The San Francisco call., 1896-09-22
OFFICERS MUST 60 SOUTH.

The Presidio is in state of turmoil and
agitation. 1t will be cause for special
wonder if the Fifth Artillery is not prac-
tically disorganized. The only topic of
talk at the post is the order transferring
the regiment to Florida. A new element
of confusion is introduced by the supple
mental orders received Sunday and an
nounced yesterday to the troops. The
orders provide ''that all enlisted men of
the Fifth Artillery who desire to remain
at their present station will be permitted
to do so and be transferred to batteries to
arrive. All enlisted men of the Fifth Ar
tillery who have six months or less to
serve, and who do not intend to re-enlist.
will be left at their present stations for
transfer to organizations to arrive"
Under this ruling an election to remain
or leave is practically in progress. Yes
terday the men all along the line eau
cused and discussed the question. 1t is
common report that all men who en-
listed on this coast will elect to go to
Florida for the reason that at the expira-
ton OF the period of enlistment they will
receive from the Government q consider
able sum of money as an allowance for
transportation to the place where they
enlisted. For like reasons men who en-
listed In the East will stay here to get
the transportation allowance back to their
Eastern homes. The operation of the
rule will take most of the registered voters
away from this City before the election
Already twelve men OF Battery and at
least fifteen of Battery l. have elected to
remain at the Presidio. Several days
time will be allowed to make a choice.
Among Californians who have enlisted in
the Fifth Artillery there is a strong desire
to go East and the order of transfer gives
them pleasure, but when they hear COM
rades VINO have served at Key West talk
OF yellow fever ravages they hesitate about
rendering decision.
Service at st. Augustine awakens pleas
ant memories among soldiers who have
been there, but the men realize that only
two batteries can be stationed at that post.
If the two batteries to be placed there were
now designated the men could vote intel
ligently, but the assignment is to be made
by General Ruger commanding the de-
partment of the East, SO General Graham
himself cannot now say which batteries
will be sent there.
According to the indications at the Pre-
sidio last mig one would infer that at
least one-fourth of tue regiment will re-
main here and be transferred to batteries
of the Third.
In point of discipline and soldierly quail
ifications the Fifth Artillery is not sur
passed. 1t is familiar with the armament
OF Ban FRANCISCO harDOr. what the regl-
ment will be or what San Francisco will
get in the way of a garrison, when the
authorities at Washington have carried
out the scheme 10 save the First from
Southern duty, is a matter of conjecture.
The suspicion has deepened into belief
that important facts have been withheld
from the Secretary of War by underlings
who are privileged to handle communica-
tons at the department When Senator
Perkins returns from Fresno leading citi-
zens will request him to present the facts
in the case directly to Secretary Lamont.
Senator White will also be asked to re-
quest the Secretary to investigate.
Army men here are confident that the
Secretary of War does not know that the
First Artillery has served only one tour of
three years in Florida since the war, while
the Fifth has served three terms, nine and
half years all told, and is now ordered
for the fourth tour of duty. Besides, it is
proposed to deprive San Francisco, whose
fortitlcations are extensive and modern, of
the troops fami. lar with the armament.
The Secretary, taking the matter in hand
for his personal investigation, will likely
discover in short time that petticoat in
t1uence' rather than requirements OF the
service we suggested transfer Of the
Fifth TO Keep the First in New York So
ciety.
The undue haste in time of peace to rush
the troops from California 10 Florida lends
color 10 the suspicion that the under
strappers fear t. at the scheme will be up
set if the transfer is not rushed.