The herald., 1898-05-14

THEY EXPECTED TO Be FED
And Z Ration Of Undershirts Would
Very Much Please the Boys
From the South



from the sunny south and the warm San
JOAQUIN valley, who volunteered to light
for their country. did not expect divans,
nSmmocks and luxurious quarters, but
Qhey can hardly be blamed for protesting
when they are obliged to sleep on sanded
boards. with but one thin blanket to cover
them these chilly nights. If in the day.
time. when the wind sweeps over the
parade ground and whistles through the
paneless window frames Of the Fontana
cannery, some few should suggest that
warm underclothing and an overcoat are
essentials. these same volunteers of Uncle
sam could hardly be accused of desiring to
be pappered.
General Sherman said: ''War is hell!" and
Z soldier must expect hardships, 1t is true,
but there is no necessity for neglecting him
at the outset and taxing him before the
time to endure the hardships has arrived.
yet this Is what Is going on at the Pre-
uidio and also at the old wooden mills.
when Major Rice says the men are
standing the cold well and their patriotism
has not wavered for an instant, he affords
additional reasons for giving the men
proper care. There is not a man in the
Js4 raw recruits of the artillery battalion
Who has not cold or sore throat. Some
Of them are threatened with pneumonia,
and one of the company captains stated
yesterday that those who are suffering
most should be removed to q hospital or
hotel.
The food is none too plentiful. The men
can be fed only in relays, as there are not
tables, benches, cutlery or cups and plat
tiers sufficient for the whole force. AS a
consequence 1t has happened more than
once at the cannery that those who have
dined latest have found least upon which
to dine.
Major Rice sid yesterday: I'VE are not
supplied with what we want, though requi-
sitions for everything have been filed. It
10 not the quartermaster's fault. The fact
Il the clothing is not on hand; 1t is not
ready to be furnished. This is not a mill
tary country. where every man at the call
to arms can go to pigeon-hole or locker,
draw forth his regimentals and fall in.
The men are having hard time of It.
but it is what they must expect. One
blanket and the floor for bed and bedding
is not extraordinary in war times, and
though many have colds and sore threats,
they will recover and be all the harder.
This is good battalion and have not
beard a whimper'
On the upper floor of the cannery the
volunteers are learning the elements OF
soldering in more ways than one, and
they made complaints which sense OF
duty and discipline prevents them voicing
to the officers. The major himself fares
but little better than his men, and he, too,
has a sore throat. with him are sur
geon, First Lieutenant Roster and Lieu
tenants Barry, Choynski, Geary. Diss and
others, each with sore throat or a cold.
The sentries have no uniforms and the
blanket roll across their shoulders is the
only quasi-military distinction in their
costume from that ogthe ordinary civilian.
Some Of the men wear overalls and jump
srs. many Of them have shoes which are
not fit to wear, and there is scarcely an
overcoat in the entire battery.
With the camp on the Preside reserva-
tion the condition of the men is not much
better for the same reason-lack of coats
and blankets. Shoes and underclothing
are also needed by large proportion of
the men. Though there is no mutinous
spirit among the men, there is a feeling
Of dissatisfaction at the fact that when
they have carefully cleaned up every scrap
allowed them for rations. there is still
yearning for that second service of the
same size as the first.
That sand blows into the meat aud
too much salt is dropped into the hash are
unimportant tribes that can be overlooked.
The quality of the food is good and most
Of the cooks are efficient. but the supply
b not large enough. This is explained bv
the fact that each company is allowed ra-
tons for ten days on the basis of the num-
ber Of men actually enrolled. But each
company has from twenty to twenty-five
dies who were rejected by the surgeons.
These must be fed, although the govern
i. ment allows no food for them. In conse-
Quence. each of the thirty meals into
which those ten days rations are divided
must " eaten BY about LIS men, although
only enough Il cooked for ninety. since ii
enough rsss cooked tor III. the supply