The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-31
PREPARING THE TRANSPORTS.
Cannot Leave Before the Middle of
Next Week.

San Francisco, May 30.-Memorial
day was comparatively quiet at Camp
Merritt. as Fort Richmond is now
known. Considering that it was a holi-
day the crowds which visited the city
of tents occupied by the soldier boys
did not reach the proportions expected.
The parade of veterans and volunteers
divided the population but nevertheless
the boys out at the camp were be-
seiged by an army of admiring people,
few of whom visited the camps empty
handed, in spite of the orders issued by
Major General Merritt to the effect
that no more goodies were to be given
to the men under his command. If the
people did not take good things to eat
they took bouquets of flowers, which
pleased the recipients as much as
sweets and other delicacies.
The eastern men are particularly
grateful to the giverS of California
flowers and every tent gives a place to
some receptacle containing the blooms
which they admire so much. Wash
basins, tomato cans, coal oil cans and
in fact anything and everything that
will hold water is filed with flowers at
all times.
Major General Merritt today estab-
lished his headquarters in the Phelan
building, in the rooms vacated by Cen
eral Otis, who is now permanently 10
Gated at Camp Merritt This morning
General Merritt issued an order assum-
ing command of the Philippine expedi-
ton, and IS now buSily engaged COM
pleting arrangements for the forward
ing Of the second detachment of troops
to Admiral Dewey's assistance.
PREPARING THE TRANSPORTS
The work of preparing the steamers
Zealandia, China and Colon for the re-
ception of troops is progressing,
though rather slowly. The Zealandia
needs very little alteration to fit her for
service, and can be prepared for sea in
IS hours. providing her cargo has been
slowed and trimmed. The China is still
unloading at her dock, but a force of
carpenters is at work fitting hunks
and making other necessary repairs,
and the same may be said of the Colon
The steamers Centennial and Ohio,
which, with the three vessels named,
make uo the five vessels to comprise
the second fleet of transports, have
not yet arrived from Puget sound It
is not expected that the fleet can leaye
here before the middle of next week at
the earliest.
1t is understood that the Monterey,
which is being coaled at Mare Island,
will get away by the end of the pres
ent week.
The question of what regiments will
make up the second expedition to the
Philippines is agitating the men at the
camp greatly. They all want to go. but
as there are already over 1900 men
there and more coming, and the second |
expedition is 10 be made up of only
5000 men. there will be many disap-
pointments. There are now five volun-
teer regiments ready, the Colorado, the |
Seventh California, Minnesota, Ne |
braska and Pennsylvania. Every pos |
sible effort TO get them into shape for |
service has been made and in view of |
this activity to get these regiments |
fully equipped, it looks as if they. with |
the regulars now here, will constitute |
the major portion of the second expedi- |
ton.
The Kansas boys are happy tonight. |
Every man in the regiment is wearing
a new uniform, new shoes, new under |
clothing. and. in fact, the Kansas bg
are as comfortable and soldierly loo
ing as any of the volunteers in camp,
and that is saying a good deal. The |
Kansans have also organized a band |
OF &c pieces.
NO MORE DAINTIES.
Orders against the accordance of
food donated by strangers are being
rigidly enforced in the Minnesota, Ne
braska and Idaho headquarters. So
many men have been made sick by
indulgence in dainties that
stories OF poisoning, apparently with
out foundation, have been circulated,
and the officers have thought best to
take no chances.
There are many members of the