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

Four non-commissioned officers have had actual experience during
service firing as gun commander, two as gun pointer, two as plotter, and
four as observer. These are the most important positions at the battery
that are filled by enlisted men, and require special skill and training. The
first sergeants of both companies are men of considerable military experience,
and fiill this difficult position capably. All of the enlisted men of the
companies, excepting the first sergeant and two musicians of each company,
are armed with the same model of Springfield rifle as the troops of
the regular service, and San Diego has a reputation throughout the state
for its high-class rifle shots.
In the matter of field service equipment the battalion is uniformed
and equipped by the United States government with the same outfit as
provided for the regular service. Large conical and wall tents, to be used
in camps of a permanent nature, are sarefully folded in the store rooms
at the armory, ready for instant service. Each company has a field range
for cooking in the field, and packed inside of it are all utensils necessary
for the preparation of food. Picks, shovels, axes, pails, and other necessary
implements are always ready, as are field desks containing records
and such office equipment as is required for field service.
Arranged in indivdual lockers in the company locker rooms of the
armory is the clothing of each man, and it takes only a few moments to
exchange the civilian attire for that of the soldier. The uniform consists
of olive drab breeches, sweater, flannel shirt, leggings, and service
hat. Each man’s kit includes his haversack, containing a meat can,
knife, fork, spoon and tin cup, a canteen and cartridge belt with suspenders.
A shelter half is used in making up the blanket roll, which contains
a blanket, poncho, shelter tent pole and pins, and extra underclothing.
In a rack nearby are the rifles of the company, always clean and
ready for use, each man’s name over his rifle. Securely locked in the
store-rooms are 20,000 rounds of ball cartridges, which are always kept on
hand. The cartridges are packed in bandoleers containing sixty cartridges
each, and twenty bandoleers are packed in a box. Surplus blankets
and equipment are kept packed in squad boxes of convenient size, so that
they can readily be taken along. Packets containing first-aid bandages
also are on hand, as well as overcoats, which, though of not much use locally,
are kept in case of service in a more rigorous climate. All of this
clothing and equipment is counted and minutely inspected annually by
an officer detailed from the regular army, and must always be ready
for service.
Altogether, is is safe to say that San Diego’s battalion of coast artillery
reserves is ready for any call to duty that may come, and will clearly
demonstrate that the large sum of money expended upon it by the
United States and the state of California has not been wasted. They
may be lacking in some of the little niceties of military courtesy, but they
will give a good account of themselves if it comes to real business.