The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-17
On B()ARDF|)R MANILA
How the Raw Recruit Fares
on the Ocean Wave.
MOST OF THEM BOOMERS
What Sort of Welcome Homo
lulu Gave Them.
MOST OF THEM BOOMERS


at Fort Point gave US the brigadier sa
lutte. and innumrable small steam laun-
cfes crowded around US like anxious
chicks about their mother, piping theiI
tiny farewell. The great excursion boats
rolled heavily in the smashing swells, and
from each the notes of the national an
them reached US in Intermittent waves
Flags and handkerchiefs fiuttered gaily
in the wind nj the distance. barely visi-
bic through our field-glasses. the wharvss
were still black with people. The enlisted
seamen whom we were taking TO Admiral
Dewey scrambled up the rigging, and,
manning the yards in sharp outline agaiHs
the sky. got the last sight Of land, The
flagship China quickly took the lead and
from her bridge we saw the Colon, Sen
ator, and Zalandia following the echelon.
In a short time we left land a dim line
on the horizon, and the $500 men in the
second division of the great expedition
for Manila were on their way.
With the last sight Of land we left the
democracy behind, and our little world on
shipboard is governed by the strict hand
of military discipline. At $50 a. m, with
the first call, "the ship and all the ocean
wakes up in wild commotion'' The men
tumble out of their hunks, and ten min
utes later they line the decks and the
reveille gun sounds. At seven the soldiers
mess in divisions: at $40 the trumpet
sounds and the guard retails. After the
ceremonial of forming the guard for the
day, the men finally march off to the
guard-house, which was once the smok-
ing room of the ship; while the few civ
ilians on board smoke on the officers
deck. Were it not for the good fellow
snip Of the officers. We should feel very
much out of place in our civilian clothes
At $50 drill begins, and the soldiers rush
to their positions. Some are jolly and
others forlorn, yellow, and seasick. But
they must drill, and for an hour and a
half the ship is taken up with the tramp
Of setting-up exercises and the shouting
of officers
AT noon the smell of cooking food en-
eompasses the feet, and our little world
mas an atmosphere Of its own. For few
hours after incoming we have quiet The
soldiers stretch upon the deck. or play
cards, or write home. while the officers
Advocate tells funny stories. At four
o'clock the endless drill begins again, and
the nen are only too glad when supper
time comes with the trumpet call.
Coffee, coffee, coffee without cream"
''Porky. porky, porky without bean"
To end the day we all assemble and
lift our hats as the band plays the Star
Spangled Banner. When the sun grows
big and sinks and rests a moment on the
sea-line our sea-gun salutes its golden
fall. Promptly at ten o'clock taps are
sounded. Ten minutes later
There is sleep from fore to mizzen
In our jovia floating prison"
The first few days at sea were cool, but
when We approached the tropic of Cap
ricorn, the privates were allowed to leave
the closely packed hunks and sitting hot
air below and sleep under the awnings.
Here, wrapped in their blankets, they lie
along the deck in long lines. At the start
the Zelandia hung back and the signal
officers, wig-wagging with a little red
flag from the top of the pilot-house. tried
to find out what the matter was. on the
second day her steering-gear broke down,
and she was off again.
The China is much the fastest shin in
the fleet Of transports. Taking advantage
of our speed. We steamed ahead on the
last day 10 coal at Honolulu before the
rest Of the fleet arrived. We soon left the
other three steamers behind. but for sew
eral hours we could see three long lines |
of smoke on the horizon. showing where |
they were racing after us
1t is a notable fact that nearly every |
one on board with whom l have talked |
either expects to get a permanent position |
in the Philippines after the war is over |
or intends to go into business there Not |
one of them doubts that the islands will /
be kept by the United States, and many |
men have enlisted simply to be on the /
spot when the boom" in Manila real |
estate begins. What America was to the |
Spaniards three centuries ago the Philip |
pines are now to these men--a land of |
gold. VIII they all have the same ideas |
four months hence. when they have had /
some experience with the climate and peo- |
pie Of tho islands?
Among the interesting thinSS to study
on board this transport is the develop
nent Of the volunteer. The volunteer. Off
,er has il all 20 learn; his ignorance. how
ever. is redeemed by the splendid eager
ness with which he goes at work He finds |
L especially difficult TO determine what
his position should be towards his private.
overheard a private say - mis- officer.
VINO spoke 20 him sharply. That is no /
way 10 talk 10 a man" The officer did /
not know exactly what to answer. Dur
ng the first lew days it was not uncom-
mon to see volunteer officers and their
men walking the deck arm in arm. or
slapping each other on the back. on the
other hand. the regular officer is always
IN friendly. but never on familiar. terms
With his mon.
The difficulty OF the volunteer officer is
by the presence Of a number Of
newspaper men. who have enlisted AMI /
continue 20 work for their papers. wsich /
n this way save the expense OF sending /,
put correspondents. Some Of these news
paper privates do no; take kindly TO aard /
work, and do not understand the necass.-
y of strict discipline. They grumble and /
viii. undoubtedly. use the press to relieve /
heir feelings. Many Of the officers have
political aspirations. and do not wish 10
become unpopular AT home. The newSp4-
per private is bound 10 prove a danger 70
discipline. He is not tolerated in any
,ther army. and he should be suppressed
n ours.
Jimmy Green" the volunteer soldier
II the line, is behaving himself very Wen.
5e grumbles over his food. but that Is tho
soldiers privilege Besides, the volun-
Ger commissary is not what IL should be
20 more trying ordeal can wea ne mag
ned than placing a lot Of raw recruits
N troopship for months journey