The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17
LACK OF DRILL
HALLS DEPLORED
National Guard Officers Declare
Adequate Armories Should
Be Built
Local Companies of State MILF
tia Show Improvement in
Annual Inspection

The inspection and muster of the
four companies Of the Third battalion,
Fifth infantry, located in this city,
Mayor H. G. Mathewson commanding,
during the last week brought out in
a forcible manner what they have lost
in soldierly instruction by reason of
not having adequate armories in which
to drill
At inspection it is expected that the
men OF q company will be at their
best. On the four nights during the
week each command had 10 leave its
quarters wearing ponchos, walk
through the rain and mud a distance
of about j blocks and appear on the
floor Of the hall selected in any but
spick and span shape. On the march
some Of the men had their collar orna-
ments torn of in either putting on or
taking off their ponchos and this de-
tracted from neatness Of uniform.
Then when on the floor. which was the
CLASSY, slippery one of a dance hail.
they were unable TO execute movements
with expected precision. In a number
OF instances when ~nOncOms' were
forced TO execute rapid movements
they were unable TO reach position in
the manner prescribed by the regula-
lions, but were forced TO DO so in the
unmilitary manner Of sliding TO their
post.
Because Of lack Of a suitable armory
each OF the four companies had to pay
an evening rental Of SIS, and that for
place useless for drill purposes.
DRILL HALLS NEEDED
Brigadier General Roster. command
ing the Second brigade, who attended
one Of the inspections, said: The
work this evening shows the need of
large drill sheds with earth floors for
the use Of the men, large, inexpensive
concerns which the state could fur
nish.'
Colonel wilhelm, the inspection ofn
Ger, said that considering the fact that
the men had only the street on which
10 drill and where they can not receive
proper instruction, such as can be i'm
parted in a well lighted, commodious
drill hail. in which every movement
can be observed, the men did remark
ably well.
a demand has been made for
armories and il is now up TO the leg
islature TO provide them. The guard
needs them, both for the purpose of
instruction and for the safekeeping of
national and state property" declared
Colonel Wilhelm.
At inspection Of the band Of the Fifth
infantry the 2g men composing it were
present. The same night Company NJ.
Captain Hyde commanding. had So men
present 10 absent, the following night
Company X. Captain Mund, had Sc
men present. absent. the next night
Company II, Captain J. c. Nagel, had
81 men present and 9 absent. while on
Friday night Company L. Captain J. J.
Hyer had sc present and absent. Of
four men that Company + had on fur
Tough, one came from Phoenix, Ariz.;
one from Oroville and from sick bed
10 attend muster. Company H had two
men come from Napa and one from
Sacramento to answer present"
MADE BEST SHOWING
During the inspection Company n
mace the best showing in advance
guard movements, Company X the most
soloIerly appearance. best alignment
and most correct movements. while
Company L showed that the men were
lacking in instruction
Taken as a whole the inspections
showed q marked Improvement in these
companies over that Of the previous
year. The property and papers of each
company were found in first class con-
dition.
Colonel D. A. Smith. regimental com
mander. attended each inspection and
kept busy with the men, to see that
they were as near correct for inspec-
ton as it was possible to have them.
Colonel Smith, commanding the Fifth
infantry, visited Santa Rosa last week
for the purpose Of discovering If Com
pany z, located there, is in condition
for the muster and inspection on the
night Of January l9. In viewing the
contracted quarters in which the in
spection is to be held, the colonel ex-
pressed himself as not satisfied with
the drill room. because it is not fitted
for the purpose intended, He said that
II the state will not fuyhish an armory
OF suitable size. that fthe citizens of
Santa Rosa ought TO provide "an
armory that is an armory' for the men
OF Company E.
One Of the measures incorporated in
the military bin presented before the
legislature in order to bring the ma
tional guard Of the state within the
provisions of the Dick bill, so that the
yearly federal appropriation shall be
retained, is one that provides for a
life tenure for officers. with retirement
at a stated age. the same as in the
regular army, in place of the present