The San Francisco call., 1896-04-27
Officers Unable to Render
Active Service in the
Field.
LISTED FOR RETIREMENT.
The New Post Surgeon at the Preside.
Fifth Artillery Batteries Exchange
Stations.

LII. n. IL. w nlue, udJOI anu surgeon,
q. S. A, will dwell at the Preside as post
surgeon. This place of abode may not
exactly conform to the doctors individual
desires, but it seems to accord to General
Graham s notions as to the proper place
for post surgeon to dwell, and as General
Graham commands the post what he says
goes.
reporter of THE CALL was not present
during a recent interview between the
doctor and the post commander, but it is
known that the major, who was recently
ordered to this department from Jefferson
Barracks, Mo-, did have a courteous and
most likely friendly chat with General
Graham. No doubt the latter cordially
welcomed the doctor in hearty army
fashion to the Presidio, and possibly the
doctor, not to be outdone in civility,
praised the beauty of the Presidio and spoke
OF the bang-up military aspect of every
thing about the post, from the enchant-
ing Alameda to the desolate marsh. This
is mere conjecture, however, but in truth
the doctor did play for an opening, and
when his inning came he gently intimated
that during a previous tour of duty in
this department he was stationed at Angel
Island but was permitted to live in San
Francisco.
General Graham was equal to the occa-
sion. He knew that proper quarters for
surgeon were not provided at Angel ISL
and, but at the Preside it was different.
The general spoke of the excellent accom-
modations available at the post on tie
mainland, and would not for a minute
permit the thought to enter his mind that
the doctor should be forced to live in the
City for lack of suitable quarters at the
Presidio. According to all accounts,
therefore, the new doctor will reside at the
post.
Orders for some of the changes of sta
ton have come. General Forsyth. COM
manding the Department of California,
has ordered Batteries B and M, now sta
toned at Fort Candy, to San Francisco.
Battery NJ goes to the Presidio and B to
Alcatraz. Battery H, Captain Elbridge
r. Hills, goes to Candy, relieving and
NJ. Battery E, Captain A. W. Vogdes,
will go from Alcatraz to Fort Mason and
Battery c, Captain Wood, will go from
Alcatraz to the Presidio. Battery I, Cap
tain George w. Crabb, will go from Fort
Mason to the Presidio.
The independent command at Fort
Mason is assigned to Captain Vogdes.
In the general change Fort Candy loses
one battery and San Francisco gains one.
at Fort Mason this evening dancing
function will take place, to which many
officers of the army have been invited
The function is under the direction of
Mrs. Gillette and Mrs. Blunt. The
spacious house, known as the Black Point
residence, will accommodate the guests.
At Angel Island last Friday evening
Captain O'Connell, First Infantry, de-
Iivered an interesting and instructive
lecture on the Great Strike of 1894" The
lecture was given in the post chapel and
was largely attended.
Should the 12-inch rife at Fort Point
kick over the bluff and roll into the sea
the excitement in army circles would be
tame compared with the sensation that has
been produced by report that paragraph
Y of the revised regulations has been in
yoked to retire several army officers before
they have reached the age of retirement.
AS explained in yesterdays CALL this
paragraph provides for retirement for
physical disability-that is to say, the in
ability of an officer to undergo the ordi-
nary hardships of field service. General
Graham OF the fl1tn Aftlllery ana COlonel
Shafter OF the First Infantry are author
lied to recommend for retirement such
officers in their respective regiments as
are deemed unable to physically sustain
the fatigue of an active ampaign.
Major Darling, Major McCrea and Cap
tain Mcclellan of the Fifth Artillery and
Captain Pierce Captain Parker and Lieu
tenant Connolly of the First Infantry are
said to be on the list.
Officers listed for compulsory retirement
and brother officers in sympathy with
them are not supposed TO kick on parade
or in the press, but at the hotels, clubs and
in private quarters they assert the right of
expressing an opinion. and one opinion is
that Colonel Shafter IS not as well fitted
ply ysicalIy to perform service in the field
as the officers whose retirement he has
recommended.
General Graham of the Fifth Artillery
has two years more to serve before attain
ing the age OF retirement. His capacity
for active service in the field or in garrison
is not questioned. Most of his officers
would prefer a commander of less vitality.
Colonel A. S. Kimball, chief quarter
master of the department., will receive bids
until II O'Clock Monday, May IL, for the