The San Francisco call., 1909-04-03
NATIONAL GUARD TO
BE R[ORGANIz[D
Sixteen Artillery Companies
Will Be Formed and Infan-
try Bodies Mustered In
Change to Comply With Orders
From Washington Takes Place
in Next Ten Days

In the next ten days the nationa
guard of this state which will here
after be known as the organized mill
tia of California. is to be completely
reorganized. Several of the companies
of infantry in this city, one at Sar
Diego and one at Long Beach will joir
another branch of the service in COM
pliance with orders from the war de-
partment to establish sixteen compa-
nies OF artillery in the state.
Many of the boys who now wear
the white stripes will don the red. The
war department has appropriated $780,
600 to equip the new companies which
are to put themselves in a position
to man the heavy guns at the fortifica-
tions along the coast of the state.
Acting under orders from headquar-
ters at Sacramento Companies H, X,
l. and NJ, located in this city, compris-
ing the third battalion of the Fifth in
fantry under command of Major II. G.
Mathewson, will be transformed into
coast artillery and in future they Will
drill at the fortiications on the Pre-
of the Seventh infantry at San Diego,
and Company Fl of the same regiment
located at Long Beach. are to be rec
commended by Colonel Thomas Wilhelm
Z. S. A. (retired), inspector for the war
department and the state, as good ma
terial for the artillery service. 1t is
possible that Company d of the Fifth
infantry at San Rafael will also be
recommended for the new organization.
The companies of the Seventh will be
assigned TO the fortifications in the
southern territory and the one from
the Fifth to the coast defenses on the
shore of Marin county. 1t is proposed
to have twelve companies in this city
and four in the south.
CHIEF OF ARTILLERY
For the important position OF ar
tillery chief. which carries with 1t the
rank of colonel on the staff of the
commander in chief, there are a num-
Der of aspirants, among them Major
Charles l.. Hewes, formerly captain of
the signal corps of this city and later
adjutant on the staff of Brigadier Gen
eral John A. Roster; Major ]. Rice. a
retired army officer who during the
Spanish American war was in COM
mand of the California heavy artillery
that went to the Philippines; Colonel
Frank Marston and Colonel Ameg, both
of the governors staff
TO MUSTER IN NEW COMPANIES
Petaluma, Palo Alto, Hayward and
San Jose have organized a company
each and at these points the compa-
nies are waiting the time when they
shall be mustered into the service as
infantry. The company for San Jose
is assured and the Garden City will then
have two companies, for the accommo-
dation of which a new armory is to
be built. 1t is almost certain that the
new organization at Hayward will be
mustered in. Brigadier General Lauck
and Colonel Wilhelm will visit that
place this evening. Petaluna has re-
organized a strong company and the
indications are that 1t will be ac-
cepted.
Under the new conditions all officers
of the militia or those who are to be
commissioned, except those who are
on the staff of the commander in
chief and on the brigade STATS, will
hold their commissions under a life
tenure.
The reorganization will call for
speedy action in the matter of putting
up the new armory for this city with
the recent appropriation of a little
more than S400 900.