The San Francisco call., 1898-05-26
Declares His Criticism of the War Depart
 nent Was True.
During a Sham Battle at Chick amau9a the Fight Be-
 comes Too Real.

OGDEN, Utah, May 25.-General Wesley Merritt, the new Governor Gen eral of the Philippine Islands, arrived in Ogden at noon to-day. He was sleeping when the train arrived. but was met by a large crowd of enthusi- astic people, among whom were Gov ernor Wells, his staff and all the State officers. His conversation was not of a very happy nature, and he seemed i'll at ease with himself and at outs with the whole world, including the admins traitor. Since his denial of an in terview recently published in a New York paper in which he was re- ported tc have criticized the War De- partment and refused to go to the Phil ippfnes the general has lodged news paper reporters, but to-day he seemed to feel that they were his friends. Dur ing a conversation with a newspaper representative the general said in ref erence to his proposed Philippine inva- si that 'the President gave me to understand that l was to use no undue haste, to take my time; this war-mak- ing is a slow and tedious business"
 "Then you don't know when you Will leave for the frort?"
 No, sir.
 "Will it be two weeks?"
 Maybe longer, do not know.
 The general stated that he had been called away from Chicago day sooner than he expected and would rush through. To a question about the war he said: 1T don't want to talk about it; don't suit me"
 He said he knew nothing about the Philippines or Cuba "They told me in Washington that 1t was no 2n1t, nor'et + iti ,e Manila than there, and l Know IL IS no more disagreeable, he said, ap- parently referring to his relations to the War Department.
 Finally the reporter asked him about the interview which was published ana in which he criticized harshly the work of the administration and the war Department. He admitted that the m terVieW was correct, but denied thdt he had been interviewed. Ills most concise statement was: The interview was not with me. A gentleman with whom I had a private conversation was interviewed and he talked more than he ought to.
 The train was then started on it's way to San Francisco and General Merritt went on to his labors as Governor General of the Philippines.
 HELENA, Mont, May 25.-The First Regiment, Montana Volunteers, 1030 rnen under command Of Colonel kess- Ter. left for San Francisco this morn ing at 8 o'clock. Despite the early hour
  many school children, cheered the sol diers heartily as the trains pulled out At Silver Bow Junction the trains were transferred to the Oregon Short Line to Ogden, from there to San Fran cieco With four troops of cavalry now on the way to Chickamauga, Montana furnished 400 volunteers. Her proportion under the call was 524.
 AMAUGA RATIONALE PARK, Nav 95 The sham battle at Chicka- mauga Park this morning. in which three brigades of General Wilson's hrst army corps participated, was one of the most thrilling military spectacles Ina. that has been witnessed since the CIVIL War. -sTter seven hours of almost continuous Ehneuvering, in which was exempl- ffed almost every phase of military tao tics, General A. s. Burt, cornnandlhg the Second and Third Brigades, which were pitted against him.
 At 4 o'clock this morning the call to