The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-13
Because Rhode Islands
First Regiment
WAS KEPT FROM FRONT.
No Information Of Any Kind From
the War Department.
CAPT. TIEPKE's APPOINTMENT.

Since the news of the signing OF the
peace protocol reached this city there
has been a most decided drop In local
military talk, and beyond a generally
expressed regret that the Rhode Island
Volunteers were given no opportunity
to see active service. in spite of the
fact that they composed one OF the best
drilled and best equipped, IL not the
best in the volunteer service, very lit
tie Is said.
Gov. Dyer has received no news from
the war department in relation to the
movements of the regiment, and does
not know how soon the men will be sent
home. Neither has he received any in
formation concerning the two volunteer
batteries now at Quonset Point, and
the general opinion In military circles
is that the batteries Will remain at
Camp Dyer until the war department
has their existence called to Its atten-
tion and they will then be mustered
out of the United States service.
Capt. Henry T.. Tiepke has not re-
ceived any further information from
Secretary of War Alger about his ap-
pointment as a commissary or subsist-
ence, with the rank of captain, and he
has not yet decided whether to accept
the position or not. He will wait a few
days before making up his mind def
nitely.
Reserves DiSappOinted.
The Rhode Island Naval Reserves
now en- the United States ship New
Hampshire in New York harbor. Of
which they are part of the ship 8
company, are greatly disappointed at
not having been sent to the auxiliary
cruiser Yosemite, as their original or
ders provided. When the orders were
countermanded the men were naturally
very much cast down. The ship, how
ever, is roomy and very comfortable,
particularly as compared with the Con-
stellation at Newport, but 1t is not sea
service.
The New Hampshire is tied to dock
at the foot of East 2Sth street, New
York, and the forecastle affords plain
view down into the Bellevue hospital
operating room. The men find consid-
cradle morbid interest in watching the
surgeons at work on the many bodies
brought there. All hands are now fed
by messes, and the Rhode Island men
form two of the six messes, and life is
much pleasanter than IL was In New
port, the men being glad TO escape the
continual scrubbing of paint work,
which had become very monotonous.
The Rhode Islanders are however, ir
a. .
tically assured, they do not know what
Is to be done with them. No orders
| have been received, so all hands are
| turning to as IL IL was to be a per-
| manent stay, an event nobody hopes
| for. although some of the men still
| think there is a chance for a cruise tc
| some point abroad.
Camped in the Mud.
The First Rhode Island Regiment is
| still camped in the mud at Thorough
| fare Gap, Va, and there seems to be
a chance that 1t win remain there fol
| several days to come. True, the rair
| has stopped and the bright sun has
| made everybody feel better. but there
| Is an uncertainty about the move.
| ments OF the command, which Is very
trying to the officers and men. Still
| the clothes so saturated with rain are
| gradually getting dry. and 30 Is the
| footwear, that is, for those who have
| any.
1t is a fact that quite a number oi
| the men OF the First Rhode Island
Regiment are going barefooted, not be-
cause they prefer to do 80. but because
they are compelled to, having no shoes
with soles on them. The march from
| Camp Alger to the present camp actu.
| ally tore the soles from the shoes. anc
| II was necessary uo at once telegraph
| for a supply of shoes. which must ar