The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02


the alarm, and in less than two seconds
300 men and half a score OF officers, IN al
most all stages of dishabille, as they had
STARTED from their afternoon maps, were on
the way TO the scene, each carrying some
thing which could be used in extinguish-
ing the blaze. One man had a bucket
half full of water, another his saddle
blanket, a third a shovel, and so on
Some hot ashes, carried from cook fire,
had ignited the pine straw and dried grass,
and a sudden puff of wind had spread the
flames In less than one minute recall
was sounded, and in another camp was
quiet. -, an
Troops are rapidly arriving, and trans
ports to bear them to Cuba are filling up
the harbor, % being now there. The last
vessel to arrive is the Red Cross steamer
State of Texas, which came in this morn
ing.
But lust why men unarmed, or men
ununiformed, should be hurried down
here is not comprehended by the average
mind. Four TegimentS-the I'd Ca, the Sd
and 5th Ohio, and SD Mich-are camped
at Palmetto Beach, about four miles from
this point, and only one is fitted out COM
pletely. The Georgians are armed, but
have no uniforms, unless some of the
State gray can be called by that name.
The 5th Ohio has uniforms, but lacks 200
men and $50 rifles, and the Michigan men
marched into camp fully clothed, but I'M
armed.
These regiments constitute a brigade
organized to-day, and commanded by
Brig. Gen. Hawkins, Colonel, goth U. 3.
Inf.
went through the camp this forenoon,
and must say that the Michigan men I'M
pressed me most fayorably in physical
appearance and bearing. All the officers
seemed To be anxious to get down TO
work" and improve the time; and all
with whom / conversed expressed wish
that they could be brigaded with aRegular
regiment that they might have an object
lesson before them; something different
from what the opinion was in 81.
asked, too, about dividing State troops
and assigning those of different States to-
gether. To man they favored it, as
tending TO obliteration of old sectional
feelings, and cultivating closer acquaInt-
ance, and also a spirit Of soldierly emula-
ton which will be of great use and value
an the field.
organized commits sariat than did the
GeOTgians. OF the Michigan camp could
not Judge, as they were just moving in.
About the Georgia camp ! saw food
wasted.thrown out from their fires, but
they viii learn to save after they have
gone hungry a few times. Col. Oscar j.
Brown, who commands, is Captain, 1st
L. 5. Cav, who has been on the staff of
Gov. Atkinson for three years, and, as he
Is a man Of energy and has men of
similar stamp in command of companies,
he Will make his regiment a good one,
am certain.
/ was informed that grandson of Gen.
John b. Gordon, of Confederate fame. is a
private in one Of the companies. / honor
the boy for his course.
REASONS OF DELAY.
"Why doesn't the Army mover" "When
will the move on Cuba begin?" are ques-
tons heard daily-yes hourly.
Wait moment, my impatient friend,
and, though have not the honor TO be in
vited 10 attend meetings of the Cabinet or
councils of war, | may be able 10 give you
some information. You may have read
some OF the reports Of Army and Navy
Secretaries and commanders from time to
time, and If you have you cannot have
failed to notice that for years they have
warned your congressman and Senator'S
and through them the whole country,
that such crisis as the present was
liable to come upon us at almost any time
and that if it did il would find the country
unpTepared TO meet IT, If their warnings
were not needed in season.
But your Representatives could not be
made to believe ii, or, if they did believe
they would not act, because, if they did,
the opposite political party could be
trusted 10 go before the people at the
next election, if no war had in the mean
time occurred, and acclaim against party
extravaganza and cause the honorable
Representative sor the honorable Senator
SO he voted down any estimate which
was offered by men who knew what they
were doing, and what was required 90 do
ii properly. They held up their hands
and raised their voices in holy horror
when the General of the Army proposed
that the Regular force, instead of remain
ing at the diminutive size il then had,
should be increased 10 x, 900 men. And
yet, with an army of $1,000 men, well
equipped, as a National force should
always be, and a Navy such as this
country with its honor and safety demand
TO assist, $1,000 could have been landed
on Cuban soil within three weeks after
war had been declared, am have been ere
now in possession of Havana, and, fol-
lowed bya relief fleet, the reconcentrados,
or many OF them, who have died of star
walton, could have been saved.
Place the blame where it belongs. Why,
as i sat one afternoon in March in the
gallery OF the House Of Representatives,