The San Francisco call., 1897-07-19
MEN At THE RANGE
Companies That Are Waiting to
Engage in Target Practice
at the Preside.
Improvements at Fort Mason, Where
Brigadier- General Shafter Will
Reside-Change at Aloatraz.

The two companies, and G, First Infantry,
commanded by Captain Starr and Lieutenant
Croxton, respectively, are still at the range at
the Presdio, engaged in target practice, and it
is probable that they will conclude the task
assigned them by Tuesday. During the latter
part OF the week the companies were engaged
in firing at the siIhouettes by squad, in skir-
mish line and by company. This manner OF
shooting is considerably at variance with the
old method and is calculated 10 give the prac-
tice that the men would have in actual en-
gagements. The records that have been made
during the week by the companies named
have been good.
Company B, Lieutenant C. B. Vodges COM
manding. and Company C, Lieutenant Frank
o. Ferris in command, have been brought to
the Presidio post from the arsenal at Ben1cia
and will remain there for some time. AS soon
as the companies now at the range have
finished their practice they will be followed
by the Benicia companies, aad these will be
and Company f, Captain John ]. O'Connell.
The rifle used in the practice at the range
is the Krag-Jorgensen, which Is small b1re-
30 caiber-and smokless powder is used. The
weapon has most extraordinary penetrating
power. Said an officer who was looking Oh at
the practice, one day last week, This rife
will penetrate much further than the old
Spring field, but 1t has not the stopping power
that the Springfield has. A bullet from one OF
these will pass through four men, one behind
the other, and not stop then, unless some vital
part is struck or bone shattered, and those
iour men would not be SO disab ed as to pre-
vent them from duty and damage; while the
Spring I'D when IL was fred and the bullet
hit man it stopped him then and there
1t is expected that after the target practice
is at an end that the cavalry, artillery and in
fantry stationed at the Presidio will be ordered
on q combina ton march and practice expedi-
ton in the vicinity of Redwood City. The
purpose is to take the men into the country,
where there is q great deal OF room, and give
the an opportunity 10 engage in just such
enemy's country and were suddenly called
into action. In the exercises that pro-
posed the three branches of the service will be
called into action at the same time
Fort Baker, near Lime Point, is now in
charge of Battery ], Third Artillery, Captain
Danes commanding. The members Of the bat
terry are engaged at this time in noun ting the
guns that are to form the Notifications at that
point, and they are also constructing road
from Sausalito to the fort. 1t is WITHIN the
line of possibility that this year barracks will
be erected at that point and that officers quar-
ters will be built, and that military post will
be established there. The location is one of
the best on the harbor of San francisco.
Major James Chester, recently promoted
from captain OF Battery A, Third Artillery,
AlcatraZ Island, in command of the post on
the island, having been ordered TO duty at
Fort Candy, Major David ii. KinZie, who was
in command OF that post. has been ordered to
assume command OF the post vacated by
Chester.
Ouartermaster-General Weeks has gone to
Seattle OH a TOUR of inspection, having con-
cludtd d ;he inspection of the several posts in
this City and on the islands in the bay.
Considerable improvement Is noticeable at
Fort Mason. at which there is stationed but one
battery, E. Captain Sedgwck Pratt who COM
mands the post. The men at the post are
building road to connect the post with Won
Ness avenue. In time Brigadier-General Shat
ter will take up his residence at this post
The grounds for athletic sports are also being
put in good condition.
Last Friday by invitation of BrigadierGen-
eral Sh after, tue officers OF the Presidio Ly
ceum of Instruct OH accompanied him on the
steamer General Mcdowell on an excursion
around the bay. They were taken out as far
as the Golden Gate and on the return were
landed at the Preside wharf.
Civilians often ask the question, care de-
serters from the army of the United States
punished for tnat crime in time OF peace? ?''
The best answer that can be gwen is the fol-
lowing from special orders from the Depart
ment of California. issued on the 9th inst:
Private Jesse e. Matlack Company F, Four
teenth Infantry, having been tried by a general
court martial convened at The Presidio of San
Francisco. Cal, and found guilty OF desertion, in
violation of the forty seventh article OF War was
sentenced: 40 b. dshonorablv discharged the
service of the United states forfeiting all pay and
alowances due him, and to be confined al hard
labor at such p' st as he reviewing authority may
direct, for six (6) months"
ecuted Alcatraz Island, Cal, is designated as the
place Of confinement, where the prisoner Will be
sent under suitable guard.
Captain James OHara, Battery II, Third Ar
tillery, commanding the post at Angel Island,
has beer granted leave OF absence tor twenty
three days from the 18th inst
Second Lieutenant Thales l.. Ames OF Battery
A, Third Artillery, adjutant, recruiting officer
orders TO report for duty at West Point on the
Goth of next August.
The equipment board of the quartermaster-
generals department is considering the sub
ject of changing the shoes that now fur
nished 10 the enlisted men. II is proposed to
do away with the brogans and Kurdish some
thing that will be as serviceable but more
shape!y. Samples have been called for, and
when one is adopted a number OF pairs of shoes
will be made up and issued to the troops on
trial.