The San Francisco call., 1898-11-07
THEY THOUGHT
 NOT ALONE IF
 WARS ALARMS Strange Stories of Life at Fort Baker. LADIES AND THEIR GUESTS THEIR PRESENCE AN ACCIDENT SAY THE OFFICERS. The Boat Sailed for the City Too Soon and the Ladies Became
 Campers for the
 Night
LADIES AND THEIR GUESTS
THEIR PRESENCE AN ACCIDENT
 SAY THE OFFICERS.

There Is trouble in Battery B of the California Heavy Artillery, now stationed at Fort Baker. That Is to say the rela- tions existing between the enlisted men and the commissioned officers are for the present somewhat strained. Not that officers and men do not salute as they pass by, but there is that little something in the atmosphere at Fort Baker just now which suggests future developments of a more or less interesting nature.
 There have come recently to depart ment headquarters rumors from Fort Baker concerning the conduct Of the com missioned officers of Battery B, and there can be no doubt but that these rumors were first started by the enlisted men of the battery. How much truth there is in these sub rosa charges of the enlisted men remains to be seen, for certain 1t IS at present that the officers indignantly deny them. The commissioned officers now stationed at Fort Baker in command Of the battery are Captain Herbert Choyn- ski, First Lieutenant Sprague and Sec ond Lieutenant Huie. The present cloud of scandal that rests over the battery un- doubtedly has its origin some time back, and there is equally little doubt concern ing the fact that 1t has sprung rom the kick of the volunteer, who, melted by more or less animus, has kept the ball rolling until there Is now every prospect of General Merriam making formal in Vestigation of the entire matter.
 The enlisted men of the battery charge that the officers of the battery have been guilty of conduct unbecoming officers and gentlemen, and to prove what they state they declare that on Thursday Of last week the officers of the battery enter tained several women of questionable character at the camp, and that these women remained in camp all night. This is the most serious charge that the sol- diers bring against the men who com mand them. Again 1t is stated that Sec oHd Lieutenant Huie, the canteen officer, is behind in his accounts, and that there are at present outstanding bills against the canteen for the month of September, though they should have been hQuidated over a month ago.
 These are the runors that constant cir culation on the part of the men have made so public as to bring them into mo- tice and in consequence General Merriam may this week take up the matter off cially The kicks of the men regarding the kind of food and the treatment they get is not worthy of notice, for an inves- tigation of the matter reveals the fact that the men of the battery are as well fed and cared for as any command now in the service. Their camp Is a model one in appearance and cleanliness, and their food is wholesome and sufficient.
 Regarding the more sensational details of army life at Fort Baker there Is much that has to be passed by. One of the sergeants of the battery stated that on Thursday last several women, who he had heard were actresses, came in the afternoon to visit the officers. They re- mained until quite dark and left for Sau- silito in time to catch the last boat back