The record-union., 1898-05-17
General Merriam Assumes Charge
of the Arrangements.
Calls Upon Adjutant- General Barrett for
Uniforms Belonging 10 the State.
Vessels Chartered to Transport
Men and Supplies to Manila Not
Yet Ready to Receive Either
Expected That They Will Sail
Some Time This Week.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16.-Major-
General Merriam commanding the De-
partments of California and of the Co
lumbia, arrived from Vancouver Bar
racks this morning, accompanied by his
Aide, Lieutenant Bennett. He at once
assumed charge of all arrangements
for dispatching the troops for the Phil
ippine Islands.
One of the first matters taken up by
Major Merriam was the supplying OF
clothing and equipment TO the troops
lacking such necessaries. He at once
called upon Acknowledgement Barrett
for 5S4 uniforms and other serviceable
articles belonging to the State of Cali
fOrnia, and these will be delivered to
Major Rice.
General Otis, who will be second to
General Merritt in command of the Ma
Mia troops, is expected to arrive here
tonight.
The vessels chartered to transport
supplies and men to Manila are not yet
ready to receive either. Work on the
| City of Peking is being rushed but she
will not be ready for sea for several
days A large force of men are at work
on the Australia, but it will take several
days to fit her for the reception of I'm
| Gle Sans men. 1t is expected that she
will be ready to sail by Friday. There
| is very little work being done on the
| City of Sydney, and it win take at
| least a week to fit her for the expedi-
ton to the Orient.
| The naval authorities informed the
charterers of the steamer Ohio to-day
that the Government would have no
need for the steamer. 1t was given
out several days ago by the authori-
| ties that both the COnnemaugh and the
| Ohio would enter the service of the
Government as transports, but both
vessels have been released, and have
sailed for the north where they will
enter the Klondike trade
| The Charleston is still at Mare ISL
and, but everything is in readiness for
her departure. and she will sail some
| time tomorrow or Wednesday. She
will probably anchor in this harbor
tomorrow, and proceed on her jour
ney Wednesday or Thursday.
The training ship Mohican which is
at anchor in the bay, is being painted
dull gray color, similar to that of
| the Monterey and other United States
vessels now in port. The rapid-fire
guns of the Mohican have been trans
| ferred to the Charleston and City Of
/ Peking.
| Captain Long, L. S. A, Assistant
| Quartermaster of the Department, said
this evening that the arrangements for
the departure of the troops We're being
made as fast as possible He could give
no information as to the date of sailing,
but thought the transports would get
away this week. He said the City of
Peking, the City of Sydney and the
Australia would be dispatched with
troops as near together as possible. The
First Regiment of California Volun-
teers and four companies of the Four
teenth Infantry, L. S. A, will comprise
the troops to go on the City of Pe6ing.
There will be l 400 of them. Captain
Long says the first troopship would get
away before four days at least
Orders have been received by Colonel
Smith to add a signal corps to The reg
iment for service at Manila, and to that
end forty men are now being organized
for this work.
Major Long, u. S. A, Quartermaster
| of the Department of California, said
tonight: AT least 10000 workingmen
| and women in San Francisco are to-
day occupied on Government contracts.
!
tical in color with the ordinary fatigue
uniforms, but lighter in weight. We
have also ordered 1900 canvas uni
| forms for wear in Manila, all 70 be de-
livered in a few days"
| Tonight the ordnance department of
the First Infantry received 100000
rounds of ammunition. There are now
| 100000 rounds at the camp.
| TjplItnnant Da1aroOra ra-
cruiting officer of the Third Artillery,
| L. S. A, has already enlisted 600 of the
| 500 recruits wanted for that regiment.
The Red Cross Society to-day re-
ceived over 81 600 besides donations of
| goods of all descriptions. Numerous
| telegrams We're received from interior
towns requesting the society tn look
after volunteers who are now at the
! Preside. II was reported to-day that
| there are 80 cases of illness among the
soldiers now under arms and that each
case was directly traceable to lack Of
| ordinary comforts. In most all cases
| the illness was in the form of cold
GOOD THINGS FOR THE SIXTH.
STOCKTON, May l6.-A movement
has been started here to provide the
Sixth Regiment with substantial things
which the men may reed. but which are
not allowed by the Government. Among
the articles which it is expected will
be wanted are tobacco, towels, soap.
fruit, butter, socks and underwear
a committee of citizens is at the back
of the movement. This evening Ser
geant J. c. Kreider of Company left
by boat for San Francisco, bearing with
| him an oral communication to Colonel
Johnson in relation to the matter.
| The proposition is to raise money in
every town which has furnished COM
panies for the Sixth. The cities are
Stockton, Modesto, Merced Visalia and
Bakersfield Contributions will be Sc
cured Immediately
| PRIVATE WALSH Welded.
| SAN FRANCISCO, May 16.-Private
VIM. c. Walsh and Miss Lizzie Greg
gays were married this afternoon in the
/ Preside Chapel. Private Walsh belongs
to Company G, First Infantry. and he
procured a license to-day, but at the
/ last moment learned that he could not
leave camp under present strict orders.
He appealed to Colonel Smith. who
suggested that the ceremony be per-
| formed as above stated
GENERAL MERRITT.