The San Francisco call., 1898-04-17
Regulars and State Troops Anxious to Defend
 Old Glory.
To-MOrrOw General Shafter and Staff and the Historic First Infantry Regiment Will De-
 part for New Orleans.

partment. If the work of preparing the transportation cannot be completed by Monday civilian labor will be hired for that purpose.
 The officer designated to remain at Benicia barracks is Major Smith, First Infantry. Major White, surgeon, and Lieutenant Page, assistant surgeon, will go with the infantry to New Or leans. Captain Ware, assistant sur geon, will accompany the light bat teres of the Third Artillery to Chick amauga Park.
 As the annexed order indicates, Colonel Moore will go to New Orleans in advance to select a camp:
 Special orders, No. 32.
 Headquarters
 Department of California, San Francisco. Cal, April 16 1898.
 2-Pursuant of telegraphic instructions from the War Department, Colonel James NJ Moore, assistant quartermaster gen eral, will, without delay, proceed to New Orleans, Louisiana, for the purpose of selecting suitable grounds as a camp for { the troops ordered to rendezvous there.
 The travel enjoined is necessary for the public service.
 By command of Brigadier-General
 Official Assistant Adjutant- General.
 Considerable interest was manifested in the preparations for departure be- ing made by the United States Army Signal Corps, at the Presidio yesterday. All of the various apparatus pertaining to the service was being packed and the poles, wires, inSulators and instruments of the field telegraph and telephone were loaded on wagons specially con- structed therefor. Each wagon will carry enough material to construct six teen miles of line. The poles are twelve feet long by two inches in diameter, thirty poles being used to the mile, upon which No. If galvanized wire IS stretched, fastened to an ingenouS- ly contrived gutta percha insulator
 The field telegraph and telephone plays an important part in the ma 1 neuVering of troops in the field and places the commanding officer in close communication with the various strategic points at which the troops may be stationed.
 In addition to the field telegraph and telephone the Signal Corps is equipped with flags, rockets, bombs and appar- atus for heliograph signaling.
 Brigadier-General Henry C. Merriam, commanding the Department of the Co., lumbia, stationed at Vancouver Bar racks, Washington, has been designated by the Secretary of War as the officer to temporarily command the Depart ment of California, on the departure of General Shafter for New Orleans, and to assume command of the eight regi- ments of infantry to be concentrated at that place. It is not known def- nitely whether or not General Merriam will remain at Vancouver Barracks or come to San Francisco.
 General Merriam is native of Maine and entered the service as a captain of the Twentieth Maine Volunteers. He was appointed captain of the Eightietb | United States colored troops March II 1865; May 21, 1864, he was appointed lleutenant-colonelO of the Eighty-fifth United States colored troops: June 2 1854, he was appointed lieutenant-col- onel of the Seventy third United States colored troops; July 2S, 1866. he was appointed major of the Thirty eighth Infantry; March 15, 1869, he was transferred to the Twenty-fourth In1 fantry; June 10, 1876, he was appointed lleutenant-colonelo of the Second Infan try, and June 30. 1897. he attained his present rank of brigadier- general
 For gallant and meritorious services In the battle of Antietam, conspicuous gaIantry in the capture of Fort Blake ", Alabama, and faithful and meritor ious services during the campaien against the city of Mobile and it's de lenses, he was breveted lieutenant-coI onel and colonel.
 General Merriam has received from Congress medal of honor for consnic- uous gallantry in the assault on Fort J, tarliy and successfully leading his reg nnent over the works in advance of orders, permission being given hin, at his own request e
 First Lieutenant Eugene T. Wilson Ihlrd Artillery, has been directed to act as signal officer of the department relieving First Lieutenant Frank Greene. First Lieutenant Delamere Skerrett, Third Artillery, who was or dered a few days since to take charge or property at Benicia, is now directed to return to his station at Fort Mason
 Inere was no commGtiOn or excite ment to speak of at the Presidio and department headquarters yesterday. ne enlisted men are ready to fall in pehIhu the band and march to the boat. In fact they were ready in if teen minutes after the order was re- ceiVed. Officers were busy most of the day yesterday attending to private af- fairs. Some of them expect long campaign and an expedition to Cuba before the trouble with Spain is ad justed, hence several officers resigned from the club or went on the ab- sentee list to avoid the dues which fall alike on the just and the unjust.
 It would be gratifying to the citizens of San Francisco and quite agreeable to the soldiers if General Shafter would permit the First Infantry and the light batteries, c and F, of the Third Artillery. to march through the streets of the city on the way to the front. The troops would be cheered by the patriotic populace if the column passed through town.
 The National Guard of California is ready at a moments notice to defend the honor of the stars and stripes Within three days from the time that they may be called upon by the Gov ernment there can be mobilized at any rail connected point in the State 4OO0 thoroughly equipped troops, who can bid defiance to any force that Spain could land upon this coast and de- fend any point that may be threatened with invasion.
 The commanding officers of the Ma tional Guard have been busy during the past two weeks getting the troops into shape, and the officers of the various commands throughout the State have been notified to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moments mo- tice
 Adjutant- General Barr, tt said yes terday that the entire lighting force of california was available if called upon 10 go to the front upon short notice. A..rxA xAw-..