The San Francisco call., 1896-08-24

, Ian building, and with the able assistance
of Colonel 0. D. Greene, Acknowledgement
of the departm ent, readily transacts the
regular business of the day.
general court-martial convened a. the
Presidio last Wednesday, consisting of the
following officers: Major FULLY McCrea,
Fifth Artillery; Captain Charles Morris,
Fifth Artillery: Captain Benjamin K. Rob-
erts, Fifth Artillery; Captain Frank Thorp,
Fifth Artillery; Captain Elbridge R. Hills,
Fifth Artillery; First Lieutenant Oliver e.
George G. Galley, Fifth Artillery; Second
Lieutenant Conway Fl. Arnold Jr., Fifth
Artillery; First Lieutenant Warren P.
Newcomb, Fifth Artillery, Judge advocate.
a communication as follows from the
headquart ters OF the army in Washington
addressed to the commanding general OF
the Department of California is published
for the guidance of troops serving in this
region:
1 have the honor to inform you that the
ma jor-general commanding the army approves
the issue of certificates and insignia for quail
fcation as sharpshooter and marksman, and
directs that the report of sharpshooters and
marksmen be made on old form sod, Small
Arms Firing Regulations, and that 1t show
previous years of qualification as sharpshooter
or marksman in each case.
On account of prolonged field service the
OrueI iOI plStOl dAQ CaTDil0 pfdCtiCS VI no
cavalry in this department is SO tar modl-
fed as to designate the months of August,
September and October as the period for
this seasons practice for Troops ana l.,
Fourth Cavalry, in the Sequoia and Gem
eral Grant National Parks, the revolver
practice to precede that with the carbine.
The four troops of the Fourth Cavalry,
now guarding the reservations IN the
Sierra, are said to be doing excellent work
in extending and reopening the trails.
The duty is arduous, but the hunting and
fishing afford pleasure.
Captain George I'll. Gale of Troop G, who
came down from the mountains a few
days ago on a short leave of absence, told
some trout-catching stories at the Presi-
dio last Saturday. He reports that the
quail and grouse are so plentiful that the
men can catch the young chickens.
It is the question in the minds OF many
of the officers if it would not be well for
the Government to lease some of the
forest reserves to cattiemen. Something
should be done to prevent the dense ac-
cumuiation of dead and fallen timber. So
much inhammable material is accumu-
lating that fire once under way would
produce heat so fierce as to cause the
destruction of live trees.
The fallen timber and the lifelesS stand
ing trees should be gradually consumed
in order to diminish the dangerous stock
of fuel. This might be done under proper
system of leasing. The area of country
patroled by the Fourth Cavalry is very ex-
tensiye. 1t is easy enough to guard the
parks, such as the Sequoia, Yosemite and
General Grant National parks, but the vast
forest reservation cannot be guarded. 1t
can only be watched.
The United States Army Retiring Board,
which was in session for several weeks in
| Chicago, has adjourned to meet in San
francisco, October l. next. In the case of
Colonel Crofton. Fifteenth Infantry, who
was recommended for retirement. the
board did not sustain the recommends
! ton, so he will probably serve until 1898,
unless the President of the United States
| should exercise his prerogatiye of placing
] him on the retired list.
The case OF Major J. A. Darling, Fifth
Artillery, will be considered when the
board convenes at the Preside next
| October. In all other cases brought be-
| fore the board retirement was recon-
mended.
Word comes from Washington that in
| the redistribution of artillery one of the
| first Western posts to receive the atten-
| ton of General Miles will be San Fran
CISCO. 1t is the intention 10 locate five
artillery stations around this City-oue at
Lime Point, one at Point Lobos, one at
Alcatraz, one at Angel Island and one at
Black Point. General Miles said that
guns were being erected at each OF these
| points, which would necessitate the