The San Francisco call., 1898-05-17

important orders relating to the
 detail of troops for the Manila ex-
 petition have been prepared by
 Major-General Merriam, but he has
 decided that they ought not to be
 made public before General Otis,
 U. $. A., is seen and consulted. When
 the two leaders confer and exchange
 views some changes may be suggest
 ed. It is believed that the Four
 teenth United States Infantry, four
 troops of the Fourth United States
 Cavalry and two regiments of Cali
 fornia Volunteer Infantry will be
 embraced in the troops of the First
 A4vision of the Manila Army Corps.
 Several batteries of the Third United
 States Artillery may go with the
 first column for the Philippines.
 General Merriam expected to meet
 General Otis last night, but the lat
 ter had not arrived ar late hour.
 General H. c. Merriam, commanding
 the departments of California and the
 Columbia, arrived from Vancouver Bar
 racks yesterday morning. He was ac-
 cOmpanied by First Lieutenant John B. Bennett, Seventh United States Infan-
 try. aid and engineer officer. The arrival
 of the commanding general is timely, as
 it was very clear to the common ci-
 william mind that the presence of some
 one in unquestioned authority was
 needed in San Francisco. It is non-
 sense to say that everything has been
 going along with the precision of clock
 Tn 1of faH it11
 machine there is bound to be a slip
 now and then, but there have been a
 good many slips since the troops were
 ordered to this station. It is common
 talk among army officers that Major
 General Miles or Secretary Alger, in
 preparing for the Manila expedition
 simply instructed an officer at this sta
 tion to engage transportation for Ma
 nila. It was not explained whether the transportation was designed for use
 at Manila or to carry troops and sup plies thither. There was no limit to the volume or no designation of the kind of transportation required. Under the order the officer might have en- gagged transportation for one hundred men or twenty thousand.
 Word comes from the East that the Government is buying mules in Balti- more for the Department of California. The mules can be bought here for about the cost of shipping them across the continent.
 Great delight is expressed in naval and military circles over the news from Washington that President Mckinley has abolished the Board of Strategy and relieved Schiey and Sampson from irritating and confusing instructions. Now if the right kind of soldier could be placed at the head of the army the work of organizing and equipping the troops would go forward with military precision. A vast number of people fancy that either Alger or Miles should be abolished and quite good many entertain the opinion that the country could spare both for a prolonged vaca- 1 tion or until the termination of hostill- l ties The war may not develop a i Grant, a Sherman or Sheridan in the | first campaign, but the right man will | no doubt come forward at the proper | time.
 The troops encamped at the Presidio will read the following announcement with satisfaction:
 [ San Francisco, May 16, 1898. q ; Lieutenant J. E. Nolan, . ] Fourth United States Cavalry, . ! Post Commissary Officer, Presi- 2 o dio-Dear Sir: Believing that Q | canned salmon would prove Q o welcome addition to the army Q | rations, we take the liberty of o < sending you 48OO cans of King 2 < salmon, which you will please ~ < distribute among the troops at <, ~ xyo711, noSf V z, Messrs. Gray Bros. of this 1 < city have kindly agreed for the x < transportation of the goods to ,.< < your commissary store. Yours 1-[ ! truly, q < Alaska Packers Association, u < HENRY F. FoRTMANN. q < President. q
 MT. Fortmann's patriotic generosity will surely be appreciated by. all the -egular and volunteer soldiers on the Presidio reservation. The prodigality 1f the offering insures supply for every enlisted man and .compissioned officer of the entire command. In this oanouet of salmon the three arms of he service-artillery, infantry and cav alry-are the welcome guests of Henry Fortmann, whose example should speak to other leaQlnS cltlZenS or san Francisco.
 The hope is expressed that some iteps will be taken by the people of San Francisco to give the Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and Dakota troops a good, Iot substantial meal on their arrival n this town after a fatiguing journey v rail across the mountains and des- rt The officers of the army who ught to be advised as to the number f men coming and the time of their i rrival had not up to last night been O advised. It is probable that the { egiments on leaving their respective oints of rendezvous inform the author ties in Washington of their departure, 7 ut there does not seem to be sufficient f or system in Washington , 0 impart such information to the mili- z ary authorities here. The troops would be properly cared for on their rrival in San Francisco if Governor | Judd, Mayor Phelan or the Red Cross ! ociety were informed concerning the , lovement of trains carrying the regi- rents. i So far as The Call can now judge g .Or,1 oaOfiafiup rppOrfs tha Vyx,o,,,gno- | r