The San Francisco call., 1898-04-10
Infantry at the Presi- diO and Benicia Barracks Ready. Shelter Tents and Full Equipments for Field
 Service Issued. Batteries Will Be Placed at Santa Cruz to Protect the
 Powder Works.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
Work on tho Military Cables Con- necting Angel Island and Alcatraz
 With the Mainland.

The First United States Infantry, stationed at the Presidio, is ready for the front. As announced exclusively in yesterdays Call. orders were re- ceived Friday instructing the com manding officer, Colonel Evan Miles, to have the companies of the regiment hold themselves in readiness to leave at a moments notice. Instant prep arations were made to execute the or der. Shelter tents were drawn and other field camp equipage issued to the soldiers.
 Yesterday morning the companies of the regiment stationed at the Presidio were inspected in heavy marching or der. Every enlisted man was sup piled with the field regulation allow ance of clothing and one tin cup, knife. fork and spoon, constituting the mess furniture of a soldier in the field. Each soldier in line had his overcoat neatly wrapped in one-half of a shelter tent The inspection was thorough. indicat- ing the readiness of the command to move without delay to the front
 The following dispatch shows that orders similar to those issued at the Presidio were given at Benicia Bar racks:
 BENICIA, April 9, 1898.
 Orders have been received at the Benicia Barracks instructing the commanding officer, Colonel Smith, to have the companies of the First Infantry under his command to hold themselves in readiness to leave at a moments notice. Inspection is now being held, and all that are not fit for service will be left out. The sold iers express plenty of enthusiasm over the order.
 Many representatives of the gentler sex, after reading The Call yesterday paid a visit to their friends stationed at the Presidio. The First Infantry has been at this station for many years. and the officers and enlisted men have formed many lasting friendships in the community. The departure of the reg iment for the front will cause many tender expressions of regret, but the soldiers stand ready to go where duty demands.
 Orders for the regiment to march may come tomorrow or may be post poned for days. At the post exchange where the enlisted men assemble to smoke and gossip wagers are laid that the orders to leave will be given before Monday midnight. At the Presidio Club, where the officers of the garri- son loiter occasionally and talk over the news, the opinion finds many sup porters that the recent orders do not si iTnify immediate departure for the front. Some of the officers believe yet that war with Spain will be avoided by Spanish concession.
 The order posted at headquarters last Friday, which directs that officers shall not leave the Presidio without special permission from the command Ing officer, has not been revoked or modified. This signifies that the order 10 march is hourly expected.
 General Shafter commanding the de- partment, will arrive in the city from the south tomorrow morning. First Lieutenant John D. Miley, Fifth Artil- lery. aid and engineer officer on the generals staff, returned from San Di- ego yesterday. The report of the com manding officers inspection of the San Diego Notifications will be forwarded at once to headquarters of the army in Washington.
 It is known that the defenseless con- iition of several of the cities of the Pa rifle coast has engaged the attention of General Shafter. It is surmised that a Spanish cruiser or privateer might