Army and Navy Review 1915 Panama-California Edition - Balboa Park

But, for service as coast artillery, to reinforce the regular garrison at
Fort Rosecrans, the San Diego battalion would not only be immediately
available, but would be of immediate value. In case this country should
suddenly become involved in a defensive war, for which there had been no
time for military preparations, and the red tape connected with mustering
the troops from the state service into the United States service was eliminated,
or reduced to a minimum amount, San Diego’s reserve organizations
undoubtedly would be among the first to report for duty. The strength of
the organizations is slightly more than the peace strength prescribed by
the war department, and it could be recruited to whatever war strength was
designated in twenty-four hours.
One of the most important points in showing the value of the command
as an adjunct to the regular forces is the training and experience of
its officers. Not including the officer of the medical corps attached to the
battalion, the commissioned personnel consists of eight officers, all of
whom have had from three to twenty years’ service in military organizations.
Four of these officers have attended six camps of instruction at
Fort Rosecrans, and each year participated in the actual firing of the guns
at the battery to which they would be assigned for service. Two officers
have attended three of these encampments, and the remaining two have attended
twice. These camps, and the service firing which is held in conjunction
with them, are conducted as nearly as possible under the conditions
that would exist in time of war, and a war period is held in which the attack
of a hostile fleet is simulated, the army boats stationed in the harbor
being used to represent the attacking warships. It can readily be seen
that much knowledge that would be of value in case of war has been accumulated
at these exercises.
Two officers have attended the garrison school for regular army officers
at Fort Rosecrans, and one officer completed the course of instruction
at the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va., an honor that is rarely
attained by National Guard officers. Two officers had service in Cuba during
the Spanish war, and one in the Philippine Islands during the insurrection
that followed this war. The officer of the medical corps attached to
the battalion is a physician who has had many years’ experience in the
practice of medicine and surgery, and has attended five camps of instruction.
All of the officers served in the field with their organizations during
the near war that followed the occupation of Vera Cruz by the United
States forces.
Of the enlisted men 90 percent have attended one or more camps
of instruction, and some have attended all of the encampments since the
corps was organized. Many of them have served enlistments in the
regular army, navy or marine corps, and in the national guard of other
states. Quite a number have passed the rigid examinations which are
prescribed by the war department for qualifications as first and secondclass
gunner, and some have qualified for rated positions by passing the
very difficult written examinations. Of the latter the command has two
men who have qualified as observer, and two each as plotter, gun commanded
and gun pointer.