The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27
Dynamite Guns Successfully
Handled by the Fifth
Artillery
THE BATTLE SHIP OREGON.
Battery of Eight-Inch Rifles in Posi-.
tion-The Ship Could Fight on
Short Notice.

sldlo. Some months ago General Graham,
commanding the post, was criticized by
one OF the City dailies for not having a
guard posted at the guns. At that time
the guns and plant belonged to the con-
structors, New York electrical company,
and General Graham had no light whatever
to make detail of United States troops
to guard the private property. Since then
the guns and plant have been accepted by
the Government and formally placed in
the hands of the commandant of the gar
rison.
Last Friday General Graham, accompan-
led by the officers of the Fifth Artillery
stationed at the Preside, worked the plant
successfully. The steam engine which
generates power and electrical dynamos
which manipulate the guns were put in
operation and a drill of instruction fol-
lowed.
Officers and enlisted men will be in
structed in handling the plant from time
to time until the apparatus for charging the
chant ers with compressed air, adjusting
the guns and placing the shells in position,
can be as we'll operated by the soldiers as
by the contractors.
1t is fortunate for the service that the
'
body of men intelligent and progressive
In this regard it is doubtful if the Fifth
Artillery. as a reglmental organization
embracing commissioned officers and en-
listed men, has its superior in the United
States army.
The examining board has held frequent
sessions at the Preside during the past
three weeks, and many officers listed for
promotion have been before the board for
examination. The form of examination,
embracing questions to be answered and
problems to be solved, is laid down by the
department. The board applies the rule
and reports the result If an officer fails
to pass the ordeal he is given one years
time to make another effort, and then. if
he fails the second time, the wide world is
open to him outside of the army. In the
years time between the first and second
examinations successful candidates may
pass him In order of promotion. The sys-
TEN is said to be productive of the best re.
suits, as 1t requires study and intelligence
upon thu part OF young officers to keep in
line.
The peace theories of the service are
beautiful, but when war comes many of
the systems are upset Frequently it
happens that soldiers dull at their books
and laggard at mathematics display
qualities OF sagacity, tenacity and enter
prise on the field that cast in the shade
the achievements of the "bookish' men in
the army.
the following officers, was convened at the
Preside January %: Major John a Oar
ling, Fifth Artillery; Captain James
Lockett Fourth Artillery; Captain John
Mcclellan, Fifth Artillery; First Lieuten-
ant Alexander T. Dean, Fourth Cavalry:
First Lieutenant John D. Miley, Fifth Ar
tillery; First Lieutenant Nathaniel T. Nc
{ vol ru.
Wilmot e. Ellis, Fifth Artillery; Second
Lieutenant Thomas w. Winston, Fifth
Artillery; Second Lieutenant Louis r.
Burgess, Fifth Artillery; First Lieutenant
John A. Lockwood, Fourth Cavalry, Judge
advocate.
Sometimes it will happen that few
hard cases will get into the best regiments
of the service. Assumed names may be
given and false records presented to the
recruiting officer.
1t is known that several tough custom
ers got into Battery A, Fifth Artillery,
and it is now the purpose of the COM
handing officer to get them out. Two
have been tried by court martial and dis
missed from the service. Others will be
tried and, if found guilty, expelled.
A board of medical officers, consisting
OF Major Benjamin f. Pope, surgeon;
Major Joseph B. Girard, surgeon, and
First Lieutenant Charles E. B. Flagg, as
sistant surgeon, was convened at Angel
Island January a.
DR.. Ireland, U. S. A.. arrived from Fort
Stanton, n. Mex, last Thursday, and went
on duty at Benicia. The post at Fort
Stanton has been abandoned.
Barracks No. 2 of the double-brick row
at the Preside is now ready to receive
troops.
Work on the superstructure of the new
steel wharf at the Presidio is under way
Owing 10 the recent stormy weather build
ing operations have been delayed.
The canteen at AJcatraz yields a diyi-
dend OF 81 per quarter to every enlisted
man at the post. The articles sold are
charged at but a slight advance over
actual cost.
Many army officers stationed here are
inclined to credit the statements tele-
graphed from Washington that an appli-
cation on the part of Colonel Crofton, Fiji
teenth Infantry, for retirement would be
acceptable to the department. Colonel
Crofton is not a West Point graduate.
Early in 1861 political influence in Wash
lngton procured him a captains commits
sion In the United States army. He is a
native OF England or Ireland, and prob
ao!y had some youthful experience in the
BRUSH service before he came to the
United States. He did not gain distinc-
tlon or promotion during the war; but be-
Ing IN the regular army, promotion in nat
qral order since gave him rank as colonel.
1t requires pretty firm grasp to handle a
regiment OF troops, especially when the
command is stationed near large CITY.
The Fifteenth, since it has been stationed
at Fort Sheridan, Chicago, has supplied
several scandals, including one homicide
Oflcers assert that firm man is required
at the head of that regiment.
L1eutenant-Commande James w. Car
I'm, T. ). N, left San Francisco last even
ing for a visit to relatives in Carthage
ILL.,, and st. Louis, Mo. Mr., Carlin was
one of the heroes of the Vandalia in the
great hurricane at Apia, Samoa, some
years ago. and gained the recognition of
Congress for his heroism and GOODNESS I'M
del, great peril. For the past three years
he has served OH the Monterey, but will
probably be assigned to duty on the indie
pendence at the expiration OF his leave of
absence.
The battle-ship Oregon is now equipped
with her battery of cight-inch rifles, and is
ready to receive the thirteen-inch guns.
In great emergency the Oregon could be
placed in fighting trim within three weeks
time. The thirteen-inch guns could not
be placed in position for effective use
within that time, but the ship could make
good fight with her eight-inch guns
should her presence in action be de-
manded. The Oregon is at the Union Iron
Works.