The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-13
LINEN SUITS
RECEIVED
Colonel Abbot So Notifies
Governor Dyer.
MEN ANXIOUS TO MOVE.
Cannot Understand Why They Are
Held at Camp Alger.
MEN ANXIOUS TO MOVE.
BATTERYMEN AT CAMP DYER.

Governor Dyer has received dis
patch from Colonel Abbot command
ing the First Regiment, Rhode Island
Volunteers. announcing the arrival of
the linen suits for the officers and men
OF the Regiment. This Will put the
men at Camp Alger on a footing of
equipment superior to any other state
of the Union, but still the regiment is
allowed by the Washington authorities
to idly occupy its camp, while regi-
ments that are only imperfectly
equipped and poorly drilled are being
sent TO the seat OF war.
Governor Dyer Is still without any
Information as to the intentions OF the
government in regard to the batteries
now at Quonset Point. Requsitions
have been made upon the government
by the captains OF the two batteries
for the necessary equipment, but as yet
no word has been received, and the
men continue to go through the dis
mounted drill. Senator Aldrich is said
TO be in constant communication with
the war department, and the result will
probably be that the batteries VIII re-
ceive the horses and the remaining two
guns when Secretary OF War AIger gets
ready TO issue such an order.
Heavy Rains a. Camp.
While the heavy rain which fell this
morning compelled the batterymen at
Quonset Point 10 confine themselves to
the shelter OF their tents and to the
comforts of the Army Christian Asso-
citation room, the rain did not come
wholly amiss, for the roads are dry
and covered with surface of sand and
gravel that makes travelling a thing not
wholly composed OF pleasure. Captain
Greene, the post quartermaster. was
the one man who was disappointed to
see the rain, for he had quite con-
siderable amount of hay out upon
which he and force Of men detailed
from the batteries have been at work,
and he was anxious to get this under
shelter before the storm struck Quon-
set Point.
The men OF Battery u have been
measured for their canvas suits, but II
will probably be several days before
the suits arrive at the camp. The men
are now hoping against hope appar-
emily that they may soon be called upon
to shake Rhode Island dust from their
feet and go into more active service
where they may show that they en-
listed for something more than mere
show. and that they are prepared to do
service at the front. No portion OF the
side arms or other equipment has yet
been given out, nor have the ron-coms
their chevrons or stripes yet 1t is un-
derstood that both the chevrons and
the stripes have been ordered. but have
not yet put in an appearance.
Are Disappointed.
At Camp Alger the men OF the
Rhode Island Volunteer Regiment are
feeling very blue at the outlook for
active service. for there does not ap-
pear to be any outlook. Despite the
fact that Adjt. Gen. Corbin has stated
that the arrival of the steamship Har-
ward would be the signal for departure,
and that Senator AIdrich had tele-
graphed to Gov. Dyer that all impa-
tience would disappear If the men
knew how matters stood. the officers
and men begin to believe that they
have already taken the most active
part that will fall to their lot i'm this
war. The only possibility they can see
ahead OF is that of garrison duty in
some OF Spains conquered possessions.
The advent of the paymaster. how
ever. has driven away, to some extent,
the depressed feeling which has per-
vaded the camp. There were 80 re-
ported absent without leave yesterday
morning. only a few less than on the
day after the first pay day. IL was not
expected that the exodus would be as
great this time. inasmuch as passes
have been available to all who have
behaved themselves for month. 1t
is strange fact that the majority Of
the culprits arc from two companies
l. and M-that have hitherto been ex-
empt from the common evil OF camp,
and that they have hitherto been con-
sidered trustworthy men.