The San Francisco call., 1896-09-26
General Ruggles Talks to the
Call" Correspondent on the
Subject.
WHY SUCH CHANGES ARE MADE
Only Fair That the Sweets and Hard
ships Should Be Shared
Equally

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 25.-THE
CALL correspondent saw Adiutant-General
Ruggles at the War Department to-day in
an endeavor to ascertain the transfer of
artillery batteries in detail. General Rug
giles said that thus far the batteries de-
tails had not been made. They will as
usual be made by the department COM
manders in most cases instead of by the
War Department. General Ruggles said
that thus far all that had been settled was
that the Fifth Artillery was to change
places with the First Artillery, now
stationed in New York, with the excep-
ton of one battery, which is at Fort Sheri-
dan, Chicago.
THE CALL correspondent learned from
another source, however, that Battery f,
Fifth Artillery, Captain II. ]. Reilly, is
the fortunate battery which is to be sent
10 Fort Sheridan. The latter post. by rea-
son of its proximity to Chicago, is con-
sidered one of the most desirable in the
service.
AdjutaDt-GeneraI Ruggles was asked by
THE CALL correspondent if any statement
would be published by the War Depart
ment giving reasons for making the artil-
lery and infantry transfers. He re-
sponded:
at is not customary for the War De-
partment to publish reasons for making
such orders, as it considers them wise and
in the best interests of the service" But
in the course of conversation he said
casually that it was customary for the
! War Department to make transfers OF
troops at regular intervals. He said that
the Fifth Artillery had enjoyed a good
berth for six years on the Pacific Coast
while other regiments were obliged to
tolerate the sandhills of Florida and the
desolate, arid plains of the Far West, and
it was only fair that each regiment should
taste the sweets of civilized life while,
those whose lots had been cast in pleasant
! lines should experience some of the hard
ships of frontier life.
"But why was the order of last week
transferring the Fifth Artillery to stations
now occupied by the Third Artillery in
Florida, Fort McHenry and Washington
modified by requiring the Fifth to take
stations now occupied by the First Ar
| tiIlery in New York and at Fort Sheri-
DAMP was asked.
"After considering the matter we con-
cluded that the First Artillery should &c
| South rather than the Filth, because the
latter had been stationed in the South
since the First Artillery had been sta
toned at these posts"
The following orders were to-day issued
by the Secretary of War:
"First Lieutenant John s. Kulp, assist
ant surgeon, will be relieved from duty al
Fort Walla Walla, Wash, by the com
manding officer of that post upon receipt
by him of this order, and will then repor
in person to the commanding officer al
Vancouver barracks for duty at that pos
and by letter to the commanding genera
of the Department of the Columbia.
$50 much of special orders of Septem
ber from this Office as relates to Captain
William Stephenson, assistant surgeon, il
revoked, and he will be relieved from duty
at Vancouver Barracks, Wash, by tn,
commanding officer of that post upon re
ceipt by him of this order. and will ther
report in person to the commanding off
Ger at Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, for duty at tha
post and by letter 10 the commandin.
general of the Department of the Mis-
| souri,