The San Francisco call., 1909-01-03
STATE GUARD NEEDS
ARMORY BUILDINGS
Major Wilhelm Says Lack Of
Proper Accommodations Pre-
vents Adequate Drilling
Representatives of Land and
Naval MiIitias to Press Meas
ures Before Legislature

"One Of the subjects that is TO come
up before the legislature al its sit
tngs this year" said Ma jOr Wilhelm,
inspector for the state and for the
war department, yesterday, is a bill
that is OF great importance 10 the guard
OF The state. That is the bill TO pro-
vide for armories for the men.
Il have inspected ali the armories Of
the state and there is not one that
comes up 10 the standard required for
the national guard. California is one
Of the few states OF the union that IS
not provided with suitable 2rnories or
buildings suited to military purposes.
The highest efficiency can hardly be eN-
pected Of men or troops not having
suitable rendezvous for instruction and
The care of property.
There is an instance of this right
here in san Francisco. The companies
OF the Third battalion of the Fifth in
fantry are 10 be mustered and inspected
soon. and neither Of the companies has
= place in which to assemble a COM
panv. Each company will have 10
chip in TO create a fund so as to hire
4 han in which the inspections can be
held.
Many OF the so called armories in
California have been private residences
or stores indiherently arranged for
military purposes. Drill halls and
stOrerooms are. as a rule, inadequate,
and unless the legislature takes meas
sres 10 properly house the citizen SOL
oiers Of California they Will not be
. bic TO accomplish the military work
that is expected Of them by the war
department.
AS it is now the men can not be
drilled properly in what are called ar
smories. and they are forced TO go on
the streets or road TO maneuver in eX-
tended order
owing TO conditions the men must
vlrill ~ night. When the men drill on
.fhe street or road al night the officer
sn charge can not see whether the
2. lnor rements are properly executed. The
Companies Of the state need suitable
a.storerooms and drill halls"
p. Major Wilhelm. L. s. a. Cretired). as
sisted by Major G. L. Holtum from the
second brigade. and Lieutenant H. II.
.Delamater, aid on the staff of Bri ga
der General Roster, VIII make the first
: inspection OF the year in the armory
of Company A. Fifth infantry, Oakland,
tomorrow night. Tuesday night Com
Ddny + in the same city Will be in
spected; Wednesday there viii be the
inspection of the detachment OF the
i"-ettNetA LDA rs VI AllE = lLLu lulA4lIy >
Thursday Company G of Alameda will
be inspected. and on Friday night the
higher ups-that is the commander Of
'the Second brigade and staff-will be
Inspected.
Brlgadier General Lauck. Brigadier
General Roster and other members Of
the executive committee of the national
guard and naval militia association OF
rH~Ts -
and discussed a number OF matters
affecting the guard and the need OF
legislation for its betterment. 1t was
decided to have representatives of the
guard and militia in Sacramento dur
ing the session Of the legislature TO
urge the passage Of a number Of bills.
one Of these is the measure to make
tie state law regarding the national
guard conform TO the provisions of the
o Dick bill, so that the state shall not
. lose the support now extended to the
guard by the federal government; an
.0rher is 2 bin TO provide an armory for
los Angeles and one for San Francisco.
Jt viii be urged that large cities should
9sEe state armories worthy of the
state and guard, such as exist in many
of the eastern states.
The court martial ordered to assem-
bic 20 try Second Lieutenant J. W.
Southwick Of Company K, Second in
fantry. located at Fresno, for alleged
.disobedience of orders. has taken an
-other adjournment, this time until jan
nary p. when it viii be determined
whether the sittings are to be continued
in this city or in Fresno.
The noncomnlissioned officers OF the
.Third battalion Of the Fifth infantry
listened 10 a lecture last week in the
Eddy street "armory," delivered by
Major II. g. Mathewson. The subject
twas upon the duties Of the noncoms,
.one OF which is the upbuilding of the
q company. He also spoke Of the value
N interior economy in placing COM
panies in the position they should oc-
eupy in the regiment.
- company X of the Fifth infantry.
captain Mund commanding. kept open
house at the Buchanan and Waller
streets headquarters New Years day
ana entertained its friends.
COMPANY II. Fifth infantry. is to
harc an indoor target practice match
m zoo and 500 Yards. reduced scale, in
its ''armory today This company had
ante muster and inspection driu last
week, az which IS men were on the
floor.
Company n OF the Second infantry.
located al Hsnford, spent a good deal
OF time At indoor target practice in
december TO attain the standard re-
quired At muster and inspection. The
.mpanv is having its range on the
fair grounds rebuilt and put in condi-
,on ior Iue SHOOTS of 1909. Benja-
lrf fn Dufficld. the company's most ex-
pert marksman. has been selected cap
laiu Of the current years term, and
.f mn f...r.,