The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-25
CORPORAL OF co. A
SHIRLEY HOLT OF THE SEVENTH
REGIMENT ON FuRLoUGH
Gives a More Cheerful Account Of the
Seventh Regiment Than Any
Received by Wire

Yesterday mornings train from San
Francisco brought to his home in this
city Shirley L. Holt of Company A, Sew
enth regiment, California infantry, now
and for nearly three months past sta
toned at Camp Merritt San Francisco,
en- route to Manila-or some other place.
Before his enlistment Mr.. Holt was an
attache of The Herald force, and his ap
pearance was pleasant surprise to his
family and his many friends.
Corporal Holt reports the members Of
the Seventh in good health and spirits-as
good, at least, as could be expected under
the discouraging circumstances which
have attended their prolonged stay in San
Francisco, while other regiments from
various sections Of the country have been
going to the front, leaving the Seventh be-
hind to clean up camp.
1t Is expected now that the Seventh will
get away on the next expedition about the
list of August and while there is nothing
definitely known that this move will be
made, still this seems to be pretty well fixed
as being the unofficial program. The
powers that be, however, may vet change
this program.
The Seventh has changed camp several
times in the ten weeks of sojourn at San
Francisco, and is now camped on the dry
sand where, 1t Is said, formerly existed
Chinese cemetery. A few days since, in
deed. part of Chinese skeleton was dug
up in one of the tents. 1t had been buried
only foot or two beneath the surface.
When the Seventh went to San Francis
co it went into camp and laid cut pro-
IN IN o,xA dr{11 Hor ri 20 he
come a good. seasoned body of men. They
were then content to let the government
| attend to the question Of whittier they
should go and when they should start
This program, while It was strictly bust
ness one from a soldiers point of view,
was not business from political push and
pull standpoint About two weeks ago
the officers of the regiment awoke to the
fact that political influence was being used
to move troops, and that If the Seventh
ever left the sand dunes Of San Francisco
they must operate through the same chan
nels that other regiments worked. Tele-
grams in large numbers were then sent
from influential persons to the secretary
Of war. and finally it has been promised
that the Seventh should go to the front In
the next available transport.
In the meantime the Seventh has be-
come a fine and well drilled and we'll be-
haved body of men, ready to go whenever
ordered.
The little unpleasant episode OF week
ago yesterday, when body Of soldiers
called upon Brigadler General H. q. Otis,
amounted to little. Half a dozen malcon-
tent soldiers got together and wanted to
leave camp on Sunday evening when the
orders were against 1t. They were in
formed that no one but the commanding
general could give the permission. The
leader then suggested going to see the
general. A number of soldiers went along
to see the fun. of there was any, but not
to symapthize with the move. The gang
was soon dispersed and the incident was
thus closed.
The regiment is fairly we'll fed In regular
army style. The men who have In charge
the distribution of the rations are, as
rule new at their business, and while
there may be a plenty Of ratlons Issued,
It may happen occasionally that individual
soldiers may not get enough, while at
other times they may get more than
enough Still, there is little cause for
complaint, and as time wears away this
service will probably improve. There are
always men in any position who will find
fault with their food. This Is true in the
army, 1t is true in cheap restaurants and
It is true in first-class hotels. AS evidence
that the soldiers are not suffering for
something to eat, 1t Is stated that as a
rule the soldiers weigh more today than
they did when they went into camp ten
weeks ago. To this rule there are rare
exceptions.
I There is a loyal feeling among the SOL
diers towards their officers. To this there
are also rare exceptions. There Is no feel
ing as has been reported in the papers,
against Colonel Berry. He is deservedly
popular with his men, as Is also Lieuten-
ant Colonel Schneider. There is no cap
tain In the service more popular with his
men than Is Captain Wankowski of Com
pany A, or Captain BoH'' as he Is fanlil-
iarly called by his men. He Is a firm be-
lever in honor among the common soldiers
and when he trusts them on honor they
do not bertay It,
Corporal Holt looks the picture of health
and has gained ten pounds on army ra-
lions. He had a six days furlough and
will return to duty next Monday morning.