The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-29
Governments Shameful Treatment
of the Western Volunteers.
SHOWN AT CAMP RICHMOND
MUCH SUFFERING REPORTED
AMONG THE MEN.
Relief Furnished By Private Effort
and the Red Cross Society-Uncer-
tainty Concerning the Next Expe-
: dition 70 the Philippines-Very
Little Sickness Among Soldiers.

San Francisco, May 2S.-The First
regiment, Montana volunteers, number
ing 1000 men, under command of Col
onel Kessler, arrived here this morn
ing. They We're given the same hearty
reception that awaited the volunteers
from other states who have preceded
them, and the Montana boys showed
their appreciation OF the little kind
nesseS shown them in the same hearty
manner
The Montana men are as sturdy lot
as have entered this city, but they are
sadly lacking in equipment. Many of
them are without oVercoats, and their
shoes are in terrible condition. They
also need arms and ammunition. They
are not far behind other regiments in
this respect, however, and as General
Merritt has taken up the matter of
equipment, the men will soon be COM
fortably clothed and equipped for SER
vice.
Many of the soldiers encamped at
Fort Richmond are in need of proper
clothing, and, owing to a system of red
tape, or from some other cause, the
authorities here seem unable to cope
with the situation. There has been
much suffering among the men, but
few complaints have been heard. Pri-
vate enterprise has undertaken TO rem
edy the deficiencies of the cOmissary
department, and were il not for the
contributions of food made by the Red
Cross society and others, there would
have been real suffering in more than
one of the camps at Fort Richmond.
The Kansas boys seem to have been
more neglected by the government than
any Of the others, and were it not for
public donations, many of them would
be walking around without Shoes, socks,
uEderclothes and other necessaries. 1t
is generally understood that General
Merritt will issue orders to have all the
volunteers fully equipped at once, and
that if the government cannot supply
the necessary outfits, that private con-
Germs Will be called upon.
No orders to prepare TO break camp
have been received by any of the regi-
ments, and the statements of what
commands shall be assigned to the next
transports are founded upon sDecula-
tiGa, but it seems certain that the four
troops of the Fourth United States cav
airy will be among the lucky ones
chosen to embark on the next fleet to
Manila. They will take their own
horses. When 40 additional cavalry ar
rive from Chicago tomorrow morning,
it will bring the troops up TO the re-
quired strength of 100 each. The men
are fully equipped for active service.
The work on the transports now here
is being-rushed, but the Centennial and
the Ohio will not be here for some days
yet, but as they were built for the
Klondike trade and capable of carry
ing from 500 to 1000 men, they will need
very little alteration.
WITHIN TEN DAYS.
The Chronicle says that it has au-
thentic information regarding the
movement of troops to Manila from an
officer in close touch with the leaders
If the expedition soon to sail: He is
quoted as saying:
THE next expedition will not leave
so early as Thursday but it will start
within the next ten days. Not a regi-
nent is yet prepared to go and not one
If them will go until it is prepared. The
men have no suits yet for the tropical
climate. They will have to be FUR
liShed. There are nearly enough on
land in the quartermaster' DEPART
nent but other things are wanted.
Many more abdominal bandages are
needed. Everything possible viii be
lone for the prevention and cure of
disease, so that the men may be able to |
70 aboard ship within ten days hence |
n the best of health for the long yoy-
.ge."
VERY LITTLE SICKNESS.
Considering the number of men, many |
f whom are unused to exposure, now |
ncamped in the open air, where there |
5 no shelter from the cool breezes of |
he Pacific, there is very little sickness
mong the troops. The Nebraska and |
IDAHO soldiers are afflicted with a mild
Orm of measles. A number of mem
ers of the Pennsylvania regiment are
from severe colds. Stomach
roubles, caused by over-indulgence n
astry and sweetmeats furnished by
isitors to the camp, are numerous, but
one serious. One case of pneumonia
'as reported last night, that of Pri-
ate Sharp of the Seventh California.
The Preside & Ferries Street Rail
Dad company, through it's president,
gorge A. Newhall, has granted the
rivilege of riding free over its lines to
he soldiers now in camp. This is a
reat boon to the troops, for it is five
lilies from their camp to the center of
lie city over some steep hills.