The sun., 1898-12-18
THE WAY OF THE REGULAR.
A IEssoN IN FoRAGINS eITEN ON
BOARD A TRANsPORT.


DeIphie orders from Army omcers and =
Raid by Enlisted Men Delioaoies In
the ship-Dinerent Plan of the volun-
teers-An Episode on San Juan HiIl.
On the return trip from Santiago 10 the
United States one volunteer regiment shared
its transport with the 'Steenth Regular Infan-
try. Tho transport had Just returned from
Porto Rico. where she had disembarked n reRl-
ment OF Western volunteers. Her hold was full
OF supplies intended for that island. which
either through haste or oversight had not been
unloaded
At Santiago each company OF tho two reEi
incnts had brought on board fleld rations Tor
the trip home, But II was soon found that
these rations would prove scanty for the yoy-
aRe, So orders we're Issued TO make up the de-
Cciency from the rations stored in the trans
PORTS hold. Now It happened that the hold
contained not only regular rations for enlisted
men, but also canned soups and all sorts OF
dclicacies originally intended. perhaps. for the
hospitals and staff officers In Porto Rico It 10
probable that the officers OF the steamship con-
sidered them selves responsible for these sup
plies. and agreed to sanction access TO the hold
with the understanding that only regular field
rntions should be taken. In any event, In pur-
suance Of general order. the company officers
OF the 'steenth assembled their men and de-
llvered little speeches that went like this:
"'Ten-shunl The field rAtions issued at
Santiago are scant for the trip. There are
plenty OF such rations in the hold. There
are also delicacies there which we have no au-
thority to touch. The First Sergeant will take
detail and go to the hold and ta-a-ake what
Is ne-e-eded. The first mate OF the transport
will be there to see-ee-that only regular field
nations are taken. Dismissed"
The readar m intarnrat that order to Ruft
himself This was not the only occasion during
the campaign that volunteers heard such an
order with similar results, and many OF these
volunteers will believe TO the end OF their days
that there is q secret freemasonry between
West Point officers and their enlisted men.
Either that, or each officer, when he said that
little sentence about the first mate. must have
wnked the other eye. The order perfume
torily delivered. the officers Of the 'Steenth
disappeared in their cabins and were not In
evidence for several hours.
somewhat similar order. but not 90 con-
cisely worded and accompanied by long and
rambling lecture on the penalties of disobedi-
ence. was delivered to the volunteers.
It happened somehow that the officer OF the
guard was a volunteer. The sentry at the
hatchway to the hold was also a volunteer. The
details from the two regiments slid down the
ladder to the hold. At the thought Of the for
bidden delicacies stored there the volunteers
looked Rlum. while the regulars grinned from
ear to ear about something.
At the foot OF the ladder stood the first mate
of the transport. He was a massive German
big and broad. but corpulent and scant Of
breath. His position was in a narrow gang
way between big piles of freight 1t seemed
odd that there was no soldier-sentry posted
there. As the regulars dropped of the ladder
they sort OF sized up the first mate and grinned
In his fat face.
They jumped into those piles Of boxes and
caddies and bags and began to excavate great
caverns. They grabbed cases of canned beef
bags of bacon and boxes of hardtack. and
them across the hold like footballs
and let them lie untouched where they fell
But when they struck case OF canned soups
or fruits. sack of rice. box Of condensed
milk, a butt Of tobacco. or caddy Of tea. It
was promptly shouldered and start made for
the ladder For a minute the mate was par
alyzed by the pandemonium that prevailed. and
then it dawned on him what was happening
stop dot!" he shouted. "Dunder und blit-
zen! 1t is der food nit der officer gentlemens
you vas takin' alrettyl Stop dotl command
I'll"
Boxes and bags on their shoulders. the regu-
lars charged tandem fashion down the narrow
Rangway to the ladder. They grinned as they
went. The mates hands went up in angry
protest. but they rammed. jammed and banged
him up in a corner. where he stuck breathless
and purple-faced.
"Holdt on!' he gasped. "Holdt oni I'm too
theeckl I'm too theeckl"
At this appeal they eased up bit. and the
mate laboriously climbed to place OF compar-
htive safety on top OF a pile OF freight. From
this perch he pantingly surveyed boatscape.
the atmosphere Of which was full Of flying
boxes. bags. and barrels.
Mein lieber Gottl" he exclaimed. no von-
der desc tefflls go NIT der Spanish parbed-vire
fences through"
Thus the regulars faithfully obeyed an order
that, for the facility with which It could be
translated into two directly contrary meanings.
rivaled the best of the Delphic oracles The
ship was crowded with fever-stricken men. to
whose stomachs the regular field rations were
an impossibity. The regulars took what
was needed as per orders. They left 1t to
civilian mate :" to see-ee" A" as much or as little
as he pleased.
During the ooting OF that hold and for cou-
pie OF hours atterward not regular army off,
GER was visible on that transport You couldn't
have found one with search warrant. Behind
the locked doors Of some interior cabin there
must have been some very absorbing business
in hand. As matter OF fact. though. 1t is al
ways surprise to volunteer to note how sell
dom he sees commissioned officer OF the reg
ulars anywhere near his men. except when an
order that is meant is tardily executed. Then
you see one fast enough.
Now note the varying results OF this enig-
matte order in the respective cases of the ragu-
lars and the volunteers. At the head OF tho
ladder from the hold stood volunteer sentry
Beside him was the volunteer officer OF the
guard. The latter might have gone and lock ed
himself in a stateroom and pulled down the
shades Just as easily as regular officer But
he didn't
OF course. the flrst head that appeared up
the compap ionway was that OF regular. On
his back he carried a pack OF supposedly for
bidden food that weighed more than he did.
He looked neither to the right nor to the left
He kept right on-stralght ahead The sentry
took In the situation and glanced inquiringy
at his superior The officer In turn started for
ward, his hand on the hilt OF his sword. and
then, recognizing a regular. hesitated and
dropped back. He seemed doubtful OF his right
to hnlt rear rank private OF the regulars A
procas sjon NJ ra1ulpra with aipnilar load FOL