Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
VOLUNTEER CAMPS.
THEIR CONDITION EvERYwHERE
Is SIMPLY pEPLoRABLE.
GROSS MISNANAGEHEET CLEAR.
Protest Against II, and Also Against
Unfairncss Toward Virginia Ina Or
ganszing immune Regiment-Pres-
ent War Plan Not Approved.

4
emit War Plan Not Approved.
| WASHINGTON, ID. c.. May 3l.-CSpe-
! clal.)-The condition of the volunteer
troops at nearly all the camps selected by
| the War Department is simply deplorable
Right here. almost in the shade Of the
! Capitol, great numbers OF the soldiers at
Camp Alger are without clothing. without
| hats or shoes, beds or blankets, and are
trying TO get water by digging wells.
Their supplies of rations are also made
quate Virginia troops at Camp Lee, in
Richmond. are said to be rather better
of, but this is not due to any provision
made for them by the United States army
authorities. They have their own state
and friends to thank for whatever advan-
Alger and Chickamauga- AS far as the
War Department Is concerned, they have
been as sadly neglected in the way of
equipment and supplies as any of the
others
Senators Daniel and Martin went this
morning TO the War Department to pro-
test against this sort of treatment OF men
who have periodically responded TO the
call of the President. They Informed the
Secretary and Acknowledgement Corbin
that the men were suffering for the want
Of necessary commissary supplies, cloth
ing and camp equipments.
1t was developed during the interview
that the most lavish quantities of rations
and equipments had been purchased and
shipped TO Tampa, Fla, where they were
side-tracked in long lines Of freight-cars
and piled up in warehouses in the most
nextricable confusion. The problem, 1t
seemed TO the senator's, now to be solved
by Alger and Corbin is whether to take
all the troops to the supplies at Tampa
or to bring the supplies back TO the
troops.
IL was apparent that there has been
gross mismanagement, and the utmost
that the Secretary and his adjutant could
do was to promise that the hardships to
which the soldiers were subjected would
be relieved as speedily as possible, and
te official blunders remedied.
NO VIRGINIANS.
Another protest has been entered
against the manner in which a certain
Colonel Petit is organizing regiment
Of immunes, several companies OF which
are to come from Virginia 1t appears
that Petit has started the formation OF
this regiment by beginning at the top
and descending to the bottom. He Is to
be the colonel-that is the foundation.
Then he has selected the regimental
officers, and will next want TO appoint
the captains, and perhaps, the other
company officers. Lastly, the rank and
file will be picked up, no matter how. 1t
seems that all Of the regimental oihcers
have already been chosen, and although
several of the immune companies, four,
perhaps, are expected to come from Nir-
ginia, not a single regimental officer has
been named from that State.
1t remains now to be seen what action
will be taken by the President and his
War Secretary and Adjutant-General. 1t
is admitted on all sides that the South
has been very unfairly dealt with in the
appointment OF general staff and regi-
mental officers in the volunteer army.
PETIT AN OHIOAN.
Later information is to the effect that
Petit is a United States army officer,
and an Ohio man, who has been autho-
rized TO raise regiment of immunes. In
addition to the regimental officers, he
has appointed the captains for the four
companies expected from Virginia, and
not one of them is a Virginian. one OF
his selections to command a Virginia
company is the son of General Long
street, OF Georgia, and another is a
Jerseyman.
This action was Indignantly resented
by our senator's and other Virginians
here but Petit, when spoken to about
Il, innocently said he thought 1t was all
right He never considered the state
from which the officers came. They were
recommended to him; he thought they
OILS
dorsed them for appointment. He was
informed, however. that Virginia had as
good material for company and other
officers as any State in the Union, many
with field experience, and scores who were
trained, educated, and graduated young
soldiers from the best military schools
1t is understood that Petit will now
withdraw his endorsements, and that the
Governor of the State will name, GER
tainly, the company commanders and
other officers.
PRESENT WAR PLAN.
THE reported plan of the administration
to send the available regulars now in
Alabama, and Louisiana, who
are properly equipped. and land them in
the province of Santiago, to attack the |
city from the land side. is not looked upon |
with much favor among some naval ex-
perts here. Admiral SIMPSONS fleet will |
be called off from Habana to convoy the |
transports with the troops. while Schley |
will stin have to remain at tho channel |
TO Santiago harbor, watching Cervera- !
Meantime the second fleet from Cadiz |
is reported on the way, and may attack |
Schley in the rear and thus afford Ger |
vera an opportunity to run out and open |
on him in front. All this while Samp- |
son would have TO stand by his helpless |
loaded with men and muni- |
tons of war.
In this connection, referring to the bot |
Ting up" process at Santiago. a Con-
naval authority, who had great |
experience i'm the sixties. said: 1.-THE fact |
that the Spanards themselves have not |
choked up the narrow entrance TO the |
harbor, as was done by the Confederates |
below Drewry's Bluff, near Richmond, |
and at other points in the Confederacy, 1
indicates that their fleet has not sought |
simply as a harbor OF refuge. |
II is manifest that they are not afraid 1
Of being attacked I'm the harbor, as was
done by Farragut i'm Mobile bay. and |
Dewey at Manila. 1t seems to be fur
Their clear thas Cervera expects to sally
forth when either necessity requires or
/, favorable opportunity offers to attack
he blockading feet with torpedo-boats,
)r TO cooperate with the Cadiz fleet,
,atching Schley between two fires. I'm
ess corked, wired, and seated. the now
INVISIBLE contents Of the Santiago jug will
De both seen and heard from. and prob
lbiy felt. the first opportune moment
select