The San Francisco call., 1898-03-09
In Event of War Volun- teers Would Be En-
 rolled.
Eight or Ten Thousand Men Would Be Needed in the
 Notifications Here.
RECRUITS FOR ARTILLERY.
Union Iron Works Not Advised That Japan Is Willing to Sell Cruisers
 to Uncle Sam.

we have a regular force of trained artillerymen on this coast sufficient to maintain and keep in good order the guns now in position" said General Shafter, commanding the department of California, yesterday. He explained that there were not troops enough to man the guns in the event of war, as eight or ten thousand men would be re- quired for that purpose. but the force now available was large enough to keep everything in good shape for active service.
 T presume volunteers would be en- rolled in case of war" remarked the general, and we should soon get all the men required for manning the for tifications. No, 1t would not be neces- sary for the First United States In- fantry to perform the duties of an artil- lery regiment.
 The two regiments of artillery will be stationed on the Atlantic coast, where their services will most likely be required The cost of transportation across the continent precludes the en- listment here of men for the new or ganizations."
 General Shafter arrived in the city from the south early in the forenoon and paid a visit to the Notifications. He remarked that he found everything In first-class order as usual.
 Speaking of ammunition, in response to some inquiries on that subject, the general said the guns of the harbor were we'll supplied. He did not know anything about the quantity of reserve ammunition at Benicia arsenal but knew that the batteries at Fort Point and Lime Point were supplied for inn mediate requirement.
 General Shafter is here to remain, and will no doubt keep a watchful eye on the work of strengthening the de- lenses of San Francisco. It is ascer- tained that one of the two ten-inch rifles recently received from the East is already mounted at Fort Point, and the work of mounting the other is going ahead rapidly.
 No sooner had the bill to increase the army by two regiments of artillery passed the House than the wires were kept hot with telegraphic instructions to officers in charge of the sixteen gen eral recruiting stations, and the re- cruiting officers at each military post, to enlist men for the new Sixth and Seventh regiments of artillery. The sixteen general recruiting stations are located at Albany, N Y; Boston,
 
 Cleveland Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind; ; Louisville, Ky; Milwaukee, Wis; Nashville, Tenn; New York city; Philadelphia; Pittsburg. Pa; Portland, Or; Richmond, Va; Seattle, Wash, and St. Louis, Mo. San Francisco was formerly a general recruiting station, but it was abolished a year or so ago, since which time an officer at the Presidio has been detailed at that place as recruiting officer. At the pres- ent time First Lieutenant George A. Detchmendy, Company F, First Infan- try, is the recruiting officer.
 The recruit rendezvous are at Fort Slocum. N. Y; Columbus Barracks, Ohio; Fort Sheridan, H., and Jefferson Barracks Mo.
 Details for officers of the general re- cruitfng service are ordinarily made for two years. The recruits of each rendezvous are instructed by officers and non commissioned officers of the garrison. The applicant must be a cit izen of the United States or have de- clared his intention, unmarried, able to read and write the English language, able bodied, free from disease of good character and temperate habits, and be between the ages of q and 30. Re cruiting officers are held to a rigid ac- countability for the enlistment of men who may be found unfit for the ser vice. During the last two or three years recruiting stations have been obliged to reject the applications of more than 1000 eligible men per month, and there will be no difficulty in read fly procuring a full complement of men for the new Sixth and Seventh regi- ments of artillery. The recruits will be sent to the headquarters of the new regiments at Fort Slocum, N. r., and Fort Monroe, Va.
 The report emanating from Washing ton, D. C., that the United States had secured an option to buy the Japanese cruisers now in course of construction in this country is not verified.
 Irving M. Scott, president of the Union Iron Works and the builder of the imperial Japanese cruiser Chitose asserted yesterday that, so far as his knowledge extended the United States had secured no option from Japan for the purchase of the cruiser. He said: 'In my judgment, there is no truth in the story. Although negotiations for such purpose would be conducted through the Japanese legation in Washington, I am confident that I would be advised of the transaction if 1t were pending. I have not heard directly that any such negotiation was in contemplation. To my mind the whole story lacks the element of proba- bility. The cruiser will probably be ready for delivery to the Japanese Government the latter part of this year Of course, the construction could be hastened, as the Chitose is not an arm ored battle-ship, and no delay in build ing need follow short supply of armor-plate.
 T understand" continued MT. Scott. t'that our Government has not pur- chased a pound of armor- plate for the battle-ships Illinois, Kentucky and Kearsarge. While the price-$40O a ton-has seemed high to the United States, Russia has contracted to pay Carnegie $500 a ton for large quan- tity of armor-plate.
 We have received no orders at the Union Iron Works to hasten the con- struction on the battle ship Wisconsin Every week the naval constructors re- pOrt to the department the DrogreSs