The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-02
MILITARY JOTTINGs,
Retirement of the Chief of the
Ordnance Bureau.


v Benet from the office of Chief of Ord.
nance, United States Army, whose record in
that department, it declares, was notable for
wisdom and conservatism. .Indeed y
says the Re gister, sit is in his tact as de.
partment chief and an administrator that
General Benet has chiefly distinguished him
self. He might, perhaps, have obtained from
Congress millions of dollars more than he
has done for guns and Notifications, but It
is now apparent that money expended on
any system devised more than five wears apo
would have been wasted. Now we know
what we want and how TO get il. and the
next Chief 81 Ordnance will have the super
vision OF the construction of the ordnance
which Is to guard our coasts for MANY vears
to come, as well as the small arms with
which our army will do whatever lighting
may fall to 1t during the next quarter of a
century,"
Nothing more has been heard from WASH
ington about the transfer of the First infan-
try q. S. A., from the Indian country to
San francisco. than appeared in Washington
dispatch that the regiment had been ordered
to return. The belief at headquarters is
That the regiment will not return. 1t was
this Coast, but as it would cost about s40-
600 to make the exchange and the First can
return here at an Insignificant cost having
only light baggage it is probable that Colo
mel Shafter and his command will return.
for the expense would be too great at present
when the appropriation is almost exhausted
for the change to be made. And yet again
1t is said that the First would soon have
been sent elsewhere, even if the trouble
with the Indians had not occurred, and it is
not precedent to send it back now. 1t is
known that seventy men OF the First Infau-
try, have been allowed to transfer at will to
regiments at Pine Ridge Agency and belong
ing to other departments,
The Fertilization Bill, or reported to the
Senate, carries an aggregate appropriation
of SIS, 500, 435, reduction of $i32, 500 in the
total as passed in the Senate The esti-
mates on which the bill was based aggregate
S7,4S4, 1928. The Senate omitted the appro-
priation for improvements of thu torpedo
station at Yerba Buena Island in this har-
Dor; reduced from S1.000, 600 to $4,000 that
for gun and mortar batteries for Boston.
New York, San Francisco. Hampton Roads
and Washington, but added the follow
ing new item: "For breech-loading rifled
sea-coast mortars, cast-iron, hoped with
steel, Pinch caIiber, $500: 600; provided the
contracts may be made for not more than
oDe-half the mortars herein provided for to
be constructed on the Pacific Coast, at the
discretion of the Secretary of War"
A measure introduced in the Senate pro-
poses that The grade of certain medical Of
fcers OF the army below that of Surgeon
General shall be as follows, namely:
Those holding the rank of Colonel, assist
ant Surgeon-Generals; those holding the
rank of Lieutenant-Co Colonel deputy Sur
geons-General, and further that medical of
ticerS of the army shall be assigned by the
Secretary of War TO such duties in the Med
ical Department as the interests of the serv-
Ice may demand.
Senator Saunders of Montana has discov-
cred that there is no law upon the statute
books which prohibits the selling of arms
and ammunition to the uncivilized Indians
of the West and he has introduced bill to
prevent guns of any description being sold
to any but the most peaceable reservation
Indians. The bill prescribes fine of $500
and imprisonment Tor not less than six
months Tor every infraction of the law.
An order issued to the commanding Off
GERS Of troops in the Division of the Mis-
souri, required them immediately to cause a
map to be made of the country where their
commands are located, and as far enough
10 the right and the lett to connect with
other commands, giving the distances also
to their front, showing the nature Of the
country as far as the hostile camp and the
practicsbiIity of the country for moving
troops in any direction in case it should be
necessary.
Under the act of Congress of October /,
1890, three Second Lleutenants of the Sig
nal Corps have been nominated for appoint
ment in the line of the army Cavalry and
seven in the infantry, including Second
Lieutenant John p. Finley. The promo
tons in the Signal Corps of Second Lieuten-
ants William A Glassford and Joseph II
MaxfeId, both of whom have been "0Ai
Probs" i'll san Francisco. have been con-
frmed.
The general court martial, of which
Colonel A. C. NJ. Pennington, Fourth Artil-
lery, is President, convened at Fort Monroe,
Virginia, for the trial of Lieutenant Roach,
First Infantry. who was ordered there for
Medical treatment and observation some two
months ago. The charges relate to some
financial transactions, and at his request a
delay of one week was granted him to pre-
pare his case and secure the necessary wit
neSSeS.
James A. Pope, an enlisted man of Com
pany G, First Infantry, stationed at Angel
Island. has been retired after thirty-two
years of service. He served in the Mexican
and Civil wars, and his pay on the retired
list will be S21 so per month, which is So 90
more than "a private in active service re-
ceives during his first enlistment.
Assistant Surgeon A. L. Steigers was re-
lieved on Friday from temporary duty at
Angel Island to return to his station at AL
eatraz, which was without surgeon owing
to the suicide of Surgeon Dietz. Surgeon
Graham also has returned to his former
post at Angel Island.
Lieutenant Barry of the First Infantry
who went with his regiment to the front,
will find little stranger at home ON his re-
turn. A bouncing nine-pound boy was born
to his wife on Friday night.
Grave fear is expressed by many officers
that there will be an extensive Indian war
in the spring in spite of all that General
Miles and his suhordinates at Pine Ridge
can do at the present time.
In the review at Pine Ridge Agency 5000
men and $40 horses were in line, and after
tie review there was adisplay of the Trans
portation Department of the army
First Lieutenant Marion p. Maus, First
Infantry, has been promoted Captain, vice
Heiner, deceased, and has been assigned to
Company A.
Second Lieutenant John A. Perry, Tenth
Infantry, has been assigned to command
Company A, Indian Scouts, at San Carlos.
AriZ
Second Lieutenant Alfred Hasbraeck Jr..
Fourteenth Infantry, has been ordered to
report at the Preside for examination for
promotion.
First Lieutenant Albert G. Blunt Fifth