Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-05
FROM OUR BOYS AT TAMPA
The Squadron Getting Ready for
uba--Squadron Well Drilled,
Efficient, Ready for Work.
The Beautiful Flag.
LEAVE SAVANNAH WEDNESDAY OR
THURSDAY.
Special to the New Mexican.

Special to the New Mexican
Camp Tampa, Fla, July l.-Athougl
we are planted on the sands of Florida
sweltering in midday. doing police work
fatigue, guard and drill, our ardor t.
see Cuba has not diminished one part
Gle. We have it, on good authority
that we will be part of the next expe
dition. which will leave about the 9th o
7th of July. OF course, the date of de
parture is snpposition. but this is Ger
tain: If larger force is required il
Cuba we will be the fortunate ones Il
go. When we do 90 we will be in bette
condition for an active campaign, thar
any volunteer troops that have gone
SO soon as the disappointment Of moi
leaving with the first expedition was
over, we buckled down to business, and
have entered cheerfully into all duties
OF camp life, and there is IL great deal
more work in this camp that the one in
San Antonio. Our encampment is on
very sandy ground; but it's the best to
be had. In order to prevent disease,
which is very easily contracted in this
warm, damp climate. all garbage man
ure is hauled away daily. After police
duties we Grill two and half hours
then feed aud water our horses and take
them to grazing grounds about a milo
from camp. In the afternoon the horses
are brought in. fed, then, more drill.
YESTERDAY a canteen was permi ttcG
to begin operations within our lines. In
the canteen are handled lunch supplies
beer and soft drinks. The men are al.
lowed credit for two-iifths of the pay:
but most of them are very temperate.
and DO not care to spend their hard
earned government allowances in such a
fashion. The men seem to realize the
fact that in order to preserve their
health, alcoholic drinks must be kept
out of their systems.
We have not been paid our small re-
spective mites since we entered the
service, and it has put many of the
boys, who absolutely need cash for nee
eSsarily articles, in Il very embarrassing
condition.
Many boys have been sick. caused bv
change Of diet, climate ETC., and could
not be properly cared for in the hos
pital for the surgeon has only limited
supply of pills. and they need small
amounts for proper food and medicine.
The delay has been very aggravating.
and it seems as though something could
have been done, by the proper authori-
ties, to have had the boys paid. We are
promised to be paid on the I'd or Sd of
next month; we'll then get two months
pay at once. Although none of us en-
tered the service for the paltry wages
which are given, we will, nevertheless.
appreciate the governments '.chink'
when it is handed over to lis.
On the evening of June o1, 400 native
Cuban volunteers, under General Mu-
niz, were taken aboard transports at
Port Tampa. On the 27th another de-
tachment of 500 native Cubans left for
the southwest of Cuba. Sergeant Wm.
l.. Rynerson, of Troop II, succeeded in
obtaining his discharge from the service
OF the STARS and Stripes and will 90
under Cuban coors. He will receive an
appointment of lieutenant on Muniz'
staff.
The abdominal bandages sent us by
the ladies of New Mexico, were issued
out, one to each trooper. The surgeon
overlooked the Importance OF imparting
to Teddys wild cowboys the use of this
peculiarly patterned piece of wool. So,
of course, many had different ideas as
to the use of the belt. 1t was near sup
per time when the bandages were given
out, and so many of the belts adorned
the breasts of innocent soldiers. bib
n 9 him Inrinfr thn ,pna1 Mann, hnr
thought that it was a new uniform,
especially adapted to Cuban climate.
This was very appropriate, for we need
to be covered with something more than
glory, But, ladies of New Mexico, we
deeply and sincere thank YOU for think
ing of onr welfare, and we all hope to
live to return and thank your individ-
ually for our 'abominable bandages.
Yes, the flag arrived. cannot say
as to the beauty it presents to
the eye-words cannot express it. 1t is
not only the exquisite workmanship
and material which-it contains, but it
carries with it a message from our
homes; a message from our government,
one breathes of love, the other of stern
command. As its silken body was un-
furled to the breeze every eye blazed,
and every heart swelled with sup
pressed emotions. Friends and rela-
tives, the New Mexico boys are proud
of their territory and proud of their
governor. You have shown that you
have placed confidence in us to do our
share of the duty of freeing suffering
Cuba, and of pulling the death mask of
barbarity from Spain. We hope to
not betray that confidence, and bring
back our flag, it's folds unsullied by any
action of the New Mexico volunteers.
Captain w. H. Ii. James, cath in
fantry, left here on June - on the
transport Louisiana for Santiago de
Cuba in charge of $50 recruits for the
Gath and 25th infantry.
Major John L. Bulls, paymastcr L.
S. army, has left here on special mis-
sion, carrying important dispatches to
General Maxine Gomez, commanding
the Cuban forces in western Cuba.
Captain Curry is proving splendid
officer. The four troops of the "Rough
Riders" are drawing rations, forage and
other supplies and are getting ready to
go to Savannah, where, it is believed, re-
cruits will Join us and we will embark
for Santiago de Cuba. We are to take
our horses along.
Hurrah for tho star pc and stripoS