The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-25
GOSSIP OF THE CAMP.
cial from a staff Correspondent.

Special from Stan Correspondent
Camp AGer, Va, June 25.--When the
Thirteenth started for the Potomac yes
terday morning it had SSS men and was
led by a band Of 2l pieces seconded
by drum corps of eleven members
1t made a truly formidable looking
command. company now having the
appearance of what was in national
guard days considered a fairly re-
spectacle sized battalion. With the eX-
ception of about half a hundred men,
the full strength of the regiment was
represented at the inspection yester-
day morning. Several of the Compan-
les had their full complement in the
field. not considering those on guard
or special duty, and none of them
lacked more than ten men.
Twelve sets of fours in double rank
was the front that most of the COM
panieS presented. Seven sets Of fOurs
was the most that was possible under
the national guard formation of sixty
men and three officers and as it was
seldom that full company was to he
seen five or six sets of fours was what
usually made up a company front at
home There isn't a street in Scranton
on which the regiment could under it's
present dimensions, march company
front"
Appended is the report of Lieutenant
NJ. c. Butler, jr.. son of the major gem
eral, who conducted yesterdays in
spection of the Thirteenth:
Camp AlGcr, Va, June q. 1898.
To the Adiutant General, First Division,
Second Army Corps.
Sir:-Pursuant to verbal instructions
from the division commander. | have the
! honor to submit the following report:
| | inspected the Thirteenth Pcnnsylva-
mia Regiment This regiment has re-
| ccived li6 new Springfield rifles since its
arrival at Camp Algcr and requsitions
| for 2iS guns for recruits have been suD-
! mittcd. acquisitions have also been SUD
mittcd for guns to replace those. IS in
| number that have been condemned.
| inspected all the guns of this command
! the same as in all the other commands
| ana find that the guns that are not new
| are very much worn, and tho brccch-
| locks rather loosely attached and in m )st
| cases the bOrcs of the barrels are very
| much rusted, 1t is doubtful If they will
| be very effective as firearms for any
| length Of time. They should all be re-
placed if possible with new guns. Am
| munitiOn on hand, 5000 rounds.
| Invoices have been received for web
| belts for extra command. Recruits OK
| ptCtcd today to fill the regiment to full
| strength, There are only two battalions
| four companies each in this regiment.
| There are fOrty-ciEht men not fully
| equipped. Full complement shelter tents.
| Requisition for all ordnance submitted.
| TentaPe good, Camp well policed. Sani-
tary precautions strictly observed Dis
cipline fairly good. Sentinels not well in
| structcd in orders.
Very respectfully
NJ G. Butler Jr.
Lieut.. cav A. y. G., Acting Insp. Div.
The inspection was no inspection at
all Lieutenant Butler simply passed
along the lines, stopped long enough in
front Of man to take a hasty glance
into the open chamber of his rifle and
then passed on to the next. One COM
pany was inspected in less than five
minutes. The fact that the men were
not fully equipped possibly led the in
spector to forego a real inspection and
merely go through the form in casual
way. The data which the report con.
tains was furnished by Quartermaster
Cox. The adverse criticism on the
guards was to be expected.
The Thirteenth details recruits for
the most part to do this work by way
Of instruction, it being virtually i'm.
possible 70 teach this branch of the
business except by actual experience
as was illustrated last night by a Sixth
Massachusetts man who forgot the
countersign after sticking his gun in
the ground and telling the halted mar
not to leave there till he returned, rar
down to the guard house to find Our
what the commander of the guard hac
said the COuntersign was.
The soldier boys are again welcom
guests in many barrooms The threat
ened prosecution Of saloon keepers 70
selling liquor to men in uniform is
thing OF the past. Last night a genera
order was sent out to all the police pre-
cincts, directing that saloon keepers b
advised that they will not be interfere,
with in the sale of liquor To soldiers
The reason stated IN the order is tha
application was made To the district at
torney's office for a warrant for viola
tion of the law Cf 1861, and the warran
was refused,
This whole question has been brough
up by the action Of the district judicia
authorities, who decided that the law O
81 could be enforced now, though il ha
lain dormant for generation. The en-
, forCement of this law does rot com
within the nurview of the district au
thorities at all. The general excise lay
of the district, enacted in 1893, has