The San Francisco call., 1908-08-02
SCORES NEGLIGENT
n. G. {. OFFICERS
General Roster Orders Special
Reports From Men Command
ing in Second Brigade

Carelessness in the conduct of organ
ization in the Second brigade, N. G. c..
caused the following order to be is
sued this week by Major Keesling, as
inspector of the Second brigade, at the
command OF Brigadier General Roster.
August /, 1908. all regimental and squadron
field officers Of the second brigade, n. G.. c.,
viii report in writing to these headquarters, on
ice performed during the preceding month"; en-
bracing such duties attendance at elections
struction, officers and noncommissioned officers
schools, reporting in connection with the latter
the nature OF instruction given.
To discover the condition OF the
guard in the brigade, the commanding
officer has. in the recent past, sent Of
ficers of his staff to make surprise
visits.
Last week Lieutenant NJ. II. Della
mater, aid on the staff of General Kos
ter, was sent to the armory of the two
companies Of the Fifth infantry al
Waller and Buchanan streets, where
there was to be school of instruction
Of the officers of the four local COM
panies. The aid discovered a gather
ing Of men there, no one being in
uniform but himself, and the school OF
instruction resolved itself, not into in
struction to those assembled, but a des-
ultory talk. and the general was not
pleased when he heard of this.
The need of instruction to officers in
the matter of making up reports sent
to headquarters is pointed out in a re-
cent report of Major Wilhelm, inspec-
tor for the war department and for the
state. In touching on reports that
should be made at the time of in
spection. he says:
The blanks are simple and intelligent classi.
fed (in print. easily comprehended and ar
ranged for ali classes OF equipment Notwith.
standing this, many Of. the accountable officers
could not be moved to any degree OF accuracy.
In many cases the company returns, although
made mcnthly, are incorrect. Reports of quar-.
termasters' supplies. etc, with few exceptions
did not have taken up them many articles
which the inspector knew TO be on hand and
which were not on the lists, or else not prop
erly classified. Greater care in this respect must
be had in the future.
WANT GENUINE SCHOOLS
1t is to avert this sort Of criticism
that an effort will be made to have
genuine schools of instruction instead
OF desultory talks, that may enter
tain. but do not instruct. 1t is prob
able that more care will be taken in
the upper office TO see that officers not
only make reports as they are ordered
to. but that they make them correctly
Majors F. V. Keesling and c. Z. Gil
man of the brigade staff paid a sur
prise visit to Company H Second in
fantry, at Napa last week. They found
80 men on the floor and witnessed a
drill.
The shoot by the picked men of the
national guard of California who are
to make records for place at the inter
national match to be held at Camp
Perry, Ohio, during the current month
begins today at the Eastlake park
range, Los Angeles. The shoot may
continue during the week. 1t is ex-
pected that at least II men will make
more than the percentage required fol
place on the team. The team that Is
to be selected to go to Camp Perry will
assemble August g for instruction al
Los Angeles and will leave for the In
ternational camp on July Is. returning
during the early part of September.
The officers to go with the team are
Colonel D. A Smith, commanding the
Fifth infantry, team captain; Major
/. d. Collins. inspector First brigade
range officer: Captain John G. Lee
commanding Company F. Second in
fantry. team coach, and First Lieuten-
ant E. A. Mervin, Seventh infantry
team spotter.
MARKsMEN CHOSEN
Captain Beckwith. commanding Com
pany B, Second infantry, stationed a
Colusa, is proud OF the fact that OF
the three men selected from the regi
menL TO atIenQ the state Sn0Ot at LO;
Angeles. two have been taken from
his company. Corporal Francis New.
land and Private C. II. Manville. From
the men who are to take part IN thi.
shoot will be chosen those who viii
represent the state in the internationa
shoot at Camp Perry. Ohio, next Octo.
ber
The report of the officers who were
in charge of the joint army and ma.
tional guard maneuvers last year ha.
been printed. In this Captain Nal.
colin Young, u. S. A, who was II
charge of batteries at Fort Miley, says
Company H. Second Infantry y G. c., wal
assigned to pit B, Battery Springer. The com
pany took a deep interest in the work from tn,
beginning to the close of the mRneuvers and IL
every way attempted to gain all possible knowi
edge and skill in connection with the service O
a mortar battery. The interest shown leads M
TO believe that all Of the companies Of the ma
tionaI guard would have pronted TO a great ex
tent If they had been assigned reserves
rather than infantry supports.
A number of men of the Seventh
regiment of infantry were taken t,
Santa Monica canyon near Los Angeles
last week, where they were instructed
by the First company, signal corps, fl
the matter of tent pitching, camp max
ing and other matters which will en-
able them to know what to do whel
they go into camp at Atascadero mex
October.
WAP MENT