The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20
GOES TO WASHINGTON
LAST OF THE INDIANA REGIMENTS
PREPARING TO MOVE.
Guns and Equipment Are at Hand
Tale of a Gushing Girl and
Diamond Rings.

Yesterday morning Maj. T. c. Stunkard,
chief medical officer Of the One-hundred-
and-fifty- ninth Regiment, received a tele-
gram from Russell B. Harrison, at Wash
ington, suggesting that it would be a strong
influence in favor of the regiments chances
of going to Manila If the officers of the reg
iment should telegraph him, in the form of
a petition, stating that it was the desire of
the regiment to be sent to the Philippines
for service. This was done, and kilograms
from Washington yesterday indicate that
Major Harrison presented the War De-
partment with the petition. Later tele-
grams state that the regiment will be or
dered to Washington as soon as it is
equipped. This seems as If all the efforts
of the Governor and of Major Harrison
to have the regiment detailed to Manila
have failed. Congressman Faris had also
gone to the President with the plea of the
regiment, and as powerful influence was
used in General McKee's behalf has been
brought to bear, but the outlook last night
was that the influence had been as futile in
the case of the regiment as it was in that
of General Mckee.
The constantly changing plans OF the War
Department, however, to suit the constant
ly changing circumstances of the war. may
able the regiment to see the service it longs
for. And the regiment, with few excep-
tons. is eager to go and follow up Dewey's
victory. The boys and their officers brush
aside the fact that the climate of the Phil
ippines in the summer time is terrible in it's
heat and pestilence; they ignore the discom-
fort of a long trip across the country and
the Pacific and call it pleasure tour; they
are wildly enthusiastic to go with General
Merritt's army and make the Philippines as
much a part of the United States they
can be made without annexation and a long
period of colonization.
The kilograms relative to the movement
and destination Of the Northumberland
ty-ninth are not sent to Colonel Bar
nett and, therefore he has no official
knowledge of the movement of the regf-
ment. They are either personal or press
kilograms, and the regiment has received
no orders from the War Department within
the last few days. The kilograms all indi-
cate that the regiment will be equipped as
far as possible before it is moved, and it is
thought that the time of equipment will oc-
cupy a week or more. The officers of the
regiment were ready yesterday morning to
receive and issue to the men the rifles
which it was expected would be sent out
from the local United States arsenal, but
they did not come. 1t was stated last night
that the guns will be sent out to the regi-
ment this morning. Because Of the heavy
rain Lieutenant Peterson, United States
quartermaster at Camp Mount, did not
move the clothing that has come to him
from the government depot at Jeffersonville
to equip the regiment from the Pennsyl-
vania freight depot to the camp yesterday.
That will be done this morning. Lieutenant
Peterson said that there was no hurry to
issue the clothing to the men, because If
they needed undertaking, shoes or socks
they could buy them in the city and the out
lay would be refunded to them when their
clothing allowance is issued to them.
A private is allowed certain sum of
money to clothe himself. For the first six
months Of the first year in service he is al
lowed $4S.36; for the second six months he
is allowed $S.5S; for the second year $25.1S;
for the third year $33.21 for the fourth year
s251S, and for the fifth year 1929. BY this
method each private is charged up with the
cash value of the clothing furnished TO him
by the government If he runs over his al
lowance the difference is taken. from his
pay; if under it is given, to him in cash at
the end of his service. While it is expected
that ali clothing purchased in this way will
be sold by the government in the above out
lined plan, if the men need clothing and
there is none in the quartermaster'S de-
partment they may buy it of civilians and
the amount paid will be credited to them
when their clothing allowance is made out.
The clothing which has been shipped TO
Lieutenant Peterson, and which Will be
taken to the camp this morning, will be is
sued to the men in the next few days. Shoes
are most needed by the soldiers. One man
was seen yesterday walking about with
shoe on one foot, but it's companion was
missing Really, however, the boys are
comfortably clothed. There is no necessity
for their wearing bright new uniforms
while they roughing it at the fair
grounds, for they would soon become soiled.
The uniforms or civilians clothes which
they wore when they came to camp are
usually old ones, and they have not yet
worn out.
The work of equipping the regiment with
such articles as can be furnished in the
present rush of requisitions 20 the various
depots of supplies, and the consequent
scarcity of equipment, will be begun lmme-
diately, and the regiment will probably be
in good marching order by the time the or
der comes for it to move to whatever deS-
tination may finally be decided on for 1T.
There is no lack of food at the camp, and
the boys are we'll satisfied with the tables
set for them. Lieutenant Peterson has
shown himself to be an excellent quarter
master, and his department is ready to meet
all demands made upon it, and besides has
ten days marching rations set aside for the
regiment when the call for them comes