Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-06-14
STARTED On 4 LONG TRIP.
The Fifty-First Regiment, Under
Col. Lopez, Leaves for the
Philippine Islands.
THE BOYS IN BLUE WERE DELIGHT Cd.

The New Major Gcncral-What War
COsts-Men Furnished by Counties
Troops in Good Henlth-Iktlled In
Africn-rhc State Debt Reduced
Other Notes.
Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, June 6.-The most
important development in regard to the
Iowa troops during the past week has
been the ordering OF the Fifty-first regi'
ment, commanded by Col. John 6. Lo-
per, of Des Moines, to proceed at once
to San Francisco and report to the COM
handing general, Maj. Gen. Wesley
Merritt. The regiment started yester.
day on this long journey and will un.
doubtedly go to the Philippines. 1t is
thought probable that the Forty-ninth
regiment, commanded by Col. w. q,
bows, of Cedar Rapids, will follow the
Fifty-frst, and it is possible that Brig.
Gen. james Rush Lincoln, of Iowa, may
have these two regiments under his
command. The troops are delighted
to be sent to the Philippines. although
they regard it as certain to give them at
least two years service. The Fifty first
regiment is composed of two companies
from Des Nloines and one each from Vii
lisca, Glenwood, Knoxville, Shenandoah
Oskaloosa, Creston, Bedford, Corning
Council Bluffs and Red Oak. The regi-
ment left Des NIoines we'll equipped
which is due to the forethought of the
state authorities, Gov. Shaw and Adjt.
Gen. Byers, and the policy they adopted
of equipping the Iowa troops so that
they will be a credit to the state and will
not be obliged to undergo unusual hard
ship or be subject to delay il arriving
at a pointofse!fiiciency after leaving the
state.
Make Good Soldiers.
The reports that have come from
yorable to the Iowa troops; they have
been complimented by the officers and
the newspaper men at the front, because
they have been well drilled, healthy and
equipped ready for business with the
exception of arms, of which they are
about one-third short of the required
number. Iowa was among the last three
eNSaoSo w SSihlASeS liCA
quota of troops under the first call;
Kentucky and Mississippi We're the 9th
ers. The delay was owing very largely
to the failure of the war department
to provide an examining surgeon, who
did not arrive until the troops had been
in camp ten days; only one examiner
was sent and he was obliged to pass
upon every man who volunteered.
Mai. Gen. Lincoln.
When the second call for troops came
1t seemed likely that Iowa might have
one or two new regiments. Gov. Shaw
promptly settled the question of the
first colonelcy by commissioning James
Rush Lincoln to be colonel of the Eff
ty-third regiment, which would be the
next in number after the four now or
ganized; his rank was to date from May
I, 1890, the date he was appointed chief
signal officer, with the rank of colonies;
two years later he was appointed in
spector general of the Iowa national
guard, the Office which he has held ever
since.
The day after this appointment was
announced President Mckinley sent
Col. Lincoln's name to the senate as
one of the brigadier generals of volun7
teers; this appointment was earnest
~ desired by the military men and the
people of the state generally and was
the cause of great rejoicing in Camp
Mckinley. Gen. Lincoln is an ideal COM
mander; he makes little fuss about his
work and quietly looks after the COM
fort of his men, which he believes to be
one of the chief duties of the command
ing officer. There is never any friction
between him and his subordinate Off
GERS; the machinery of his command
runs smoothly. He is a man of few
words and is exceedingly popular with
both officers and men; his military eX-
perience and thorough education fit
him for the work of commanding an
army, and his friends who know him
best are confident that he will be heard
from with credit.
What 1t Hns Cost.
The state has expended about $4,000
In the mobilization of troops at Camp
Mckinley and in preparing them to go
to the front. The troops were paid for
the time they served prior to being mus
tered into the United States service.
The Fiftieth regiment received about
$1,000, the Fifty-second received $16,-'
700, the Fifty-first received $4,000 and
the Forty-ninth $2o,274. When all the
troops We're in camp it cost 5000 per
day to feed them; the cost of transport
tation of troops to this point and of
sending home those who were rejected
will be about $4,000; the rest of the
money went for uniforms, shoes, wooden
and rubber blankets and other things
accessory for the equipment and main
tenance of the army. Two-thirds to
three-fourths of this amount will be re-
funded to the state by The general gov
eminent. The bill to this effect has al
ready passed both houses of congress,
but 1t will take a long time to get the
bills audited and allowed. The amount
OF this expense was SO much larger than
was anticipated that the state did not
nun ha I'll,