The San Francisco call., 1904-03-09
PROBLEM WORK
FOR TROOPERS
Cavalry Will Try to Locate
and Oppose the Entry of
Supposed Enemy to Post
ARMY MULES ARE SICK

Major Bigelow, commander of the
Third Squadron, Ninth Cavalry, is
still keeping UP the vigorous drilling
that has characterized his work since
he took charge Of his command at the
Presidio. For to-day he has outlined
what is termed problem field exercise.
it should not only be a fine and ex-
haustive drill for the troopers, but at
the same time il should be a plctur-
esque sight for the onlooker 1t practi-
cally consists Of an attack from the
enemy from the outside Of the post,
and the attempt Of those in charge of
the post to hold the situation.
Blank cartridges will be fired galore
and the exercise is intended to smack
in every way of actual warfare.
Troop l. Ninth Cavalry, under COM
mand of Captain Charles Young, will
be the attacking party, and will ad-
vance upon the McDowell-avenue en-
trance, adjacent to the golf club house.
Troops K. L and NJ, under command
Of Major Bigelow, will reconnoiter the
grounds of the Presidio over different
portions, with the idea of trying to
locate the spot at which the enemy is
liable to attack the post. The exer-
cises will begin at $3.50 a. m.
The transport Thomas sailed on Mon
day afternoon from Honolulu for this
port. Besides the Eleventh Infantry
and 400 Philippine scouts she brings a
large mum her of SnalS
OFFICERS COMING HOME.
Prominent among the officers are
Colonel Henry Wygant. Twenty-sec-
ond Infantry: Lieutenant Colonel
Henry P. Mccain; Major Frank de L.
Darlington, First Infantry; Major
Leonard A. Lowering, inspector gener-
ais department, Manila; Major George
H. G. Gale, inspector generals de-
partment, Manila, and Major John Els
ton Baxter, quartermaster' depart
ment. The Thomas will be due here
late Monday night or early Tuesday
morning.
The 230 mules which arrived from
Missouri two weeks ago and have been
quartered on the Presidio flats do not
take kindly to their environment; at
climate they have come into. Seva&&
of them have died, several are SICK
and they seem to nearly all present a
sort of mopish appearance. The strong
breezes that float in through the Golden
Gate are apparently too strong for
their constitutions. They are destined
for service in Manila and will be sent
there as soon as the transport Dix is
ready to receive them.
The fine new gymna sium at the Pre-
sidio is now practically completed and
will be thrown open for the use Of en-
listed men of the post next Monday.
Lieutenant Beauford r. Camp will
have charge ef the management of this
useful addition to the post. With Cap
tain Louis r. Burgess he is busily en-
gagged in drawing up the rules and
regulations which will govern the
running Of that institution. The build
ing and apparatus has cost Uncle Sam
somewhere in the vicinity of S5O,OOO.
MAPS OF SEAT OF WAR.
The -,avy Department yesterday
supplied the different officers of the di-
vision and department at headquarters
in the Phelan building with large and
comprehensive maps of Korea, China
and Japan, and also Of Panama and
environments. These now adorn the
walls Of the different Offices and were
consulted with much interest by the
officers yesterday.
John II. Mitchell, Troop L, was ap-
pointed yesterday as squadron sergeant
major Of the Third Squadron. Ninth
Cavalry. Mitchell was educated at
public schools at New Haven and
passed a free competitive scholarship
for admittance into the Connecticut
Literary Institution at Sheffield. He
was elected to fill the place of Henry
T. Walls, who disappeared from the
post on February is and has never been
heard Of since. Walls was dropped
from the army list as a deserter on
February %.
Five hundred marines are due to ar
rive from Washington, D. c., at a. m.
on Thursday. Special tugs will convey
them to the transport dock and they
will board the transport Buford, which
is now scheduled to sail sharp at noon
the same day.
Major w. E. Birkhimer. general staff,
assistant to the chief of staff, Pacific
Division, arrived in town yesterday
from Washington, d. c., and at once
paid his respects to General MacAr-
thur. Mrs. Birkhimer will follow later.
Major Ira McNutt. who has been sta
toned at Benicia Barracks, paid his
farewell call on General Macarthur
yesterday, as he leaves for his new post
at WatRrton Arsenal, Mass, within the
next few days.
Colonel Henry C. Ward, Fifteenth
Infantry, stationed at Ord Barracks,
registered at headquarters yesterday