Ing the guard In the states nearest the
points where ranges might be sstab-
lished visit them once or twice q year
for practice st all distances.
TFcSTs EOa oFErcEpS
Hereafter the examining boards Of
the Californis national guard will not
have the easy time they have had In
the past in examining men for COM
missions. In days gone by 1t was tho
practice TO examine the candidates for
honors from the book. and IL they gave
satisfactory evidence that they had
read ths book they were certified as
duly qualified Now the rule Is that
ability OF those who come uD for sx-
emination-
The first examination of this char
acter occurred Thursday evening, when
Lieutenant Hyde. who had been elected
captain. and De Finness and Middle
stadt, chosen first and second lieutsn-
ant, respectively, of one of the San
Francisco companies. came up for ex-
animation The candidates for higher
honors each were given in turn a COM
pany 10 handle. and for an hour each
had TO prove ability to handle the body
OF men and give reasons for each or
der and an explanation OF each move
ment. The innovation was an in
structive lesson to the mon in the
certain military functions because they
were told 10 do SO without explanation.
Thursday they had reason for every
maneuver.
After the practical came the theo-
retical The candidates were with the
board from one 10 three hours answer
ing all sorts OF questions. This was
the most thorough examination In the
history OF the guard in this state.
TWO ON THE sDEAD LINE-
That some OF the commissioned on
Gers merely underwent a superficial
examination was proved short time
sgo. when Company L OF the Fifth was
mustered and inspected. At that time
Lieutenants Fox and Armstrong dem
onstrated their inability 10 such an ex-
tent that they were asked to send in
their designations. but up 10 this time
they have failed to do so. II will not
be long before they are TO be sent be-
fore what IL known as the dead line
board" for examination The officer
who is sent before that board has 10
in order TO pass. So severe is the ex-
animation there that in the past four
years every officer ordered before it
sent in his resignation. It remains to
be seen whether Fox and Armstrong
viii Withstand the ordeal or step down
Major Thomas Wilhelm, federal guard
Inspector: Colonel H /. Seymour OF
the Second infantry, Colonel d. A
Smith OF the Fifth Infantry, Colonel S
I I'LL 80
G. W. Bauer Of the naval militia.
members OF the committee to revise
the military laws of California are
TO have a preliminary meeting in a
short time number of changes will
be submitted.
TO ABOLISH ELECTIONS
One OF the most important is to do
away with company elections for COM
missioned officers except for second
lieutenant The idea is that in the in
terest Of better service the captain and
first Lieutenant OF a company should
hold their commission during efficien-
cy and good behavior. and quit the
service OF the guard only by resigna-
ton or retirement upon reaching GER
tain age.
In the event OF the captain resign
ing or retiring. the first lieutenant
would be advanced, as also the second
lieutenant. and then the company could
elect a second lieutenant
Another measure viii be to apply
the same rule to the junior major of a
regiment. and do away with the pres
ent method OF having the entire staff
step down and out when the colonel
goes out These measures meet the
approval OF nearly all who may be af-
fected by the proposed change.
Companies c and OF Fresno and
the Spanish war veterans OF that city
gave a military ball in celebration of
washington's birthday. 1t was well
attended and proved delightful af-
fair Among the guests were the men,
bers OF the Grand Army post, the la
dies OF the Grand Army, the corps OF
Veterans Of the Confederacy and the
Daughters of the confederacy.
During target practice by Company
D of visalia, the team was under the
control OF the lieutenants, and it was
part Of their duty TO see that while
the men were not at target an arms
should be free from load, but il ap-