The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-06
AT CAMP
TUNNEL.
The Boys Would Like to
Know Where They Are
ITO Be Sent.

Middletown, May 5-The soldiers In
camp are wondering what the United
States Government is going to do with the
Delaware National Guard.
The question was much mooted one
when Camp Turmoil opened. 1t has been
settled, reopened, settled again and once
more has returned Its doubtful phase. To-
day our boys In blue both rank and file. are
still asking: What is to become of usp"
The intrcacles Of a vigorous cainpa Ign
in active warfare are not more perp,ex ing
that the problems which now confront the
commanding officers. Men OF every rank
have been talked with on the subject and
they all agree that nobody seems to have
any specific information up II some Of the
most important points connected with the
reference Of the Guard to the volunteer
army.
For instance the process Of mastering In
Is just beginning, and details are being
aent out from every command to secure re-
cruits enough to bring the number up to
tho required war footing Now required
war footing" sounds well. but what does
II meanp In the words Of Lord Dundreary,
mo fellow can find out" Under the Pres
dents call for volunteers, Delaware Ia to
furnish regiment The number who
have expressed their willingness to vnlun-
teer, as shown by the enr0llument Of TIE
pas few days, is about 800. There Is de.
ticiency Of 1884 men who must be obtained
by recruiting. But how are these men to
be distributed among the regiment D.la.
ware has to. furnish? What is Is to be the
size Of a company According to orders
from State headquarters tho company
will comprise eighty-two men and officers.
The size OF the regiment at these fa ures
would make a total Of SO men. This is
near the required figure and 1t would
seem that common sense would dictate
that the state orders should b. followed.
But according to an order issued by the
War Department the minimum for an
infantry company is to be eighty-nine
men and officers. This would run tho
Guard up to 1903 for in excess OF the sup
posed required number.
Then there is the question OF officers.
The opinion gains ground daily that as
soon as the guard enters the volunteer
army it ia to DO commanded by regular
army officers, and that many of the
present officers are to be shelved. This
opinion seems borne out by the fact that
no direct. positive statement on the
noint at issue can be obtained from
the authorities at Washington.
soft will be seen that Delaware's citi.
zen soldiery are playing anything but a
cheerful game Of waiting hero. They are
CROPPING vainly in the dark for some solu-
tion Of the perplexity that surrounds
themselves. The decisive move in the
game must be made from Washington,
and no man knoweth what Its import will
be.
The LAY was Il disagreebe one in camp
and not much was done in the line of hard
work, the work of examining the men
before entering the volunteer service was
finished during the afternoon, and of the
600 men but forty-nine failed to qualify.
Nearly all those rejected have defective
sight.
The equipping of the men in regular"
uniforms will now begin Captain Pratt
of Company M was in camp to-day, ar
ranging for the quartering and subsis-
tence of his command. Several tents were
pitched for Company M, and the men will
ut once begin the military manoeuvers.
More than one hundred recruits swelled
the ranks of camp to-day. Nearly all of
them came from Wilmington, although
twenty were from Newark.
A detail Of officers and men left camp
this afternoon to recruit men ut the ar
mores Of their companies. About 400
mon are needed to bring, the First Regi.,
ment up to its quota. The occupants of
Tent No 6, Company X, last evening re-
ceived three boxes Of viands and four
mattresses from w. H. Kentworthy of
Wilmington.
The members OF each company In camp
have determined that the silver trophy
offel cd by G. +. Rudolph Of Wilmington,
will be won by their company in the
craftsmanship contest. The trophy will be
on exhibition at regimental headquarters.
Lieutenant Gordon has also received all
order from the War Department. instruct
ing him to muster in one major and one
extra lieutenant and adjutant for each
battalion. provided they are called for in
the State laws. Lieutenant Gordon has
been detached from service at Delaware
College for the present.
The expenses OF the camp are now being
borne by the War Department and in fact
have been since Thursday, April 20. when
all guardsmen who would not volunteer
into tho service of Uncle Sam returned to
their various armories. This is an impor-
tant move and accor ding to the telegram
the expenses of but two days of the en-
campment will have to be met by the tax.
PAYERS of Delaware