The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-05-06
(From Monday Advertiserl

Hawaiian National Guard.
X X X X X Il X 4 X X X X X X X X X
(From Monday Advertiser)
A marked increase in efficiency and
numbers was noted at the inspection
Of the First Regiment, National Guard
of Hawaii, at Kapiolani Park yester-
day forenoon, when Maj II. o. Will
lams. Second Infantry U. s. A., in
spected the troops. Since The Adver-
tiser criticized the conduct of affairs
of the national guard, a change in the
spirit of the rank and file is evident,
while transfer in the command has
taken place and an improvement is al
ready noticeable. '.4'f
Under hot sun the two hundred
men who turned ont in the new olive
drab uniforms were kept in the field
from nine until noon by the regular
army officer, after which they were
permitted to seek the shade of the
algaroba trees under which the cooks
had laid out tempting lunch of beans,
frankfurters, eastiron coffee and
thick slices of bread.
Coyne, recently promoted from second
in command, the troops left the drill
hall in town and rode out to the park
in trolley ears. At nine O'Clock the
two battalions of the regiment marched
out upon the polo field. They were
halted and immediately subjected to
the searching eye of the inspector.
'1orq Ranks Filling Up.
The companies were not in line with
full, ranks, and there We're many in
uniform who are yet scarcely used to
wearing the khaki or Of handling n
rife. The former skeletonized com
panies have not yet attained their re-
quired strength, but recruiting is pro.
crossing slowly and Colonel Coyne
hopes to have good-sized and we'll
drilled regiment out for another in
spection this fall. 'aoid teNj 20 j''l
ga days work out in the field,
once a month even, is worth several
nights 'work in a month y said Colonel
lCoyne yesterday as he watched d
Frookey awkwardly endeavor to simu-
late the movement of, 5hisa comrades.
4 Every State pays it's troops when they
toho W thc uc'uf lUr'' WOfh suCn rs
our troops, are doing today. California
EaHpreRiates 30 much a month for each
company for the pay bfsthe men. This
stimulates attendance and l believe
the money is well spent as far as re.
suits ina military way, go. Pay the
men dollar a day for field work here
as they do ON the mainland and the
results will show for themselves.
"We are working up the strength of
the regiment, but we are handicapped,
as former inspections brought out very
few men and the small numerical show
ing had its natural effect on the fed.
eral allowances for Hawaii s militia.
For each man not in line it really
costs us about SIS a year. So we have
shortened allowance for the coming
season, which makes all the more work
now to get full regiment and larg-
er allowance. l have faith in the fu-
tnre of the regiment, however.
Major Quizzed the Men.
Major Williams scanned the faces of
the men, asked them questions as to
how long they had been in the regi-
ment, and obtained, considerable first
hand, data as to its personnel. The
veterans answered briskly, the recruits
slowly. He came to small man with
keen eyes and an erect form.
'Iiave you drilled beforei' asked
the major.
"Umph," answered the man as he
held his rifle at the port.
KNOW what soldering isi" was
asked.
"Umph."
you've been in the Philippine
Seouts."
"Yes, sir, answered the militiaman
who was Filipino and a veteran.
Then came the drilling of the com
panies by the captains, first, then by
the Heutenants and finally eorporals
who were given squads. Not until I
Company began its drill was there 8
display of real drilling. Captain Cos
ter, whose drill master in former year,
was Col. Sam johnson, one of the fines
citizen soldiers who ever handled the
Hawaiian regiment, put his company
through like regulars. There was APP
plause from other companies and by
spectators.
Captain Hopkins, another Colone
johnson pupil, put Company F through
its PAGES and they marched and did tn,
manual of arms like seasoned arm,
men. Captain Kane, who also saw ser
vice under the same drill master, pu
Company G. through Performance,
which ELECTED praise. There was jus
the semblanee of a praise-smile upoI
Major Williams lips as these tire,
companies drilled.
The other companies did well, too
but with depleted ranks they were un
able to make the showing Of the large
companies.
Lop the Love Locks.
"These citizen soldiers must lear
one thing said an oldtime militia of
feer, as he watched few men in thu
ranks who had difficulty keeping thei