The San Francisco call., 1898-06-06
AT MP MERRITT.
Still Speculatinq on the Date of Departure of the Second
 Philippine EXpeditiOn.

Despite the order issued from division headquarters by General Otis to the various commands comprising the second expedition to Manila to be ready to sail by tomorrow, 1t is apparent from all that can be learned that no troops will leave San Francisco before the last of this week, if then. The ships that will carry the soldiers have been determined upon. They are the Zealandia, China and Colon. The Tenth Pennsylvania and one-half of Battery B will go the first-named yes sel, the two battalions from the Twenty third and Eighteenth Infantry on the Colon and the First Colorado and Utah Light Battery on the China
 The latest news in Camp Merritt was given out yesterday afternoon, and from reliable authority it is learned that Gen eral Otis will be in charge of the second expedition, and that he and his staff will sail on the China. Sunday seems to be the generally accepted date set for the departure of the troops. It is reliably reported that Brigadier-General Marcus P. Miller will assume charge of Camp Merritt when General Otis leaves.
 General Miller established his head quarters at Camp Merritt yesterday and took command of the First Brigade, re- Neving Colonel Overshine, who mas been in temporary command General Millers staff consists of Captain Putnam Bradlee 0lTOnSt dSSlStdnI duJGlanI-B6nGrdl, Lieu tenant Charles c. woodward and Lieu tenant Morris K. Barrall, both of the Third Artillery, aids
 Lieutenant Franklin of the Twenty third Infantry has been appointed com missary for the troopship Colon and Lieu tenant Grote of the Eighteenth for the China
 Yesterday was an exceedingly quiet day in camp and only a few routine orders were issued from headquarters. Com paratively few people were out to see ha coll md hnd tO {v,oIt at- attentions to the volunteer organizations, as no visitors were allowed in the camp of the regulars.
 Private Willis Jackson, Company L., Eighteenth Infantry, died at o'clock yesterday morning of appendicitis. He was given a military funeral at 4 o'clock, Cemetery at the Presidio. The two bat talions of the Eighteenth, with the band playing a dirgee,, escorted the body were observed at the grave. The firing squad paid homage to the dead soldier and the bugler sounded taps. Jackson had been In the service for two years.
 In addition to the Thirteenth Minnesota the two battalions of the Idaho troops will be inspected by Colonel Hughes and Captain Mallory some time this after
 The First Nebraska was inspected in heavy marching order yesterday morn
 By order of Postmaster Montague a branch postoffice for the benefit of Camp Merritt will be opened to-day at the cor ner of Fourth avenue and C street.
 Colonel Jones' of the Idaho troops, yes terday furnished his band of twenty-two men with the instruments that were pur- chased with the appropriation made by the State for that purpose.
 With the exception of the regulars, the Idaho battalion and Twentieth Kansas, services were held in all the commands at Camp Merritt yesterday. The Cath olic Truth Society's large tent was crowd ed at all three services. At 7:30 o'clock many soldiers from the various regiments attended low mass. It was read by Father O'Ryan, and communion was also administered. At II o'clock Father Yorke preached upon "The Value of Souls" The tent was crowded and Q masterly dis course was delivered by Yorke His line of thought, developed on the valuation of human souls was tEat Christ died for men, and that every soul must be meas ured by our Saviors love. He told the soldiers that they were going to war, where mems bodies were to be used for the single purpose of stopping bullets, but he declared that the soul could never perish, and that it was the duty of every man to be ready when the summons came to redeem their souls.
 In the Seventh California, Chaplain Clarke preached from the text, Second Peter, If, IS, "Grow in Grace"
 His line of thought was based upon the