The San Francisco call., 1898-09-23
CalifornianS at Manila
 Highly Praised.
ATTHE FRONT IN EVERYTHING
WHETHER IT BE FIGHTING OR
 MERRY MAKING.
pr. Rethers, Surgeon of the First, Brings Cheering News of the
 Brave Boys From This City.

pr. Theodore Rethers of the First Cali fornia Volunteers was among the distin- guished passengers on board the trans port China which arrived yesterday from Manila by way of Hongkong.
 The doctor is enthusiastic in his praise of the manly and soldierly qualities of the men who represent this State in the Orient. He says that he but voices the sentiments of everybody who is brought in contact with them. The health of the Californians has been excellent chiefly owing to the good care they have taken of themselves, both in their diet and bathing.
 "The men were entirely free from sickness when they arrived at the Phil ippines,' said pr. Rethers yesterday "There was only one case to be sent to the hospital, and that was man who had been injured by fall on shipboard The second expedition was far from being so fortunate, there being 110 men who had to be transferred at once to the hospital Their ailments were of all kinds, typhoid fever and spinal meningi- tis claiming the majority of the victims, however.
 "The camp was healthy, no disease de- veloping there but being imported on the transports. While l was there 1t was the winter season, and the heavy rains kept the air comfortable The dry weather is approaching rapidly and with 1t will come the intense heat of the trop- ics How the men will stand that is a question The chief trouble has been brought on through the eating of fruit at other than meal times, and the drink ing of water that has not been boiled. The moderate eating of fruit and only at meal times benefits the men. This is especially the case with bananas.
 ''The men who were in the trenches for any length of time developed skin dis that yielded Sirnnle remedies
 The First California Regiment has been well named. It Is first in every thing, and the gallant boys have received fuh measure of praise from all who have been brought in contact with them. They were the first to so to the aid of the Pennsylvanians when they were in desperate straits and saved them from complete annihilation. A battalion of the First was the first to enter the city of Manila. They went farther than they were ordered in their eagerness, but hap oily nothing serious resulted"
 Each night the Spanish and insurgents fought. the latter usually being the first usually waited until the others fired and then aiNed at the spot where they saw the flash. Colonel Smith Issued posi- fired upon. After that the Spanish did not trouble them, indicating that they fired only when attacked"
 Up to the present time the troops have had but little amusement, their duties keeping them busy at all times. With the apparent end of hostilities they do not take kindly to the prosaic duty of polio ing Manila For this from 1200 to 1500 men are required at a time. The boys are commencing to display signs of homesick- ness and would gladly welcome word that they were to be mustered out. They are now living in barracks which they have fitted up in houses in various parts of the city. Just before we left the California boys gave a minstrel show, the first en- tertainment since the troops reached the islands"
 "The order to send additional troops to when we landed here. General Merritt cabled that he did not require any more
 The stand of Aguinaldo is hard to de termine: So many rumors are flying by those in authority. American Consul Wildman at Hongkong is an admirer of Aguinaldo and Is credited with believing ms stand correct one. Some say that there are three factions of the insurgents within six miles of Manila, who do not owe allegiance to Aguinaldo. The insur- gents must leave all their arms behind when they enter the city, but no restric- tons are placed on their going out. They may resemble walking arsenal and nothing Is said about 1t.
 Colonel James Smith was highly hon. ored by being made provost marshal of the northern district of Manila He ad- ministers the law as in court of jus tice.
 Father McKinnon, the chaplain of the regiment. Is noble man and Is beloved of the boys. He walked alone up to the gates of the city before It was taken. He was hred upon repeatedly before it was discovered that he was a priest He Is
 pr. Rethers will resign from the service and resume the practice of his profess sion in this city. He was formerly asso- cfated with the late Dr. Morse.