The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-26
MILITARY JOTTINGS.
The Army's Enlisted Strength Is
1000 Short.

The Chief OF Ordnance has decided to es-
tabiish laboratory at the Frank fort Pa)
Arsenal for experiments with smokeless
powder. The samples of this class of ex-
plOSiye, which have come from private
sources, have not been very satisfactory, and
thera is apparently little interest among
American chemists regarding such COM
position. The ordnance authorities hope
by conducting inquiries of their own to Sc
cure a suitable smoKeless powder
There is a continued decrease in deser-
tons, which is very gratifying to the de-
partment officers. During the last twelve
months the percentage of loss of the en-
listed strength was So, or per cent less
than the loss for the preceding year. 1t is
not to be expected that the decrease will be
more than fractional each year, but the sat
isfactory results can be appreciated when
it is known that the annual average deser-
ton since the war has been Is per cent.
The number of vacancies in the enlisted
strength of the army Is 1000, which is not
expected tG be leSsened before winter The
new method of sending out regimental par
ties equipped for tie field Is productive of
good results, and this. with other regim en-
tai schemes for encouraging enlistments and
the regular recruiting service, is expected to
furnish the army with the requisite number
of suitable soldiers.
As showing the merit of the competitive
system of selecting candidates for appoint
ment the Board of Visitors to the Military
Academy presents tables in its report that
show that under the competitive system 60
per cent graduated and 40 per cent failed to
graduate, while of those appointed direct
only AZ per cent graduated and IS per cent
failed.
P0o-Bah is mot in it, with Lieutenant E.
c. Carnahan. Twelfth Infantry, who has
been appointed post adjutant. treasurer,
in charge of post schools, acting signal
officer, post quaTtermaSter, acting commits
sary of subsistence, acting ordnance officer,
range officer and commanding officer of In
dian scouts at Fort Bennett, 5. Oak.
A board OF survey, consisting OF two staff
and one line officer. was actually ordered to
| assemble at the San Antonio depot, Ito re-
port upon and fix the responsibility for the
loss Of one sack OF potatoes, 40 pounds,
while in transit from San Francisco, Cal, to
San Antonio, Tex, and invoiced by Cap
tain Charles A. Woodruff. c. s., to Captain
Charles 2. +. Eagan, c. 5.
The complaints which have come from
settlers who were not allowed to cut timber
and from tourists who were prevented from
committing depredations indicate, il is
claimed, how thorough was the work of
Troops | aud K of the Fourth Cavalry in
Yosemite and Sequ0la National parks.
Major William NJ. Maynadier p NJ, has
been relieved from duty at Albuquerque, n.
| Mex, and Will come to this city, relieving
Major George F. Robinson, 2, M, who will
proceed to Los Angeles, Cal.
Among the lates. changes of stations are ::
Troop Z. Tenth Cavalry, from Fort Apache
to Fort Grant, Ariz, and Troop II from San
Carlos to Fort Apache
The Board of Visitors. in 1891 upholds the
previous visitors OF 1885. 1886 and 1899 in
commenting on the insufficiency of the
education in English at the military acad-
envy.
The general mort order for the year 1890
will not be issued until necessary informa-
ton is obtained from the Department of
the Missouri. 1t will be a long one.
Fort Abraham Lincoln has been formally
abandoned by the War Department