The San Francisco call., 1898-06-08
His Ships Have SileDced All Qualifications ct
 Santiago.
TWepty-Eigbt ThousoDd American Troops to Sail for the Cuban
 Port To-Day.

unload the heavy artillery and a day or two more to scale the high hills around the town, but by the middle of next week Santiago will be in our posses sion.
 The remaining cable will be seized and operated by our troops. It is be- lleved the prospect of early occupation of Santiago accounts for the failure of vessels to complete the cable cutting, for, with the remaining cable in their hands, our naval and military forces in Cuba will be able to communicate with Washington, while Blanco will be as efectually cut off from Madrid as if the cable were cut
 The troops destined for Porto Rico are not yet ready to depart, and 1t is impossible to say when they will be fully equipped. Every effort is being put forward to hasten the work of se- curing supplies, but there Is inevitable delay and confusion. notwithstanding all that the contractors can do. In course of time, however, Porto Rico will be taken and Santiago will be in American possession, probably, before San Juan Is again bombarded
 The War Department has determined that Governors of States shall not ap- point officers to regiments or compa- nies until the maximum numerical strength of those commands had been attained ln the respective States. This policy was urgently recommended by Assistant Secretary Meilllejohn weeks ago. Ii 1t had been followed there would have been much less confusion and none of the controversies which marked the organization of the service under the first call for troops. Politi- cal influence was constantly exerted in favor of the acceptance of commands of minimum strength, with the result that while an army of I25ynoo was raised it was in such way that the three bat talion formation IS imnossible and the list of commissioned line and staff off cers Is out of all proportion to the en- listed force
 As a result of this 1t will take 42,ooo men of the second call to brino the regi- ments and companies already Tn the vol unteer service Up to their requisite strength, leaving force of 3.3,ooo which will be organized strictly in accordance with the rules which apply to the three battalion formation.
 The officials will profit by the ex- perience of the past two months and will raise regiments and companies and then call for the commissioning of off, cers by the Government.
 The troops at Fort Idyer and Wash ington barracks are jubiant over the an- nouncement that they will be sent to the Philippines.
 Orders have been issued directing Light Battery D, Sixth Artillery, Cap tain Alex B. Dyer, which Is stationed at the barracks at the arsenal, and Light Battery c, Sixth Artillery, Captain Vic tor H. Bridgman, stationed at Fore Myer, to proceed to San Francisco im- mediately and report to General Mess ritt They will leave as soon as trans- portation has been arranged.
 Both batteries are in excellent shape and are expected to prove valuable addition to the force to be led by Gen eral Merritt The Philippine expedi- tions are being strengthened wherever possible by the addition of trained and experienced regulars. In this it IS evil dent that General Merritt's demand for regulars rather than volunteers has been complied with by the department:
 In addition to the regular artillery men ordered from this city, 1t is stated at the War Department goo regulars have been sent from Fort McPherson for the purpose of filing out the ranks of the regular regiments already at San Francisco.