The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-30
airing FOR
THE TOURNEY
The Seating Arrangements
for the Military Show
at the Preside.
A Rife Competition Between
Two Departments of the
United States Army.
Officers Sent by the Secretary of
War Into the Gold Country of
the Far North.

Many are the preparations that are being
made for the grand military tournament that
is to be held on Admission day at the Preside
by the soldiers of the various posts for the
benefit of the Lincoln monument fund. The
men who intend to contest take every oppor-
tunity to perfect themselves with view TO Sc
cure the liberal prizes that have been offered
ana there are not few who expect to beat the
record.
Carpenters are at work erecting additional
seats for such will want TO be seated while
watching the several events. Rows of benches
800 ieet in leng will be erec:ed west of the
grand stand and rows of benches 200 feet long
Will be put up east of the grand stand. 1t is
probable that additional benches will be put
up. There Will be seating accommodations
for at least Il, 600 persons.
H. P Chester has been awarded q contract
to repair the Quartermas ter's steamer, GEN.
eral Mcdowell. While the vessel is under
going these repairs the steamer Sonora will
take her place.
First Lieutenant Francis E. Lacey Jr., First
Infantry, and Second Lieutenant Charles T.
Boyd, Fourth Cavalry, have been detailed for
duty in connection with the progressive mill
tary map ordered by the Secretary OF War.
The field duty TO which they have been as
signed IS being performed at the Benlcia bar
racks. Lieutenant Richard c. Croxton has
been detailed on similar duty and ordered 10
the San Diego barracks.
The rifle compe tition, preceded by two
days preliminary practice for the depart
ments OF California and Columbia, will take
place AT Vancouver barracks between the 20th
and Both OF September. Major Charles F.
Robe, Fourteenth Infantry, has been chosen 10
conduct the competition.
Captain Fred Wheeler, commanding Troop
Z, Fourth Cavalry, stationed at Vancouver
barracks, Wash, and Captain Hugh J. Nc.
Grath, commanding troop g. stationed at
Walla WaIla. Wash, have been ordered 10 e1-
change commands.
Major Edward Field has been on visit. as
artillery inspector for the depar tment OF Cali
fornla, TO Mlllbrae, in connection with the Sc
lection OF range for artillery practice by the
companies that are stationed a; the Presidio.
| The regulations of the United States infantry
and cavalry school published in general order
! No. 40 OF the War Department will take the
place of those adopted in 1895.
Colonel John l. Rodges, Fifth Artillery,
Lieutenan Colonel II. c. Hasbrouck and Cap
tain c. Z. Miller, assistant quartermaster, Will
meet in Washington, D. c., next Wednesday
as board to cons ider the question OF the loca-
! ton OF the present forc5 OF the artillery arm
! in tn care and preservation OF the sea-coast
! armament and material. With respect to the
group of batteries forming the defense of har-
Dor, OF the harbor con tiguous the board will
! indicate the size and location OF the garrison
that should be provided and with respect to
the separate batteries that belong to the
group, the mum Der OF men req nired as guards
and caretakers at each. The board S directed
To submit its report on or before the 10Th OF
October.
The juige-advecate of the army has rem
dered an opinion to the effect that a soldier
under orders from one station to another has
the right to bear his arms. notwiths landing
tn the laws OF a State or Territory through
which he may have to pass prOhi bits the car
rylng of arms within its territorial limits
The judge advocate holds that under orders a
soldier is an fundamentally OF the Govern
ment OF the United States, and sucn can
not be lawfully interfered with by State, Ter
ritorial or municipal regulations while per-
forming his duty in proper way.
Captain P H Ray and Lieutenant W. P.
Richardson, Eighth Infantry, who were or
dered to Alaska, sailed recently. They VIII
make their headquar tiers at Circle City. ana
have been ordered by the Secretary of War to
make frequent reports. Captain Ray tele-
graphed 10 the Secretary that he had safely
embarked and procured all the necessary RAJ
tons, supplies, etc, from the quartermaster's
and subsistence departments. He was also
advanced BY the quartermaster's department
the sum OF $4,000, which will enable the Off
GERS to penetrate into the gold country as tar
as they See fit.
The adiutantgeneral's department is pre-
pairing the reports OF all post exchange Off
GERS. The gross and net business of the ex-
changes, in the form of a consolidated report,
VIII be submitted to the Secretary. The vol
ume of business in the exchanges last year
amoun ted to between So, 600, 900 and
| $3,o00,O0o. The exchanges are steadily gain
| ing in favor and are being patronized now
| more than ever before.
The paymaster general of the army has
| called the attention of the Secretary oil War 10
W
! ice classification clerks to aymasters. He is
of the opinion that paymssters should be en-
| titled 10 secure the services of those i'll whom
| they have confidence. He argues that clerks
supplied by the civil service readily pass the
required examination, but their honesty is
not guaranteed, nor does the payma< ter feel
| disposed to intrust large sums OF money which
| passes through their hands in this ca
| The paymaster-gencral thinks that the paw
masters should, in view OF the fact that they
| are responsible for every cent OF the money
IN trusted to the clerks, have the riphf nj
| ton OF such men as have their confidence and
! at the same time the clerical ability to assume
| the position OF clerk. The matter will very
Likely be brought 10 the attention of the Presi-
| dent.
! Notwithstanding the fact that there are over
! seventy graduates of West Point holding com
| missions as additional second lieutepants the
entire class graduated last June numbering
sixty-seven being among these. orders TO re,
! port 10 Fort Leavenworth September for ex-
animation for promotion 10 the rank OF second
lieutenant have been issued by tie War De-
partment for twelve privateS and non-commis-
stoned officers who have successfully pessed
depar tmental preliminary examiu atoms az
the non-commissioned officers ordered for this
examination one only is son OF a commls-
stoned officer of the army. The Second Kegi-
ment OF infantry presents two candidates for
the competitive examination. The First and
Fourth regiments Of cavalry each have can
didate.
The artillery arm OF the service presents one
candidate, from the First Artillery hand. The
Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thir teenIh and
IWOui -ITSI Is edCn nave one candi-
date. Three other non -commls stoned officers
may also take the September examination at
Leavenworth: Others are soldiers whose
physical disa bilIties are the subject of inves
| tigation bv the War Department.. Tney are
Sergeant Robert McCIeave, First Infantry
! now stationed at the Preside OF San Fran
| cisco; Corporal Ralph A. Clay, Fifth Infantry;
Private s. W. Talfaferro (colored) The latter
was prevented from taking his preliminary
mental examination at the regular time some
months ago, on account OF his physical condi-
all
animation, the report of which has no, yet
| reached the department. While it is within
the bounds OF possibility that some of these
| am bilious and deserving young non-commis-
stoned officers may receive a commission dur
ing the time that Il successful acquittal of
themselves at Fort Leavenworth insures their
candidacy, IL must be said that the outlook
for their pr motion is very gloomy with the
long line of West Point graduates awaiting
commissions second ieutenauts in the
various brauc hes OF the service.
ALUMNI MEET,