The San Francisco call., 1897-10-20
The Preside Post Is Not
Exclusively an Ar
tillery One.
Possible Result of the Artillery
Inspecting Boards
Visit Here.
Soldiers to Go Into Camp Near the
Big Guns at Fort Point-0ficers
for Promotion.

ton and location of the artillery for ce of the
United States and among other things obtain
information about the group of batteries in
this harbor, indicate the size and location Of
the garrison that should be provided and the
number of men required as guards and care
takers. arrived in this city early last week,
made their inspection in short order and are
now on their way to inspect other points.
In connection with the visit of this board to
this point there was circulated report about
the Presidio which was so full OF glaring er-
rors that they are ludicrous TO any one ac-
quainted with the facts, but as it deals with a
matter in which many of our citizens are in
teresied-namely, the defense OF This port-ir
is misleading. The assertion was made that
"a rather curious condition of affairs has OBJ
tanned at the Preside since the departure of
Colonel Graham and the Fifth Artillery. Pre-
vious 10 the transfer OF the Fifth a great deal
OF WORK had been done in the way of main-
tanning he efficiency of the harbor defenses,
ana the men OF the Fifth were trained TO a
splendid degree of efficiency"
There is truth in tins. but it leaves the infer
ence that since the departure of Colonel Ora.
ha m ana the Filth all work on the Preside
reservation had been suspended. That is not
so. The fact is that during the time that the
Fifth was at the Preside there was erected an
earth mound at the western end of the large
underground, on which were mounted some
smooth-bore guns, but III view OF the intro
duction of modern ordnance the battery there
located was condemned as useless and within
lew months the guns were dismOunted, the
mounds removed and the ground leveled, and
in the past twelve months more guns have
been mounted on the Presidio reservation
than in all the time before that, and these of
a character that in case of need Will prove ef-
tective. The assertion is also made that the
Pfesidio was an artillery post and after the
departure of the Fifth there was q curious
state OF affairs, namely, that an artillery post
was in charge OF infantry and that me IN bers of
the Third Artillery were sent to Angel Island,
which is. or ought to be, an infantry post.
The fact is that the Presidio proper is
general post and not exclusively an artillery
post. In time there IS a posi- bility that an
artillery post NAV be established in the inn
mediate vicinity OF the iortifeations al Fort
Point, distant about two miles from the Pre-
sidio proper. 1t is true that there are batteries
at the Presidio, for instance two light batteries
commanded by Captains Calif and Potts and
there are also batteries and X of the Third
Artillery commanded by Lieutenant Ran
dolph and Captain Hobbs, but these exclu-
sively have the care of the guns and take no
part in the police and guard duty OF the post
in which they are stationed. All the TOUR
batteries of rttilery al the Prcsidio are en-
gagged exclusively in artillery work. There
are also stationed at the Presidio TOUR troops
OF cavalry, but two are absent at this time on
duty at the national parks. These troops are
b, Z, and K. The Presidio post as @ purely
artillery post would not be of great effect in
case OF the landing of an enemy five miles
down the coast. and it is in view o such a pos
sibl contingency that il is maintained as q
mixed post
There was also an assertion that Colonel
Graham ranked Colonel Snafter before his
promotion to his present position. 1t is we'll
known TACT that the rank is the other way.
The system Of work on the Qualifications for
this harbor was determined upon by General
Miles when he was here some time ago, aud
the department Is carrying out the Tecommen-
dations taat he made. One of these is the
| mounting OF q battery at Lime Point ana the
batteries at Fort Point. 1t is possible that as
result OF the visit OF the board last week
permanent post for artillery will be ests b.
| lished at Lime Point and that the artillery
! men who are in charge of Alcatrsz Island will
| be assigned to tat post and there may be
| some change at Angel Island. If that change
/ is made as to Alcatraz it is probable that an
| infantry company viii garrison the island
! There IS also possibility of some portion of
| the Third Artillery being sent to take care of
| the battery ut Fort Stevens near the mouth of
| the Columbia River, which Is now unpro-
/ tected IN the event OF such charge some
| individuals Will have to leave very Comfort
| able quarters and lead the life of soldier
| under the shelter of tent.
