The San Francisco call., 1908-08-18

in all clear weather From the time the vessel
passed Point Concepcion until Santa Cruz was
reached il was fog all the time and it had
not lifted when east anchor at that point.
We had on board the first and second and the
engineer divisions from San Francisco, third
division of San Diego, fourth of Santa Cruz, sixth
Of Santa Barbara and seventh of Los Angeles.
engine room from coal passer up was an en-
listed one These men did their work in
very satisfactory manner and some of the runs
in clear weather were nine knots hour.
During the cruise the officers were required
daily to fix the position OF the ship by cross
bearing Of prominent points of land as well
by meridian and circum meridian attitudes
OF the and morning and afternoon sights
for longitude. There was also school for the
officers who are located south OF San Francisco.
The study was the compass. deviation, dead
reckoning and marine altitude sights in all OF
which the officers showed great improvement
the previous cruise The men had good
deal of exercise in boats, at gun drill, making
heaving the lead and other matters they should
know The health of all good and the
cruise was free from accident
While at San Diego the officers and men were
taken aboard the torpedo boat destroyers Preble,
Perry and Farragut for instruction in handling
mended for the work they did.
There was a brief allusion a few
days since TO the fact that the COM
mander in chief commends the actioa
of Captain Bauer in pulling up stakes
at Avalon, because the jackies of the
militia were refused admission at a
ball given in honor of the visit of the
Alert, for the reason they were not
in citizens dress.
APPROVES ACTION AT AVALON
The following is a copy of let
ter received yesterday by Captain
Bauer from the Office of the adjutant
general:
Sira Your report of the 9Th inst. together
with The letter OF transmittal and afhdavits of
yourself and other officers and OF certain
! listed men OF the naval militia Of California.
bearing upon the incident at Avalon, Santa Cata-
lima Island, Los Angeles county, this state, in
volving the refusal of the proprfetors and man
agement of that resort to permit enlisted men
the dance pavilion at that place the night
Of July 4 1905 were received at this Office on
his information and instructions
These affdayits constitute successful refu-
tatfon Of the unsworn statements made by the
management Of the Santa Catalina island COM
pany and others. that on the occasion referred
/ to q number of the enlisted men OF your com
mand were drunk and disorderly and for that
reason were excluded and further debarred from
the public dance hall.
Neither the governor nor this department gives
4 any credence whatever to the statements that
yourself or any of the enlisted men Of the naval
militia Of California were drunk or disorderly on
| the occasion referred to.
1 1t is patent that the real reason for excluding
the enlisted men from the dance hall at Avalon
was their appearance there in uniform, and
your action In withdrawing your command there
am directed by the governor. to convey to
you and your entire command his compliments
for the very successful cruise of the u. s. s.
Alert and the orderly conduct of the ships crew.
Especially does he compliment you for with
| drawing your ship and command from Avalon
| because of the gratutous insult to the uniform
| OF the navy of the United States on the part
of the Banning company by excluding enlisted
men from the dance haIl for the reason that
they appeared in uniform.
| Join with the governor in his sentiments
herein expressed, and. further, TO inform yot
that in future no organization Of the nationa
guard naval militia of this state will bs
permitted by this department to land on Santa
Catalina island under its present ownership ant
management except for purely necessary military
purposes.
Your report and accompanying affdavits have
been forwarded to the navy department al
Washington with appropriate comment by this
department Very respectfully,
J. B. LAUCK, Adjutant General