The San Francisco call., 1898-04-16
WAITING FOR 4 CALL TO ARMS Guardsnen Preparing to Promptly Report for
 Active Duty. The First Infantry May Not Be the One to Go to the
 PreSidio. General Barrett Expects a Call by Monday-W arfield Says His
 Men Are Ready.

coLue Where will We go?
 There is more speculation over those three questions among the rank and file of the National Guard just now than over anything that has happened since '61. It seems to be an accepted proposition that there will be war, and the only doubtful part of it is, When will the order come?"
 None, even the highest officers, seem to know just what the Government will do; It is only known that the guard mas been ordered to be in readiness, but Tor what and for when no one can fathom. The men of the guard are no longer play soldiers, even in the eyes of those who loved the term; they are drilling conscientiously and with a view to immediate preparation for action, and when the call comes full ranks and well-equipped companies will be on hand at once.
 It is the general impression that the nrst militia organization to take up arms in this 5tate will be the naval reserves. It was reported at the drill on board the Marion last night that ....s New York reserves had already been ordered out and the expectation that the California organization will follow almost immediately is gaining in strength. The California reserves, when recruited up to the full number, can put 75O men on board the Government vessels, many of them well trained and all properly equipped for service at sea or service on shore. It Is one of the largest and finest organizations of it's Kind in this country, and the enthu- siasm of its ranks is shown by the let ters that come in from all over the coast from ex-memberS, asking to be taken back under any circumstances as soon as war shall be declared.
 The suspicion is growing that it will not be the First Infantry of this city which will be ordered to the Presidio The going of the First United States Infantry will necessitate the garrison ing of the Presidio with some National Guard Regiment, and indications now point to the fact that it will be the Fifth Infantry The Fifth is regiment of eight companies and includes com panies in towns and counties about the bay and outside of San Francisco, Col onel Fairbanks, its commander, is senior colonel of the Second Brigade and as such he is entitled to first call for service. Even if this were not the case, however, it is probable that the orders would be the same, as there is theory, yearly growing stronger. that militia is of greater use in proportion to the distance it is taken from home
 Should the Fifth and not the First go to the Presidio, there is plenty of work left for the regiment remaining. It will be assigned to duty at the Santa Cruz powder works, which just now is thing to be taken care of, and there is also the arsenal at Benicia which must be garrisoned strongly, for the companies of regulars which have been there will be moved out by Monday and there must be some troops to take and hold the place.
 Word has also come from Marysville that some one has definite and relia- ble information that the Second Infan- try, located in Chico, Colusa, Nevada City, Marysville, Bedding, Woodland Grass Valley and Sacramento, had been notified to expect call for service as coast guards or as reserve force within three days. This is no more than the local regiment has learned however, and the other regiments may hear the same thing before the three days are up.
 Adjutant- General Barrett arrived in this city from Sacramento last evening, and is registered at the California. To Call reporter, General Barrett admit ted that while the object of his visit was to attend to personal business, he expected to have conference with General Shafter this morning in regard to the summoning of the National Guard for active service.
 Up to the time I left Sacramento, said General Barrett, mo orders had been received calling on the State troops, and I do not look for any before Monday, but they may come at any moment
 If they do they will be responded to immediately by the entire National Guard. including the naval battalion, for orders were issued several days ago to all the commands to hold themselves in readiness and the members will ans wer the first call in short order.
 If any call came from Washington it would be sent to the Governor who would immediately transmit it to my office, but nothing of the kind had been received up to o'clock to-day"
 General Barrett had not heard any thing about the troops at the Presidio having received marching orders, but said that even if they were ordered East at once, the probabilities are that the State troops would not be called upon until Congress had taken definite action, and he did not see how that could be done much before Monday.
 If anybody has a doubt that the American people are terribly In earn est in this matter" said General Bar
 
 the hundreds of tenders of services that are received daily from all classes of people. Only yesterday man about 3S years old, graduate of West Point came to Sacramento from Woodland and offered himself for enlistment in the event of war. He said he was ready to serve in any capacity from carrying musket up. His father was brig adler general in the regular service This is only a specimen of the men who are daily seeking to enlist
 General Warfield felt last night as If war must come. He said he was sim- ply awaiting orders, and that the feel ing of the militiamen was that they were ready to obey orders and would be glad to serve the ccountry when it calls.
 Speaking of equipments and general chances to get ready to go on short mo- tice, he said ''So far as I understand the situation, we could have the maxi mum number of men ready to go, under emergency orders, in from twenty four to thirty-six hours. We are lit tie short on some minor equipments, but that matter would soon be supplied by the United States. AS soon as we report to the regular army quartermas- ter he would be able to supply at least 15,00O men with all they need. I have not yet received any orders from head