The four batteries OF the Third Artillery
stationed at the Preside and other posts in
| this harbor will on next Wednesday encamp
at Fort Point In the immediate vicinity of the
| heavy gun batteries under command OF Col
! onei Marcus L. Miller. Lleutenant-C Colonel E.
| =. Williston will be relieved from all duty at
the Presidio and will report for duty with the
tailed daily to take charge of the post a Angel
Island, The post on Alcatraz island will be gar
/ risoned by Company Z, First Infantry Cap
| taiu O'Connell, Fort Baker at Lime Point will
| remain in charge OF one sergeantand six nri-
Yates, Fort Mason will be in charge OF one
| noncommissioned officer who will look alter
/ the barracks ana prop-rty and each day q e.
tail OF one officer and six priyates will be sent
| from the Preside to take charge of the station
aud two men from each battery stationed at
! the Preside Will have charge of barracks and
/ quarters. The assembly of the Third Regi.
ment OF Artillery at the point named will be
| for the purpose OF practical instruction with
| ton and at Fort Baker
For the balance of the year there will be no
| more field days al the various posts OF the De-
partment of California, but in lien thereof
| there viii be settng.up exercises in the re-
| spective drill regulations of the artillery cav
| airy and Infantry and the calisthenic exer-
| cises prepared by II. Koehler. The troops win
be exercised at least three times q week for half
an hour at lime, and the drill be so arranged
| that all men except guards and sick shall be
present.
Captain r. stevens, assistant auartermaster
| at the Presidio post. has been ordered to re-
! port to the commanding general of the De-
| quartermuser at Fort Sam Houston Texas
| he viii be relieved by Captain Charles b
| Ihompson, now on duty al the Columb bus bar
/ RACKS, ONO. Captain Stevens will shortly
| leave for his new station and until his success
! sor arrives FIRST Lieutenant Leon S. Roudiez
VIII act as assistant quartermaster.
Additional Second Lieutenant George #
| Patterson OF the Fifth Artillery mas been as
| signed 10 the vacancy OF second lieutenant
! Third Artillery, vice Irwin promoted.
First Lieutenant q, T.. Elliott of the Fourth
| Cavalry has been ordered to report before the
| examining board at the Preside for examine
! ton Tor promotion. First Lieutenants W. e.
| Birkheimer and B. II. Randolph and Second
Lieutenant W. S. McNair, Third Artillerr.
have been ordered 10 appear before the same
board Tor examination for promotion
Captain w. +. Dougheriy of the First In
fautry has eeen ordered TO report ior ex
animation before the examining board al the
Presidio as 10 his qualifications Tor promotfon
First Lieutenant X. r. Steedmnn Sixteenth
Infantry, has been ordered before this posrd
! for examination for promotion.
First Lieutenant Charles A. Bennett Third
Artillery, has been ordered to the Beninia
arsenal Tor temporary duty in relation with
the construct lion OF plotting boards TOR the
use OF the artillery.
On the 15tn inst. BrigadIer- General Sbafter
accompanied by First Lieutenant John d
Miley. Fifth Artillery, aid, visited the Idpht
Artillery Battalion bird Artillery, en- ucamped
near Redwood CITY. for he pur pose OF inspec-
lion. The same day the two batteries-C Car
| tain CaIiff, and i. Captain Potts-had competi
tive target practice al ranges varying from
1000 TO 25O0 yards the targets representiug
columns OF four and company front. AT each
distance the 1eSuIts were very satisfactory
The competition was in charge OF Colonel
Miller, assisted by LientenAnt-Co Colonel Willis.
ton and Major Edward Field, Second ARTILLERY
artillery inspector.
Private Thomas A. Tate OF the Hospital
Corps, stationed at the Presidio, has u por the
recommendation OF the chief surgeo on of the