Evening star., 1898-09-05
ARE IN GOOD HUMOR
District Men Pleased at the Idea Of
Soon Leaving Camp.
RESULT OF THE COMMITTEES VISIT
Why the Proposed Postponement
of Departure Was Given Up.
REGIMENT TO BE PAID OFF
Special From a star Correspondent.


Major Sylvester. H. l. West and Theodore
W. Noyes, to confer with Colonel Har-
ries concerning the date of the District
regiments homecoming spent Sunday af-
ternOon in the District camp, conferred
with Colonel Harries, inspected the camp
and talked with some of the officers and
men.
The committee agreeably surprised
at Colonel Harres' appearance He suf
ferS from recurrence of intermittent ma
larial fever and has lost many pounds of
flesh But Sunday afternoon he had no
fever. his eyes were bright and he was
full of energy. He accompanied the COM
mittee on its return to the station on Gen
eral Torars Cuban pony, which scampered
at break-neck speed over the hilly road.
The men, too, were found by the commit
tee to be in general in better physical con-
dition than some accounts had prepared its
members to fear Many of the men were
sadly worn and emaciated. and many gave
evidence of depressed spirits, but at the
same time the number of reasonably vigor-
Gus men in appearance was so large as to
give reassuring impression concerning
the regiment a whole. Colonel Har-
ries estimated that at least 600 of his COM
mand would be able to make without dis
comfort the march along PENNSYLVANIA
avenue for review by the President.
Proposed POstponement of Departure
The committee had relegraphed to Col.
Harries that they were coming to confer
with him. and had asked him to reopen and
reconsider the subject of the date of the
soldiers departure from Camp Wikoff, and
II possible, after a review of all the con-
ditlons. TO postpone for a few days from
September the date of the regiments
return to Washington
The committee found the power of fixing
this date to be absolutely within the con-
troll of Col Harries Gen. Wheeler having
authorized him to make this decision and
Col Harries having not yet notified Gen.
Wheeler of any date.
Col Harries received the committee most
courteously, reopened the subject of the
date of the soldiers departure, as request
ed. and protracted discussion of all
phases of the subject followed
1t appeared that originally Col. Harries
had thought that several weeks of recu-
peradon in the bracing breezes of Montauk
would be best for the health of the regi-
ment- But the mental condition of the men
on the subject of the return home created
In the I'd and Sd Battalions by outside in
srumentahties before the arrival of head
quarters from Santiago, and quickly COM
n,
as to entirely counteract the wholesome
influences of the place, and to render
heightened stay Of the men at Camp Wikoff
q menace instead of a benefit from the
medical point of view. The surgeons of the
regiment in their latest reports to Col
Harries had emphasized this view of the
matter.
Consideration for His Men
These considerations 1t was discovered
had their effect in the selection of Septem-
Der as the date of departure Colonel
Har1ies has enjoyed all through the cam
paign the reputation of being most consid-
crate OF the well-being of his men. They
nave suffered no evil or discomfort it is
conceded, which he could turn from them.
His bold protest against crowding the regi-
ment into the hulk Catania for the return
trip from Santiago is cited as an instance
of the personal risks which he would under
go for the sake Of his men. So in this case
ne modlhed his opinion concerning the best
date Of departure for the regiment when he
found that new and unexpected factors had
entered into the question. While it was i'm
possible TOR the commanding officer of a
regiment of the army to recognize directly
the irregular decision of military ques-
ton, reserved to the officers. by universal
tranchlse among the men, yet Colonel Har-
ries in deciding what was the best time to
leave Montauk Point could not and did
not. as an Intelligent and considerate Off
Ger, fail to take into account the mental
condition OF his men and their earnest
wishes in their bearing upon the mems
physical condition.
Homesickness and hope deferred could. il
was believed counteract all the superiority
OF climate and atmosphere of Montauk
Point over Washington in heated Septem-
ber.
In the discussion over the time of the
return September 18th was suggested and
at one time was in effect agreed upon On
the assumption that the reception commit
tee absolutely needed the additional three
days Of preparation. But the members of
the committee in inspecting the camp, find
ing that the men were sleeping not On
planl' floors or cots but on the ground.
that many lacked oVercoats, that numbers
were in l. weak. depressed state, unable TO
resist. for instance. the chilling, sickening
influence OF a driving rsin-storm, came 10
the conclusion that they were unwilling to
bear the responsibility for any possible
sickness or death which might result from
u is postpoLement.
In the end they VI animousIy agreed with
Col Harries that the gain in reception
Preparations or in increased attendance
among those who would honor the return
ing soldiers was of no consequence what
soever, if single soldier was thereby I'm
the slightest degree injured or endangered
Proposed Postponement Abandoned.
An agreement was therefore reached in
exact accordance with the wishes OF the
regiment. both officers and men, the recep-
tion committee undertaking TO make the
lest possible use of the short time avail
able In hustling to arrange for a satisfac-
tory reception
1t was made clear to the committee that
the men want most Of all to get home that
they are greatly pleased at the welcome to
be extended them by tho people OF WASH
h4gton, but that the demonstration of that
welcome will be the most gratifying to
them which IS enjoyed at the earliest date,
which subjects them to minimum of ex-
ertion and fatigue. and which gives those