The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-08
Talk About the Batteries.

Advices from Washington state after
all has been said and done one OF the
Rhode Island batteries may be retain
ed i'm the service of the United States
for an indefinite period, and this as
sumption Is based on the decision OF
President Mckinley. as telegraphed to
the governors of the different states.
that an army of 100000 is necessary TO
hold the territory which the United
States has conquered from Spain. 1t
is also argued that the decision that
the infantry volunteers to be retained
shall be apportioned among the states
according to population. makes II ex-
tremely improbable that the Rhode
Island regiment will be retained.
Inasmuch as the states proportion
of the $4,000 volunteers needed 10 sup
plement the regular army would be
less than the strength of one regiment.
the question OF what to do for Rhode
Island has been given much consider
alton by the war department. but no
final decision has been reached. In the
meantime the regiment is established
in its new camp. which is much quiet
er than the former one. and there are
practically no visitors. The men APP
pear to regard II as preferable to where
they were before. with the exception
that the water supply Is not as conve-
niently located.
Malarial Fever Patients.
There are quite number Of malarial
fever patients IN the camp. which me-
cessitates good care and attendance,
and this can best be obtained at the
division hospital since augmental hos
pitals have been abolished. From this
hospital many are cent to hospitals in
Philadelphia. No particular care seems
to be taken by the authorities after the
v,,a a,1u n the HfUfSinV hngnffpl
inform headquarters here Of what dis
posal is made of the men. The camp
was visited by three medical inspectors
yesterday, who made a tour OF the
grounds, looking over the water supply
and the sanitary conditions of the
camp. but. as usual. these gentlemen
failed to state what they thought OF
what they saw.
A dispatch from Philadelphia an
nounces the death at st. Agnes hos
pital. i'm that city, OF Private Charles
c. Kellett OF Company B. First Rhode
Island Regiment, q resident Of this
city. His brother. Patrick c. Kellett.
who was in New York. was notified and
went at once to Philadelphia The de-
ceased soldier came to this city from
Ireland about Ave years ago. He lived
with his brother at 45 Homestead street.
where both were engaged by the Assam
Tea company, Of which Patrick Kellett
Is the manager. Their father and
mother still live i'm the old country. At
the first call Kellett enlisted. He leaves
also sister, Mrs. p. c. McQuillan OF
this city.
Servei on the Brooklyn.
Herbert l. Coombs. who is a signal
man on Admiral Schley's ship, the
Brooklyn, is at his home on Fruit Hill
on seven days furlough. He is a
member of the United States marine
corps, having enlisted at Newport, and
after about six months. service he was
assigned to the Brooklyn. When the
war broke out he was appointed as
signalman. and during the Santiago
fight was In the forecastle close by the
two S-inch guns In the forward turret.
II was here that Chief Yeonfan George
Il. Ellis was killed. and Mr.. Coombs
stood within two feet OF him when the
shot came along which took Ellis head
of.
Mr.. Coombs was also a witness OF the
destruction OF Cervera's fleet, and says
II was a most magnificent engagement.
He says that all the men OF the Brook
lyn swear by Admiral Schley. and II Is
believed among them that the Admiral
would have forced the entrance TO SAN
tiago IL he had not been prevented. and
Mr. Coombs says IL was Thought that
this might have been done had IL beer
attempted directly after Cervera's en-
trance instead of waiting. which gave
the Spaniards an opportunity To mine
the harbor. Mr.. Coombs brought home
n number of mementos OF the war, all.
OF course, OF n warlike nature.