The San Francisco call., 1898-05-19
Flower of the Volunteer Army Will Go to the
 Philippines.
Crack Regiments of the East to Accompany the Regulars
 and Coast Militia.

CHICAGO, May 1s.-A special from Washington says: It was officially announced at the War Department to- day that General Merritt will have the strongest division of 15,000 men that it is possible to raise in the United States. Besides the 4000 regulars which have been assigned to his command he will be given the pick of the troops in the various States until his quota has been filled.
 In addition to the Tenth Pennsyl- vania, it is probable that he will be given one of the best regiments from New York, a crack regiment from Ohio and one from Michigan and a fifth from Illinois and a sixth from Mime sota has already been ordered to San Francisco, while Nebraska will con- tribute one regiment to the expedition.
 It is the plan to embark 1000 men as soon as supplies can be put aboard the City of Peking. This vanguard, which is commanded by General Otis. will be used for the purpose of taking pos session of Cavite and preparing camp for those to follow.
 It is declared to be the intention of the administration to continue pour ing troops into the Philippines until there is a force sufficient to govern every island in the group. It is ex- pected that General Merritt will leave by Friday.
 WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Recogniz- ing the excellent soldier material in the Pennsylvania troops, the War Depart ment has decided to draw on that State for supplying in part the quota for the l nj. pplne Islands expedition. The Tenth Regiment has been selected for this work and orders have been issued hurrying it to San Francisco, so that the men may leave with one of the first ships for Manila. The Tenth is said to be the crack organization of the State The earlier programme cOntem- plated the dispatch of the regiment to Tampa.
 It is understood the department will endeavor to give General Merritt, who is to command the expedition, proba- bIy a thousand more regulars than was at first proposed, in which case the Fifteenth Infantry, located in New Mexico and Arizona, will be drawn on unless the present programme is changed.
 CHICKAMAUGUA N NATION A L PARK, Ga, May 1S.-Two infantry reg inents arrived to-day and one battery,
 
 o'clock today in camp at this point volunteer army of seventeen infantry re.sirnents, one of cavalry and five bat teries of artiIlery-in all 1S,100 officers and men.
 The First Pennsylvania Infantry ar rived at Chattanooga at o'clock. The regiment is composed of ten companies, 749 men and officers. Lieutenant J. L. Good is in command. The entire regi- ment is from Philadelphia.
 Battery A, St. Louis Light Artillery, Captain F. M. Rumbold commanding, arrived at o'clock a. m. They had no field guns but will be equipped with s.x Finch breech loading HOtchkiSS rifles and 40 head of horses at the pc!k The men are all uniformed hand sOmely.
 he Sixth Ohio slfantry reached hare at o'clock tonight, remaining in their cars. The regiment is composed Of eleven companies, S1o officers and 1 IT on. and commanded by Colonel Will | liam. V. Mackin.
 General Brooke announced to-day l that in accordance with orders from the | President the volunteer troops would l be organized al Chickamauga as fol- | lows: Two corps of three divisions each | e-ch division to be composed of three | briCades. ard the brigades to be com ] posed of three regiments each.
 The first division of the first provin- | cial corps has been completed as was l noted in these dispatches yesterday, | and has been assigned to Major General | James H. Wilson. The organization of | the second division began with the | early arrivals of to-day.
 Colonel A. K. Arnold has been named | as the provisional commander of the | division and the First Brigade has been filled as follows: Colonel Robert | Ralston of the Third Pennsylvania. 1 provisional brigadier; Third Pennsyl- | vanfa, Thirty-first Michigan and One | Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Second | Prigade-Brigadier to be named. Sixth | Ohio. One Hundred and Fifty eighth | Indiana and the First West Virginia. | Third Brigade-Brigadie to be named. | Second Ohio, First Pennsylvania. The ! next regiment to arrive will fill up the ! division.
 The Fourteenth Minnesota Infantry | arrived at 7:30 o'clock tonight in Chat i tanooga and remained over tonight in | it's cars in the railroad yards The reg iment had HOO officers and men and is commanded by Colonel A. Vanduse. | Four companies were without uniforms. | They were supplied with arms and | tents and ten days rations. The First