The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01

!
made under the direction of Lieutenant
Rabbit during the past year. Recent
tests demonstrated the ability of the
Santa Cruz people to- meet the require
ments of the Government, hence the
proposed enlargement of the plant to
supply the forthcoming demand. The
Government requires that the powder
for the twelve-inch rifles, the standard
charge being four hundred and fifty
pounds, shall give the one thousand
pound steel projectile an initial velocity
of two thousand feet per second, with
out eXerting an undue pressure on the
gun. The pressure can be accurately
measured in an oil cylinder, which reg
listers the recoil of the gun. Many tests
were made before all the conditions de-
manded We're fulfilled. 1t is said now
that powder has been produced which
will give the desired velocity to the pro-
jectile without eXerting too much pres
sure on the gun. The results attained
are regarded in army circles as highly
important. Hereafter it may not be
necessary for the Pacific Coast defenses
| to- rely on Eastern manufacturers for
supplies of effective powder. The chief
of ordnance in Washington has been
advised of all the experiments made in
San Francisco. In fact, authority for
| the tests came from the chief of the
corps.
Yesterday Lieutenant William S. Nc
Nair, Third Artillery, reported to the
commanding officer at the Preside for
duty in connection with the mounting
of modern guns.
General Shafter. commanding the De-
partment, is at Bakersfield. Lieuten-
ant John D. Miley, Fifth Artillery, aid
on the staff of General Shafter, left the
city for the south last Sunday.
Yesterday Major Robert H. White,
4
pointed to conduct the examination of
candidates for West Point, received a
telegram from Washington directing
that the examination be deferred Can
didates were also advised of the post
ponement hence the board did not
meet at the Preside. 1t is thought
that matters of more pressing import
ance than West Point cadetships are
now engaging the attention of the
army authorities at headquarters at
Washington.
The following army officers called at
military headquarters in this city dur
ing the past week: Second Lieutenant
A. E. Saxton, Eighth Infantry, sta
toned at Fort Meade South Dakota;
First Lieutenant G. E. Dentler Elev-
enth Infantry, on duty at the State
Agricultural College of Oregon. Cor
wallis, Or; Second Lieutenant j. J.
Bradley, Fourteenth Infantry, sta
toned at Vancouver Barracks, Wash,
who will appear before a board of Of
ficers at the Preside for examination
as to his fitness for promotion.
First Lieutenant James Franklin
Bell, Seventh Cavalry, stationed at
Fort Apache, Ariz., and who is well
known in this city, having been on
duty in San Francisco for several
years as aid to General James Forsyth,
has been detailed as acting judge adj
vocate, Department of the Columbia,
with station at Vancouver Barracks,
| Wash The detail carries with it the
pay of captain. Lieutenant Bell en-
| tered West Point in September 1874
and was graduated in June, 1878, but
| on account of the change of the law
! in the promotion of army officers he
| has not received his captaincy, al
| though several cavalry officers who
were graduated from the United States
Military Academy four years after
Lieutenant Bell have already been
promoted to captains.
| Private Hiram A Harris, Company
| B, First Infantry, now at Benicia Bar
! racks, has, upon his own application,
| been transferred to Light Battery F,
| Third Artillery, at the Preside.
BY direction of the Acting Secretary
| of War the following enlisted men have
been ordered discharged from the serv-
| ice of the United States: Private Isaac
| T. Chambers, Hospital Corps, Angel
Island; Private William K Withlow.
Battery L, Third Artillery, Angel ISL
and; Sergeant Charles Leidenberger,
| detachment of ordnance, Benicia Ar
senal; Hospital Steward Christian
| Schmidt opresi6jo