The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-02
Lieut.. May Outlines the Programme
for Ascertaining Fitness of Sol
diers for Federal Service.
THE LOSS BY REGIMENTS
ABOUT 900 MEN ARE ALREADY
BOOKED FOR RETURN HOME.
Brigade Parade Witnessed by 10000
HeIiOgraph's Successful Work.

The Indiana brigade confessed itself very
tired last night when it retired to rest. The
presence Of an enormous crowd of people,
estimated from 10000 to 10000, and the at
tendant jam and confusion, the warmth of
the day the immense clouds of dust that
blew from well-tramped roads, and the
drills and parades, all combined to make
the soldiers a weary body of men, and after
the regiments had cheered the fine news
from Manila silence came quickly over the
camp, and only the occasional Corporal of
the guard, No. s." from some lonely sentry
disturbed the stiffness.
Now that the second week of the en-
campment has begun, the men are growing
impatient at their detention in this city. A
spirit of restlessness is apparent, for every
man is anxious to go forward, no matter
where the destination may be. But it
seems that another two weeks is almost in
evitable. No one has received a word as to
the movements of the troops, except the &C.
casional speculation of some officer who
probably knows no more about the situa-
ton than the humblest private. Lieutenant
May, who is the highest federal army officer
in the city, thinks they will move soon, but
he says very frankly he has no information
on which to base such an opinion. How
ever. he stated last night quite definitely
that it would be another week before the
Indiana brigade is taken into the federal
service. If the men are mustered in by next
Saturday at noon the army officers Will
count their work we'll done, for they do not
intend to proceed in any hap-hazard way
in selecting Uncle Sans fighting material.
DR.. Dudley J. Wakeman, the assistant sur
geon, detailed to come here from Chatta-
nooga to conduct physical examinations
has orders to report to Lieutenant May, the
mastering officer, but at 8 o'clock last night
had not arrived. The mastering officer
made inquiry at the hotels, which failed to
develop the whereabouts of the army sur
geon. He was expecting him later in the
evening", and made no further inquiry, for,
as he said, the surgeon will not be able to
begin his work till tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning, probably, DR.. Wake
man, with DR.. Colt. of Charlottesville, and
DR.. Webster. of Lafayette. will summon the
twelve surgeons in the brigade and examine
them as TO their fitness to hold their posi-
tons. Then the twelve surgeons will become
a part of the examining board. Each adju-
tant and quartermaster of a regiment will
next be called upon, each to show a salts
factory condition of health, and then these
officers in turn will lend their aid to the
DOdTO, DI1IlSlll5 II lCl anu oCNAAAS NfAoN ~
dummies are brought before the doctors.
| So anxious are some of the men not ply
| sically qualified to go. that healthy John
| Smith might have himself m as Will
| liam Jones, a weakling. thus materially aid
ing William Jones, whom Uncle Sam does
not want, to go out as a soldier. Lieutenant
| May will also carry out certain other plans
to prevent any such deception which might
| be attempted by men jealous to serve their
| country over their country's protest. Every
man, from the brigadier general Gown, will
be put on the medical rack, although the
board will not begin with the brigade off,
| GERS, probably concluding its work at head
quarters instead. Four companies of a regi-
ment are to be taken first, and after they
nave passed the inspection, a major will be
brought out and thumped and measured.
After six companies have been put to the
tests the lieutenant colonel will strip. The
colonel will be the last one in the regiment
to prove his fit condition. AS forty-five hum
dred or more men are to be sized up, Lieut..
May says the routine will occupy all of
five and probably six days. The mastering
in process will take up little time. a day
suficing. After the grand roundup, when
the brigade stands ready to move as United
States soldiers, the mastering officer esti-
mates that the force Will be about so per
cent. of the army which went into camp
last Tuesday. This will require more recruit
ing in order to comply with President Nc
Kinley's wishes as to the number of men
Indiana should furnish.
AS is shown elsewhere in this paper the
four regiments have already lost about 600
men from various causes, principally by
reasons of home ties which have grown very
SfPOp~ IN the Lost fau daxrS TIL ba.I.L -
the camp continues reasonably good.