The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-16

Camp Alger, July 15.--I had long
talk today with General Goblin on
the possibilities of the Third bril-
gade getting into action. He SAID
that while there was no one more
anxious than he to get to the front, he
would not seek an assignment to ac-
tive service until such time as he felt
satisfied he had an army. II have
body of men," he said, who will make
as good soldiers as the country can
turn out, they are progressing in SOL
dierly discipline in most gratifying
manner but until they are disciplined
It Is not my desire that they should
be put to the terrific test that only the
disciplined can hope to undergo with
out disastrous results"
A big percentage of the brigade,
almost half, he went on to say, IS
made up OF recruits. many OF whom
never as much as fired blank car
fridge from a rifle. If there was
necessity of their jumping into action
II would put a different phase to the
case, but when no such condition eX-
lists, II is not only unwise but wrong
TO ask to have them accepted for work
at the front
SHAFTER'S ORDER.
Incidentally attention might be CALI
ed to the fact that General Smarter
very emphatically directed that none
OF the volunteer regiments, with one
execution, the Second Massachusetts,,
should be allowed in the firing line
that now surrounds Santiago, or that
was surrounding it when the last dis
patches We're received. The Second
Massachusetts was fully equipped and
of the maximum strength when 1t first
took the field The other regiments.
or at least those with which ! am
familiar, were like the Thirteenth,
made up in great part of recruits.
Their officers represented that they
We're ready to go into active service.
Possibly they were, but in the light of
no explanation of General Skaters
order. it is fair to presume that the
officers in question allowed their en-
thusiasm to get the better of their
judgment and discretion. Two of the
regiments that went from this camp
were under fire in the early fighting
before Santiago Neither of them is
the Second Massachusetts,.
1t is now very probable that the
Thirteenth will not move to its new
camp site for a week at least. Con-
lIdrN TO TtpOTlS ItttlNt'l at
headquarters the preparations at Crit
tenden farm for the reception of the
soldiers are far from complete. In
stead Of two wells being sunk and an
other under way, it developed. upon in
vestigation yesterday, that only one is
completed and operations have not
even begun on the second. Wednesday
morning when the Eighth regiment
hoo nd
companies formed for the march to
the new camp site an orderly came
dashing into camp With instructions
from corps headquarters to postpone
the moving until further orders.
WELLS NOT SUNK.
At the eleventh hour it appeared
the discovery was made that the arte-
sian we'll contractors had not pro-
gressed with their work as far as
they had promised and halt was or
dered until it could be ascertained
whether or not there was sufficient
water to accommodate the needs OF
the one regiment. A hurried investi-
cation was made, and when 1t was
found that one we'll was in operation
permission was given the Eighth tC
proceed on its journey.
Last night it was decided not tc
send any more troops to the new camI
until another well, at least, has beer
sunk. The contractors. who were
called in consultation, said they woulc
be unable TO begin work on the sec.
ond well before Saturday or Monday
1t will require three days and possibly
week to finish the work. so it can bt
seen that the remaining two regiment.
of the brigade are destined to stay il
their present location for some time t,
come.
Owing to the inconvenience that will
ensue from having the brigade SO wide
ly scattered there was talk last nigh
Of ordering the Eighth to return, bu
no action was taken. If it is seen tina
the Thirteenth and Twelfth can no
be accommodated at the new camp 70
a couple of weeks yet it is not at al
unlikely that the Eighth will h.
brought back here until such time a
all three regiments can be moved a
once.
SINKS CLOSED UP.
The Twelfth regiments camp is lai
out at right angles with the Thir
teenth's, the rear of it's second batta
lion facing the left of the Thirteenth
headquarters and non-com streets
With utter disregard for the health O
their neighbors the Twelfth people 10
Gated their sinks along the edge q
the Thirteenth's camp. At first lttl
or no annoyance resulted, but as tim
wore on the sinks became a nuisanc
and 1t was suggested to Colonel Gorge
that he have them moved to som
other part of his camp. He said n
would, but he didn't. Complaints wer
made time and again, but the only re
suit was promise to attend to tn
matter in the morning. Lately I'll
nuisance became positively unbearabI
and a demand was made for their rC
moval. The demand was as inef'ectui
as the preceding complaints request
and suggestions
Last Monday morning the Third br
Bade went away on practice marcl
1t so happened that Lieutenant Colon
Mates, of the Thirteenth, was appoln
ed corps officer of the DAY on the pr,
Vious evening to serve twenty-fo
hours. One of the duties of the oftiC
is TO abate all nuisances, and the o
ficer can do that same summarily
he so sees fit. Colonel Mates saw
to abate the Twelfth's sink nulsanc
and he proceeded to do II forthwit
First he went TO the officer left
charge of the Twelfth's camp, Lie,
tenant Staier, of Company d. az
formally notified him that the sinl
I'm question were a nuisance in Il
opinion of the corps officer of the dc
and consequently would have to be r