The San Francisco call., 1910-10-14
WANTED: TARGETS
FOR The BIG GUNS
Deadly Work of Uncle Sans
Coast Batteries Makes Ord
nance Officers Hustle

II the postponement of big gun prac-
tice at the Presidio today because Of
the demolition of targets during the
week speaks for anything it would
seem as if there were such a thing as
being TOO accurate. At all events, Off
cials of the ordnance Office at the post
are swearing some. There isn't an
available target for today's practice.
and it was all carefully planned to test
the ability Of the Sixty-seventh COM
pany at Battery Saffold and the Seven
tieth at Battery Lancaster. Battery
Spencer at Fort Baker was also to have
another day of it, but according to
the ordnance Office, that battery has
done enough damag ge for the season.
All the difficulty is laid to that battery,
which has been making a regular diet
of choice targets for the last three
days.
The SiXty-frst company, coast artil-
lery, commanded by Lieutenant Hal
stead p Councilman, is responsible for
the record breaking, or rather target
breaking. although the Thirty second
company has smashed a target just to
help a little.
The remarkable shooting at the post
is attracting considerable attention,
particularly at the ordnance office,
which has to do with the supply of
targets It is said that a telegram
was received from Washington recently
targets, anyhow" Gossip has it that
the reply read: "Hit 'em." Hitting them
seems to mean destroying them, for
at nearly every practice it has been
necessary to call a halt At Battery
Spencer II shots have been allowed
for each practice. For the last three
DAYS the practice has ended after the
third shot because there was nothing
left 10 hit. The record of Spencer is
even more than exceptional when it is
rea lized that the practice is long range,
the targets being towed out beyond the
five mile mark.
As soon as the mass of red ragged
wreckage floating about Presidio wharf
has been converted into targets again
there will be more practice. Captain
T. B. Steele, Sixty-seventh company,
coast artillery corps, scheduled to prac-
tice at Battery Saffold today, is still
waiting for chance to make a record.
Lieutenant NJ. S. Crissy, Seventieth
company, Battery Lancaster, is in the
same fix.
Captain OdrTtSOn M ACCoSh5er It II =
teenth infantry, Fort Douglas, Utah,
reported at army headquarters yester-
day from leave of absence. He is at
the st. Francis.
Word was received from Frank B.
Briare of Stockton yesterday that Pri-
vate Harry Brown, reported as desert
ing from the One Hundred and Sixty
first company, coast artillery, at Fort
Barry, September rs, was being held in
that city.
Major Arthur ". Chase, coast artil-
lery, reviewed parade at the Presidio
yesterday afternoon
Army Orders
TSeecial Dispatch 10 The Call
WASHINGTON. Oct. 13.-First Lieutenant
George A. Purington. Eighth cavalry when re
liered of duty at Fort sill, will proceed to San
Francisco aud Join bis regiment en- ronte TO the
Philippine islands,
Capfain Ernest A. Greenough. paymaster, is
relieved of duty ar Seattle and VIII return 10
his station at Denver.
Changes in stations OF officers OF subsistence
department ordered
Cap4afn Tfllman Campbell is relieved from
80 a,ff n cOmmiSSary.