The San Francisco call., 1908-04-27
KOST[R COMMANDS
MILITARY PARADE
Colonel D. A. Smith Will Act
as Brigadier When Militia
Marches on Fleet Day

Brigadier General Roster, having
been selected as grand marshal of the
fleet parade, he will not command that
portion of the national guard of the
second brigade participating in the
grand display. Colonel D. A. Smith.
Commanding the Fifth infantry. will
act as brigadier general and will lead
the guard, consisting of the IL COM
panies of the Fifth infantry. preceded
by the signal corps. The regiment will
be under command of Lieutenant Colo
mel Edwin G. Hunt. The signal corps
and nine companies of the regiment
named, namely. the First and Second
battalions and Company of LivernSore,
will be in the parade In Oakland on the
following Saturday The transportation
of the troops for these two events will
be without cost to the state.
There is to be drill by the battalion
| of the Fifth infantry of this city on
Van Ness avenue on the fourth Mon
day of the current month. This will
be under the command Of Major Grat-
tan.
During the week the battalion COM
media and Berkeley will have drill on
the Berkeley campus under the COM
mand of Major Simpson.
Brigadier General Roster and Regi-
mental Adjutant Captain Mathewson
reviewed the cadets at the Hitchcock
military academy near San Rafael last
week.
| Lieutenant Colonel E. G. Hunt of the
Fifth inspected companies D at San
Rafael and Company E at Santa Rosa
last week. The first named company
! is striving to recruit so as not to be
mustered out. The citizens of San Ra-
fael have promised to assist the COM
pany, but up to the present not much
progress has been made.
The band of the Fifth infantry has
been located in quarters at 131 Cough
street, where 1t will be as a company
under command of the regimental ad-
jutant. All its property is now in the
new location.
+ Major C. E. Gilman, engineer officer,
second brigade, acting under instruc-
tions from Brigadier General ]. A. Kos
ter, was in Palo Alto last week look
ing into the possibility of organizing
q company of the national guard in that
city In conversation with a reporter
for the Palo Alto Times, Major Gilman
said:
The adjutant general of the state of California
has directed General Roster to investigate and
report upon this matter. pursuant to which In
structions he has detailed one or two officers TO
make a quiet investigation and, IL the situation
| is found to be promising, to arrange meeting
! at which he may talk the matter over with
the businessmen Of this community. In this
/ connection may add that the matter is pro-
| crossing most satisfactorily and that the meet
! Ing will be arranged to take place Immediately
after the close of the festivities In connection
with the arrival OF the feet This meeting will
be for the purpose of ascertaining what support
will be guaranteed company OF militia by the
residents Of this city L Is primarily necessary n
armory place Of meeting. clubrooms and
quartermaster's room for the storage. of the
| property and equipment 1t will receive from the
war department No money can be expended
for this purpose from state funds, The business
men of the city must be prepared to urge their
| low them the time necessary to join In the
joint maneuyers with the regular army In the
fall. The joining the organization must be
/ prepared to give up the time necessary TO per-
| form their regular duties. such as weekly drill.
/ eerned must realize that the joining the
national guard are liable to be taken from their
their presence is required elsewhere to preserve
I order and to suppress riot and insurrectfon. Be
fore company is formed In this city the ma
| tional guard authorities must be assured that
| the town goes into the thing with its eyes open
and that the present enthusiasm Is not tempo
rary. The boys joining the militia must have
| the moral support of the citizens. There is fine
material here for company, and as far as my
Investigation goes am satisfied that conn
/ pany here would have the moral support of the
best men in the city. Should 1t be decided to
muster in a new company in Palo Alto, she may
well be proud Tor severai cities IN the state are
endeavoring to secure the next new company
authorized. II the who signed the petition
now before the adjutant general will persevere
and the citizens give their moral support freely
| to this movement, am confident that Palo Alto
will. before long. have a military organization
! which will reflect great credit upon our city.
Since Petaluma lost Company c of
the Fifth infantry several months ago
and has not been able to have 1t re-
organized, a. cadet company has been
formed there with a good membership.
The company recently had drill with
32 on the floor under Captain Chester
Pressey. 1t is thought that this will
be the beginning of new company
of the N.~G. c.. to be located in that
city.