The San Francisco call., 1898-03-08
INCREASE OF THE ARTILLERY No Time to Be Lost in Carrying Out the
 New Bill. Plenty of Good Men Ready to = Join the Two New -
 Regiments.
Lieutenant Colonels Williston and Sinclair to Wear Eagles-Others
 Will Be Promoted.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March "A Wash ington special to the Herald says: Nc time was lost to-day by the War De- partment in making preparations to carry into effect the immediate pro- visions of the artillery bill and to in- crease the strength of coast defenses and the supply of war material in an ticipation of the national defense ap- propriation bill. These preparations were:
 Photographic instructions to officers in charge of the sixteen general recruiting stations and at army posts to enlist de- sirable men for the new Sixth and Sev- enth regiments of artillery.
 Instructions to commanding officers of artillery posts to furnish lists of privates eligible for appointment as non-c commissioned officers of new regi- ments and to commandants of all posts to hold troops in readiness to move at a few hours notice.
 Transmission to the President of nominations of Colonels E.. B. Williston, Third Artillery, and Will liam Sinclair, Fifth Artillery, to be colonels commanding the new artillery regiments, and nominations of result ing promotions throughout the artillery branch of the service.
 Selection of temporary headquarters of new artillery regiments, the Sixth at Fort Slocum, N. Y, and the Seventh at Fortress Monroe, Va.
 Encouraged by the passage of the ar tillery bill by the Senate on Washing tons birthday, the department had made every arrangement to facilitate the rapid organization of the addi- tional regiments, and was consequently prepared to carry out the provisions of the bill as soon as it passed the House.
 The enlistment of artil1erymen for the new regiments will be an easy mat ter and the department authorities be- lieve that 1910 additional enlisted men can be recruited within the next two or three weeks. During the last two or three years recruiting stations have been obliged to reject the applications of more than 1000 eligible men per month, and at this time there is likely to be no difficulty in readily procuring a full complement of men of intelli- gence and military aptitude. AS fast as new men are enlisted at recruiting stations and army posts they will be sent to the recruit rendezvous at Fort Slocum, N. Y, Columbus Barracks, Ohio. Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and Fort Sheridan. Illinois. Thence the re- cruits will be detailed to the head quarters of the new regiments at Fort Slocum and Fort Monroe and the bat teries of the five old regiments.
 TO be armed for war" said General Miles, lis likely to insure peace. The passage of the artillery bill and propo- sitions for appropriation for national defense are only steps that should have been taken long ago when there was no war cloud on the horizon With the new facilities we shall be able to adequately equip and man the new sea- coast Qualifications and purchase guns and ammunition. The department will immediately place contracts for all necessary supplies and will employ manufacturers not regularly equipped for ordnance manufacturing that the work may be hastened. No one is more happy than I to see this new evidence of wisdom on the part of Congress. ] have long labored to show the necessi. ties of our defenseless condition, and 1 begin to see some results of my efforts"