The San Francisco call., 1898-03-25
Supply From the East Be- ing Hauled to Presidio
 and Lime Point.
High Power PrOjectiles That Will Be Used to Defend
 This HaPbOr.
At the Military Post There Is Great Activity and Many Apply
 for Enlistment

The large supply of ammunition for the high-power guns which was re- gently shipped from Eastern arSenalS by special train for San Francisco ar rived yesterday The greatest activity was at once manifested by the ord- nance department to transfer the am munition from the freight yards of the Southern Pacific to the magazines of the Presidio and Lime Point before the public was appraised of the arrival of additional war munitions.
 The contract for transferring the projectileS from the cars to the maga- zines was awarded to Morton & Co. A force of drays was put on yesterday, and will be doubled to-day in order to hasten the transfer.
 It was we'll known to General Shaf- ter and the officers of the Ordnance Bureau that there was great deh- ciency in projectiles for the10and 12inch breech loading rifles. On proper repre- sentation of the facts to General Flag Ter, Chief of Ordnance, Washington, ID. C., train load of projectiles was dls- patched without delay across the con- tinent.
 A short time ago a large quantity or powder was brought from Benlcia Ar senal and placed in the magazines Of the Presidio and Fort Baker The pow der was delivered at the PreSldlo WharI from a schooner chartered TOT the pur- pose of bringing 1t to the reservation, and therefore it did not pass through the city in violation of the municipal ordinance.
 The shells which are being conveyed from the freight yards to the maga- zines by Morton & Co.'S drays are not charged, but will be filled with expio- sives when their use is required: The bulk of the shipment consists or steer projectileS, the heaviest WelshihS oiio thousand pounds each.
 The first installment or the new high-power ammunition was TecelVeo yesterday by Lieutenant w. 5. McISalr, the newly appointed ordnance ofhcer or the Presidio and Fort Baker. lie as sumed the duties of the position yeSler- day according to direction given py General Shafter, commanding the de- partment.
 The new twelve-inch rifle and the disanpearing carriage of prodiglous weight on which 1t is to be mounted may arrive to-day. The ordnance olll- cers of this department have been au- vised of the shipment and are on the lookout for the gun. No time will be wasted in putting the new rifle in po- sition. The emplacement is ready, haV- ing been finished by the engineers seV- eraI days ago. When this gun Is put in it's proper place on the extreme right of the twelve-inch battery there will be high-power ordnaTFe pf this de- scription in position Tor aeeenoihe lhe harbor:
 At Fort Point-Five twelve-inch breech-loading rifles on barbette car riages; five ten-inch breech-ioadlng rifles on disappearing carriages; one twelve-inch rifle on disappearing car riage; sixteen twelve-inch rified mor- tars and three dynamite guns
 At Lime Point or Fort Baker-Tnree twelve-inch breech-loading rifles on barbette carriages.
 The Presidio is now in fighting trim. Ample supplies of brown prfsmatlc powder for the high-power guns can be obtained on short notice from powder plants on this coast. There is no longer a deficiency in the supply of projectiles. The force of artillerymen at the guns can be increased According to Gen. eral Shafter's estimate the regular bat teries are able to keep the guns In read mess for immediate use. In the event of hostile engagement volunteers would be called into service to re-enforce the regulars. It is calculated that veter- ans of the civil war and troops of the National Guard could be utilized.
 There is considerable activity in en- listments at the Presidio recruiting office, and many applications are made to join the newly created regiments of artillery. The Government does not authorize transportation for recruits from this station to New York or Balti- more, but when a good artilleryman comes along with a request to re-enter the service an effort is made to accom- modate him.
 The distribution of the various arms of the service under the encouragement of the geographical limits of the mili- tary departments is as follows: