The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15

ments to ascertain what is thought of the Red Cross Society. This grand ana nople organization is doing it's work In Quel but most effective manner Eyer since ce the First went into camp it has sent supplies to Major Mccarthy and done the greatest amount of good work ester day the agents of the society erected two tents near the Brigade Hospital, ana ana these will be put to immediate use. !nlo t1 he moved The society also sent out q supply of blankets yesterday, as well as the new field ambulance that they pur- cased for the hospital corps.
 Despite the indictment weather of yes terday, a committee from Buena vista Parlor No. 6S. Native Daughters of the headquarterS and brought with them as d donation to the First Regiment 6oo towels, 600 cakes of soap, 26S needle cases, a wagon load of lunches. and they have also given to the commissary department a very large quantity of flour for the reg iment. The officers of the regiment, re- ceived the committee and thanked them for the donations.
 Twenty boxes of oranges, four boxes of lemons and a lot of gooseberries, cher res and apples were donated to the First Regiment yesterday by the following commission merchants of San Francisco: J. A. Zenter & Co, J. H. Cam. X Co, A. Levy X Co, F. G. Cainea & O., V. De- voto X Co, G. Geniocchio & Co, c. Neu- man & Co, Luke G. Sresovich & Co, Chinda & Batto, Wetmore Bros, Gould & Jaudin, Mitchell & Goodall, D. E. Ali son & Co.,, Nash & Boessenecker, Troback & Bergen, Gray & Barbieri, L. Scatena & Co.,, Garcia & Maggini, Wolf & Sons, Eveleth, Nash & Co, and J. 1vaneovich & Co.
 It is known and authoritatively stated by persons who are in a position to talk that orders were received by Colonel Smith, of the First Regiment of Volun- teers, at the Presidio yesterday, ordering him to move upon Manila tomorrow night. The order came from the War Department early in the morning, and Colonel Smith immediately left camp and came into the city to report at the army headquarters. When seen about the or der that he had received he refused to discuss the matter as did all of his off, cers. It is further known that Major Robe, of the Fourteenth United States In- fantry, and the commanding officer of the Fourth Cavalry also received orders from the War Department yesterday ordering them to accompany the First Regiment
 Major Robe, when asked what his or ders were, refused to say, while the off, cers of the Fourth also refused to dis stated late last night that he was not aware that any orders had been received by his command.
 Colonel Smith had an inspection of the regiment in the morning just after he had received his orders, to ascertain exactly what the men needed to completely euuip them. The commissary has just received ten days field rations, in addition to those already on hand, which are prob ably for three days. The regiment needs at present shoes, overcoats, rifles, clothes ana dilu I6QllSlIlOnS Tor these are already in the quartermaster's department. At the meeting of the com missioned officers of the First held yes terday evening it was unanimously de- cided that the regiment should be equip ped with the rag-Jorgensen rifle if it can be secured, or the Springfield '1SS4'' pattern, with 400 rounds of ammunition From the most experienced officers at the PreSidio it was learned late last night that the troops cannot possibly leave to- morrow night unless they do so totally unprepared in every respect for the duty which they go to perform as soldiers. Of the three commands ordered to Manila the Fourteenth is certainly the best pre- pared. and it is short of rations. The men cannot be moved from their base of SUD- plies and sent upon a four weeks trip un- less they have at least thirty days ra- tions and that number is not here in the ouartermaster' department. The First Regiment has absolutely nothing, compar- atively speaking, and unless the Govern ment can get the necessary supplies aboard the City of Picking by tomorrow. the soldiers, if their commanders obey the orders that have been given them, will leave the city of San Francisco upon a foolhardy mission
 Generals Merriam and Otis are expected any day and the latter will no doubt ac- cornpanv the expedition. It remains to be seen whether they will permit the troops to leave in their present condition. It is said that General Merriam will not hear of the troops going to Manila until they are properly and thoroughly equipped. From the general expressions to be heard among the officers of the First 1t was