The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-18
Because the Men Had Not
Enough to Eat.
A MOVE TO PRESIDE.
At Last the Kansas Boys Will
Change Quarters.
Great Dissatisfaction Exists in
the Camp.
[From the State Journals Special Cor
RESPONDENT


respondent
San Francisco, July 10.
The feature of today in the daily
whirl of camp life was a revolt in Com
pany L. one tent of men refusing to go
on drill because of the quality of their
meals and the amount. They claimed
that they could not stand the hard
work on the amount of food given
them. This is considered in army laws
to be seditious and a step towards
mutiny. Just what punishment will
be given them is not yet known, but it
is a fact that the boys in more COM
panies than L have frequent occasion
to complain of the same state of affairs.
But they seem from some cause to be
unable TO remedy the matter. They
kick and growI but it is wasted on
the desert air as a rule.
Col. Funston goes out daily with his
regiment and gives the commands IN
good style and shows a marked i'm
prOvement each day.
Very few passes were given out to-
tonight A general order issued today
from headquarters stated that those
desiring to secure a pass must be able
to repeat the general orders and nave
q general knowledge of several sections
of rules and regulations regarding
guard duty. Immediately after its is
sue the majority of privates decided
that they had no business up town ana
a few corpOrals failed to pass muster
before their company commander II
will probably increase the jumping of
the guard line" again.
Major Surgeon Rafter today recon-
mended that the camp be moved to the
Preside. He thinks that 1t Will be a
decided improvement over the present
quarters. The ground there IS not
sandy. But the fog and cold VIII pc
equally as bad as here. The barracks
are rOOmy and convenient at that POM
nd
that the tents will be still used Uncle
Sam evidently thinks the Kansas troops
are a set Of heathens and would Dufn
up the quarters for wood, ana otner-
wise cOutaminate it. There is no DAN
ger of the members of this regiment De
coming pampered children or luxury
It is thought if the troops ever return
home when bed time comes tney WIN
grab a blanket and make for the nay
NOW or some vacant shed.
Hard and persistent drill is being
given the troops now. Here IS DAY s
programme. Breakfast at 6-3O- all
in line at o'clock and out for setting
1Ip exercise for nearly one hour, then
the whole regiment out to the PreSlu1o
for regimental and oattaIlon orIn uIlCll
IL o'clock, then into quarters Tor dlhIleI
and at 100 out for company drllI TOT
nearly two hours. The rest OF the al
ternOon the men are given to clean
guns sew on buttons, wash, etc. AFTER
supper. comes retreat and inspection OF
guns and woe to the unlucky man WhC
has a speck of dust on his gun BARRE
or a button off his blouse.
lust when We will leave is still an
undecided question and depends much
it seems on whether peace is soon de
cIared. Two ships sail tomorrow and
three more follow within ten days. Ar
officer high in authority told me today
he could almost take his oath that we
would not get away from here before
August /, when the ships return IRON
the first Philippine expedition, and he
really didn't think we could get away
then So you see we hang daily between
hope and fear.
Apparently on the surface of the
Kansas regiment all is lovely. But IN
derneath there is a volcano that is
liable to explode and smother some OF
the officers. There will be charges and
cOuntercharges when the time comes
too. And it won't be long either unless
certain things that are seething and
boiling now quiet down ELLIS.
W7sFe