The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

TIME following order-short, concise
and apparently fraught with I'M
welcome northumberland a
wailing and gnashing of teeth
at Camp Merritt yesterday after
noon in the ranks of the troops which,
UP to that hour, had confidently ex-
pected TO sail in the next few days for
Manila:
Headquarters Independent Division,
Eighth Army Corps, Camp Mer-
rift, San Francisco, Cal, July 10,
1898.
Special Orders No. 6.
6. Special orders issued from
these headquarters July 10, 1898, di-
recting the preparation in packing of
all goods and effects for transfer to
steamer Pennsylvania and Rio de ia
nerio, are hereby revoked.
By command of Brigadier General
Miller. S. w. BELFoRD,
Assistant Adjutant General, q. S.
Volunteers.
The orders revoked in so few words
were issued on Friday by Brigadier
General Miller They directed the COM
manding officers of the different troops
already announced to sail to immedi-
ately place their camp equipment
aboard ship.
The revoking order was accompanied
by no explanation. To the, officers to
whom 1t was directed it meant only one
thing-the fifth expedition was off;
peace had been declared or something
of equal Importance had transpired to
render more troops not necessary.
Speculation Of the widest sort was rife.
They were looking to the wrong quar-
ter for reasons, however, and as it
transpires were exaggerating the i'm
port of the order. 1t was San Fran
cisco, not Washington, from which the
order emanated. 1t was not prema-
ture 0eace, it was simply Major General
Merriam insisting upon exercising the
prerogatives Of his rank.
And thereby hangs a tale of no small
interest.
When Major General Otis set sail for
the uncertain front he left specific in
Structions with Brig9dier General Mil
Ter in regard to moving the next eXpedi-
ton He instructed his successor in
command to issue orders to have the
troops ready to sail as soon as practi-
cable. Pursuant to these instructions
from his chief Brigadier General Miller
on Friday caused to be issued the or
ders before mentioned. General Miller
understood that he was to occupy the
same relative position to General Mer-
riam as that held by Major General
ntic tO Mo iOr- CaDar-al Merritt
He was disabused of this idea just
as soon as his orders caught the eye of
General Merriam.
The general demanded an eXplana-
ton and it was given along the lines
stated above. 1t was not satisfactory,
and General Miller was pointedly told
that thereafter all orders would issue
from General Merriams Headquarters,
or by his orders, and he was further
ordered to revoke all orders issued yes
terday and to reissue them from the
new fountain head of authority.
In consequence General Miller's or
der ~as revoked and in it's place the
following addressed to the commanding
officer of the First Montana and First
California recruits was issued:
Headquarters Independent Division,
Eighth Army Corps, Camp Mer-
rift, San Francisco, Cal, July 16,
1898.
Special Orders No. 6.
9. Pursuant to instructions from
major general commanding the De-
partment of California, the COM
manding officer First Montana
United States Volunteers will with
out delay place his regiment in
condition to embark on the steam
er Pennsylvania, designated to pro-
coed to the Philippine Islands.
All heavy baggage of every kind,
except such as is absolutely neces-
sary for the maintenance of his
camp, will be packed and sent
to the steamer Pennsylvania, now at
Pier No. Z, Oceanic dock, to be placed
aboard said steamer not later than 8
o'clock p. m. Sunday, July II, 1898.
He will break camp and march his
troops to the steamer Pennsylvania
with the balance Of the baggage be-
longing to his command, arriving at
the dock or SAID steamer for embark
alton not later than 10 o'clock a. m.
Monday, July IS, 1898.
By command of Brigadier General
Miller. S. w. BELFORD.
Assistant Adjutant General, q. S.
Volunteers.
No orders are issued as yet for the
Rio de Janeiro but it is officially stated
that 1t will sail on Wednesday at 10
o'clock in the morning. The two bat
talions from South Dakota, under
Colonel Frost, will break camp on that
day.
Brigadier General Otis + ally decided
yesterday to use the Rio as his flagship.
EIGHTH CALIFORNIA.