The San Francisco call., 1898-04-15


 Just prior to this date Lieutenant
 Wilcox returned from a years course of instruction at the United States En-
 gineer School at WilletS Point, N. Y.,
 where his ability in connection with
 torpedoes for harbor defense and ex- perimentS with the same was recog- nized by his superior officers. His pres ent assignment under Captain Casey. who is in charge of the defensive works at Hampton Roads, Va, is well-de- served detail for this young energetic officer.
 Lieutenant Wilcox bade good-by to his friends at the Presidio and the Bo- hemian Club yesterday and got aboard the Central overland train for the East last evening. He wasted no time in making his preparations to go to the front. MT. Wilcox is familiar with the system of submarine defense of San Francisco harbor and his departure at
 this time is a source of regret to the engineer officers of the Pacific Division,
 who are charged with the duty of planting torpedoes in the channel. The work Is well advanced, however. and should emergency require the immedi- skilled as electricians, may be en- ployed to assist the engineers.
 General Shafter, accompanied by Lieutenant Miley, Fifth Artillery, aid and Engineer officer, went to Benicia on the Government steamer General Mcdowell yesterday and inspected Ma jor Smiths battalion of the First h. fantry, stationed at Benicia Barracks. The inspection was thorough as to the troops. the equipment, clothing and transportation outfit. The general found that the battalion was ready to take the field for active service with out minutes delay. The troops re- garded the visit of the department commander as an indication that marching orders would soon be given.
 There was a red glow in the sky over the Presidio last night. Observation brought out the fact that it was caused by massing artillery colors at mess dinner of the Presidio Club. Lieutenant Colonel Wallace F. Ran dolph, Third Artillery, who was re- gently promoted and assigned to duty at this station, was the chief guest at the dinner last night.
 There is such scarcity of water at the PreSidio Reservation that the com manding officer has ordered that all the garden hose in the hands of officers and organizations be turned over to the QuartermaSters department. The watering hereafter will be done under the direction of the head gardener.
 The commander of the post has is- sued an order directing that men of the infantry and cavalry on signal drill shall not be given passes except on Sat urdays and Sundays.
 There was considerable talk among the enlisted men at the post exchange yesterday concerning assertions from the garrison. Private William Vine yord, Company G, First Infantry, is re- ported to have deserted on the 18th. An artilleryman of Captain Danes bat tery is missing, but it is conjectured that he did not desert. He left his pa- pers, months pay and some allow ances. Officers commenting on his ab- sence hold to the theory that he has been "shanghaied" or made away with in some other manner against his will.
 Investigation of the rumor that de- sertions have been frequent of late does not verify the assertion that the num- Der thus leaving the service is unusual. Desertions occur at every large garr1- son like the Presidio. Many soldiers have been carried away by the glitter ing stories of wealth acquired in the Klondike country. Many good soldiers whose terms of enlistment recently ex- pired and who were expected to re- enlist have disappointed their com officers by preferring to take a trip to Alaska before rejoining the service.
 A soldier of the First Infantry com menting on the recent assertions said: This shows that few of the men are getting cold feet and do not want to go to the front. It is better that they should go now than later on. Every regiment has a few men of this kind, but the percentage of such is very small in the First Infantry"
 Captain Starr of the First Infantry yesterday that the percentage of assertions had not increased since the war talk began. Considering the number of troops stationed at the Pre- sidio he regarded the assertions slight |
 Colonel Miles, the commanding off, cer, holds to the idea that the few men who have deserted recently have been l the Klondike.
 The assignment of officers In the new Sixth and Seventh Regiments of Artil- lery have been made as follows:
 Sixth Regiment-Colonel Edward B. Willis toR hsutsaant c9ons M as EraRk is G smith,
 Captains = Alexander B. Dyer. John T. William B. Homer, Albert Todd, Adam Slake | Henry H. Ludlow, Charles B. Satterlee, | Sharies Char w; Foster' Victor Il. Bridgman, Clar-
 First lieutenants-Edward A. Milar. Thomas Samuel D. sturgis. Harry L. Hawthorne Ar thur F. Curtis, John K. Cree, Charles T. Men Oner, dC1uLant, GuSLdNe w. S stevens, Edgar | Russell, Charles D. Palmer William C. Davis, | Daniel w. Ketcham.
 Second lieutenants Mervyn c. Buckley, | Earle d'A. Pearce, Benjamin M. Koehler, | Hugh LaF. Applewhite, Harry G. Bishop. Fred | A. Pearce, Sam F. Bottoms. Harold E. Cloke. |
 Seventh Regment-Colonel, William Sinclair; | Lieutenant Colonel. Joseph G. Ramsay
 Majors-Charles Morris. George G. Green ough, John P. Story.
 Captains-John A. Lundeen. Montgomery M. Macomb, John P. Wisser, Henry R. Lemly, | George F. F. Harrison. John R. Williams George L. Anderson, Edward T. Brown, James | C. Bush, William A. Simpson, William K. | Hamilton, John V. White
 First lieutenants-Henry c. Davis, John W. | Wiloughby Wake. Isaac N. Lewis. | Elisha S. Benton. Cornelius Dew. Wilcox l John D. Barrette, Elmer w. Hubbard Lucian | G. Berry, T. Bentley Mott, Henry T. Todd | Jr., Clint C. Hearn, Frank G. Maudn, Will | liam J. Snow
 Second lieutenants-Frederick E. Johnston. Arthur s. Conklin, James F. Brady, Roderick | l.. Carmichael. Andrew Moses, Thomas Q. | Ashburn, Willard D. Newbill.
 Captain George E. Sage, Sixth United | States Artillery, who recently received | orders to proceed to Fort McHenry, great send off from his | friends at the Bohemian Club. A part Ing dinner was given to the captain in | the red room. A miniature fort con- structed of salt bags was a feature of | the round table decoration. The fort | was equipped with miniature artillery |