The San Francisco call., 1898-03-13
Departments of the Gulf and of the Lakes
 Form ed.
Those of Missouri and Texas Abolished by Algers
 Orders.
Con,r,anders Instructed to Reach Their Headquarters Within
 Three Days.
Special Dispatch to The cau.
Call oh1ce. Riggs House,

Washington, MdICH Ia
 The War Department to-day promul- gated it's order creating the Depsrt- ments of the Gulf and of the Lakes and abolishing the Departments or the Missouri and of Texas. The Depart ment of the East will embody the States on the Atlantic Coast, including North Carolina. The Department or the Lakes will include Wisconsin, Mich igan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, with headquarters at Chicago. The Department of the Gulf will comprise South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi- ana and Texas, with headquarters at Atlanta.
 General Brooke will command the Department of the Lakes, and Briga- dier General Graham the Department of the Gulf.
 The Western States included in the Department of the Dakota have been transferred to the Department of the Platte. while, to maintain the present proportions of this department, the northern sections have been thrown into the Department of the Dakota. NO changes have been made in the De- partment of the Columbia, the Depart ment of California or the Department of the Colorado.
 SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 12.- The official order of the Secretary of War creating a military department of the South and aboliShing the head quarters of the Department of Texas here, was received this morning py Brigadier-General William MontroSe Graham, who, by virtue of the order, becomes commander of the new depart ment, with headquarters at Atlanta, Ga. The order created a great stir. It is the general opinion in military circles that the change will be perma- nent. General Graham said to-day:
 This change was spoken Of during General Bliss time as commander of the department. While do not under take to give a reason for the change I am inclined to believe it is merely redistribution of the territory of the department. The Department of the Atlantic formerly covered the vast area from Maine to Louisiana. The Cuff States have now been merged with the Department of Texas into the new de- partment just created.
 'The change will have no bearing on this post. Department headquarters and garrison are two different matters. Fort Sam Houston had no more rela- tion to headquarters than did Fort Bliss or any other post. Fort Sam Houston will be the same as it ever was, only the staff officers and clerks are leaving. This post will still be in my department. and I shall visit 1t as I do other posts on the customary tours of inspection
 General Graham said that there had been no orders issued involving move ments of garrisons in this State. The Light Battery has settled down to an- nual target practice near Kerrville, and the cavalry is now in the midst Of its regular pistol practice at the range near Salida. The new order of things ere ates great enthusiasm at Fort Sam Houston, and while the officers gener- ally speak guardedly concerning 1t the profound sensation which the news ere ated tells plainly what every man reads in the instructions. General Graham and his staff will leave on Monday night for Atlanta. The orders gave but three days in which to pack up.
 It is pointed out that things could scarcely be put through in quicker time if hostilities had actually begun. The creation of the new deparvment and the departure of the commander and the chief quartermaster within three days are somewhat of a record breaker in army movements in times of