The San Francisco call., 1896-09-25
Orders That Caused Such a Com
motion at the Preside Are
Modified.
ONE THEORY AsToTHE CHANGE
1t Is Said That The Regiment Is Trans.
ferred in Order to Get General
Graham Away.

beng assigned TO stations on the South
Atlantic Coast, now occupied by the Third
Artillery, as promulgated in War Depart
ment orders last week, it will be as
signed 20 much pleasanter posts.
Secretary Lamont to-day issued orders
modifying those of last week, which as
signed the Fifth Artillery 10 stations now
occupied by the Third. The new orders
transfer the Fifth Artillery TO the posts
now occupied by the First Artillery on
the North Atlantic Coas: and in the De-
partment OF Missouri. One of the two
light batteries OF the Fifth will take sta
tiops ut Fort Sheridan (Chicago) and the
other at Fort Hamilton, n. y.
The First Artillery will be sent to garri-
SON the posts vacated by the Third Artl-
lery, which regiment will be assigned to
the posts now occupied by the Fifth Ar
tillery on the Pacific Coast.
The light battery OF the First, now at
Fort Hamilton, will take station at Wash
ington, ID. c., barracks. and one battery of
the First, now AT Sheridan, will be sent TO
Fort Houston. IL is not known yet Just
where the different batteries of the Fifth
Artillery or other regiments will be sta
toned. The War Department officials
say that these details will not be arranged
for a few days. AS soon as the battery as
sicnments are made they will be published
in The CALL.
The CALL correspondent asked War
Department official the reason for the
modification of the original order, and
was given the written reply: "The object
of the modification of the original orders
Is to effect more complete rotation of the
station OF regiments and batteries by send
ing Northern regiments South, Southern
troops West and Western troops North
east"
1t is believed, however, that General
Miles considers change OF stations bene-
ilcial TO the service for another reason
He thinks that when soldiers are sta
toned long time in any one place the
attachments so formed and the social obll-
cations incurred aud social functions en-
joyed are calculated TO detract from the
efficiency. of the army. and therefore,
deems II best to give them an occasional
taste OF the hardship OF army life, and
then again he believes in equaliZing mat
terS, so that those whose lots have been
cast in pleasant lines, situated at posts
near great cities, shall give way 10 those
who have tolerated the sanddunes of
Florida and the arid plains OF the far
West.
1t was said at the War Department to-
day that all the enlisted men now with
the transferred Regiments who have six
months or more TO serve, and who do not
desire 10 re-enhst in their present regi-
ments, will be allowed TO remain at their
present stations, if any prefer.
After all the alarm and talk the Fifth
Artillery Regiment will not go 10 Florida.
About noon yesterday Colonel Shafter,
commanding the Department OF California,
received the following by wire:
"a N ~ o.
Commanding GeRerui D,pGriHoRto Of California.
SaR FrGRciSco, Cal; With the approval OF the
Secretary OF War, general orders 4S, current
series, from this Office, regarding changes OF
artillery regiments, are modified as follows:
The k1tth Artillery viii relieve the First Artil-
lery IN the departments OF the East and Mis-
souri, One light battery OF the Fifth Artillery
10 be selected by the commanding officer of the
regiment, viii take station at Fort sheridan
anu the other AT Fort Hamilton. BY COM
mand of MAJOR-tir.NFRAr Nfrrrs
RUSeLES, Adiutant- General.
The fact thSt such orders had been
received was at once communicated by
General y. ID. Greene, adjutant-generat OF
the department. TO the Presidio. Fort
Mason and Alcatraz. The officers and en-
listed men were soon apprised OF the official
dispatch, and in some quarters much
qualification was expressed.
In reply TO inquiries on behalf Of TIE
GALL General Graham said that enlisted
men would have the right to elect whether
transferred TO the Third Artillery or so TO
New ork with their own regiment
Al tne fresidio canteen and in quarters
the men discussed the modified order. 1t
Is known that nearly one-third of the resi-
ment had signihed desire to remain in
San Francisco when the proposed trans
fer 10 Florida was under consideration.
II was the sentiment Of the soldiers that
the transfer to New York would not
materially diminish the number voting 10
remain. To-day or tomorrow the names
OF enlisted men desiring to stay here will
oe forwarded 10 department. Headquarters.
The modified order provides that one
light battery of the Fifth will so 10 Fort
Sheridan, Chicago, and the other 10 Fort
Hamilton, New York. Ii is known that
Captsin Thorp's Light Battery d will be
stationed at Fort Hamilton and Captain
BELLY Light Battery Fwill go to Chicago
1niS assignment is agreeable TO the bat
tery commanders
General Grahsm's headquarters, should
me reEiment go 70 New York, Will be
tort dsmilton. Three batteries will so
theTe, out the general has not vet made a
recommendation as 10 the assignment.
Ihres batteries so TO Fort Nadsworth.
tnree to Fort Sloeum and one goes 70 Fort
Monroe.
Army officers surmise that the modifca.
ton OF the order Was by direction of the
Secretary of War, whose attention was
called by repeated kilograms and press
comment 10 the untalrness OF seDiins the
ruth Artillery for fourth tour OF duty in
Slorida since the war, While the First had
served but one tour there since 1865.
OBVIOUSLY It was the purpose of certain
officers near headquarters in Washington
TO rush the Firth away from the Presidio
at once and so get the regiment on the
rail before the Secretary OF War had tins
10 investigate.
When Secretary Lamont goes over the
whole scheme carefully he NAV further
modify the order BY directing the Firth TO
remain So the Presidio until the Third has
served a tour OF three years ia New York
hsroor. This is said 10 be In exact line
with the roster. The great expense of
moving two regiments across the eonti-
nent at this time IS thought by many welI-
informed men 20 be wholly unnecessary.
there is quiet gossip 70 the effect that
some oIneers OF high rank are figuring to
Ess 1eneral Graham away from the Pre-
Sidio' and in order 70 reach that end il