The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01
REGULAR ARMY
MEN AND THEIR
PLANS FOR WAR
While the Big Guns for Defense
Are Being Placed in Position
the Troops Are Mustered
and Inspected.

1t is readily recognized by the army
that the Government is making prep
arations for war These preparations
may be the surest guarantee of peace,
but the fact is no longer questioned
that the vigilance and activity at ali
the garrisons signify purpose on the
part of the War Department to be
ready for battle
Yesterday all the troops in the De-
partment of California were mustered
for the regular monthly inspection.
The troops of the Third Artillery,
Fourth Cavalry and First Infantry,
stationed at the Presidio, turned out
in fine order. Owing to the moist con-
dition of the ground early in the morn
ing there was no review, but every
thing pertaining to the different COM
mands proved to be in good order.
The first of the two 10-inch rifles
mentioned in The Call as having re-
Gently arrived from the East reached
Fort Point emplacement Sunday even
ing. The contractor encountered many
obstacles in hauling the gun from the
freight yards of the Southern Pacific
to the Lombard street gate of the Pre-
sidio reservation. After reaching the
reserve few difficulties were in the
way. The haul up the hill on the way
from the garrison proper to the works
did not cause much delay. The second
gun, which also weighs thirty-four
tons, will be delivered at Fort Point in
due time.
Troops have been detailed from the
Third Artillery to mount these guns
and hasten the work on the new NOR
tar battery. 1t was the old custom in
the army for the Ordnance Corps to
hire civilian labor to mount guns, but
Of recent years the regular troops have
been called on to perform this duty.
The works are planned and construct
ed under the direction of the Engineer
Corps, and when completed are turned
over to the Ordnance Corps When the
carriages are put in and the guns
mounted and tested the Ordnance Corps
transfers everything to the command
er of the post.
There are many citizens of San Fran
cisco, well informed on general sub
jectS, who insist that the land defenSeS
of this harbor consist of a rev I'M
mounted guns and that the big mod
ern rifles are not in position for imme-
date use. The Call not long since pup
lished an article showing the number
of modern guns mounted and ready
for instant use in each of the principal
works of the harbor. The statement as
to the number of tWelve-inch guns at
Fort Point has been disputed. The fact
can be proved that five tWelve-inch and
three ten-inch modern rifles are IN po-
sition at Fort Point and ready for use
at any hour. These guns constitute
formidable battery, as advanced mod
ern batteries are estimated. No battle
ship or cruiser could shell San Fran
cisco without coming within the range
of these powerful rifles.
Sixty skilled men were sent to the
Preside yesterday morning FOR DUTY IN
mounting guns at Fort Point. The de-
tails were made from batteries sta
toned at Angel Island, Lime Point and
Fort Mason. The detachments arriv-
ing at the Preside reported to Coionel
Miles, commanding the post.
Colonel Miles was busy man yes
terday. The early muster engaged MS
attention in the forenoon. He spoke
highly of the condition of the troops at
the garrison. Speaking generally OF az
fairs at the Preside he remarked:
There is no change. The men detailed
to mount the guns have been assigned
to that duty. Yes, the usual vigilance
is observed to prevent unauthorized
persons from inspecting the works or
tampering with the guns or carriages.
Mounted men patrol the reservation,
put lney nave 1lOl dll SStCu any jus
picious characters. 1t requires some
vigilance to keep boys from trapping
the quail on the reservation. the pa
trolls came across six or eight traps and
some had quail in them. We ascer-
tanned that the boys were catching the
live birds for some one in the city The
sentinel was placed on the board walk
for the protection of ladies who might
be passing along after dark.
The subject of ammunition is one
that army officers decline to discuss. 1t
is believed that the supply of ammuni-
ton for the high-power guns Is linn
tied. Yesterday it was reported that
the Santa Cruz Powder Company had.
after consultation with the Ordnance
Department, decided to extend the
works at that place and put In plant
for the special manufacture of powder
for the army on this coast. Frequent