Evening star., 1898-06-21
DISCUSS THE RUMORS
Soldiers at Camp Alger Eager to
Get Away.
OFFICERS WITHOUT RELIABLE DATA
Trouble Again Arises Over Man.
agement Of Hospitals.
GENERAL NOTES OF CAMP

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CAMP ALGER, Va, June 21 1898.
Everything gives way in the I'd Army
Corps to the discussion Of a possible move
ment of the several regiments on duty at
Camp Alger. Each circumstance that could
possibly be perverted into an indication Of
Importance is seized upon and discussed
eagerly. officers and enlisted men are all
equally anxious that their respective regi-
ments shall be the first selected to go to the
front, and any one of them can cite in
Vulnerable reasons why their commands
should be the first selected.
AT headquarters the aids and employees
assert with tears in their eyes that they
know nothing of a rumored movement ex-
cept what they read in the newspapers.
They insist that all information must come
first from the War Department, and they
profess to attach no significance to any re-
port that has far appeared in print. The
story that some of the troops now in camp
here to go to Fernandina is most ridi-
ouleI. Wherever else the men may go, say
the officials, it is not likely that the govern
ment will send them to a new camp in
Florida as long there is room at Tampa
for twice the number said to have been
ordered away from Falls Church.
Some things done at corps headquarters
would seem to Indicate that this statement
of the situation was not altogether correct
The Star announced several days ago that
instructions had been issued to equip GER
tain regiments as rapidly as possible, and
these regiments were at the same time
minutely inspected in order that it might be
learned exactly what was needed to COM
plete that equipment. These acts were re-
qarCe1 significant a G indicating the de-
sire Of the government to get the regiments
named ready for active service at once.
More Trouble in the Medical Corps.
Additional trouble has been brewing of
late in the medical department. This time
it is the result of transferring recruits to
the hospital service. Some time ago Col.
Girard asked for the detail of certain
number Of men for serving in the Hospital
Corps, and when these were delayed
threatened the colonels of the delinquent
regiments with court-martial When the
details were ready for transfer, general
order was issued transferring the men from
the volunteer service INTO the regular SER
vice. OF course, the men objected strenu-
ously. Colonel Girard explains that, as far
as possible, the men will be kept with their
own commands and will be assigned to
duty under their own officers, and that they
will all be discharged when their regiments
are mustered out of the service. This, he
says, makes little real difference in their
status. Notwithstanding this statement
the men dislike the change, and say SO de-
cidedly and emphatically.
Large Additions of Recruits.
Recruits are coming Into camp in great
number. The novelty of the thing has worn
off, and they are allowed to proceed on
their way without half the teasing and
guying that marked the entrance of the
first comeTs. Ohio, Illinois, New York and
Pennsylvania have out about half of the
quota desired One battalion has all the
men needed to complete it's roster.
Private Punished.
Summary court was assembled yesterday
afternoon for the purpose of considering
the case of Private J. W. Keitel Company
D, I'd Tennessee. Private Keitel was
charged with resisting an officer. 1t ap-
pears that Sergeant Brown of Company D
ordered Private Keitel to continue his la
Dor and to police the company streets more
thoroughly. Private Keitel refused to com
ply and asked the sergeant where he got
his stripes. He then attempted to thrash
Sergeant Brown, and was promptly arrest
ed by Lieut.. ]. E. Fisher The court pun
ished him by fining him $40, and putting
him in the guard house for thirty days.
Notes of the Camp.
Colonel W. N. Coulling formerly on duty
with the I'd Virginia. has been appointed
captain and quartermaster, United States
army.
Brigader General Cole and Captain Petit
john have both been assigned to duty,
the former to command the Sd Brigade of
the I'd Division and the latter as commits
sary of subsistence of the same brigade.
All the recruits for the I'd Battalion, 9th
Illinois, arrived in body last night.
Charles b. Murphy, Company A, Sd Mis-
souri,, oied yesterday morning of acute
pneumonia. He was buried at Arlington
yesterday afternoon at o'clock by Chap
lain Kerlin.
Under the auspices of the Y. NJ. C. A a
big mass meeting will be held on the parade
grounds at Camp Alger tonight. Major
General o. O. Howard will speak after
dress parade, and music will be furnished
by regimental bands. General Graham Will
preside and introduce the speaker.
Raidins Party Effects Capture.
Three regiments hurried into camp to-
day covered with dust They were the Goth
New York, 7th Ohio and 1st New Jersey
and they had come from Glen Echo to Falls
Church, distance of thirteen miles in
about four hours. The hurry was due to
two causes, the order OF recall issued to
the 65th New York and the desire of the
regimental commanders to protect their
baggage trains from seizure by the 1st New
York Volunteer Calvary. During the march
Capt. Clayton and his troopers had little
trouble in capturing some part of the bag
gage train. Today the mounted troops will
devote similar attention to the men en-
camped at Difficult run, the 1th Illinois,
ith Missouri and the 9th Pennsylvania.
New York will have had two of her vol
unteers transferred to the regular service
within the next week-Battalion Adiutant
James b. Mitchell of the Sd Infantry and
Sergt Alfred N. Maculay Troop A of the
1st Cavalry. Both are to be second lieu
tenants.
Private Charles B. Murphy, Company A.
Sd Missouri, died yesterday morning of
acute pneumonia. He was buried at Ar
lington by Chaplain Kerlin.