The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-10
THIRD MAY SAIL TOMORROW.
CHANGES IN THE BIG TRANSPORT
DELAYS E.MBARKATION.


Early This MornIng-CoI Ray Calls
Down Delinquent officers of the
Fifth and Checks DisorGanizing
observation-disclosures May Have
to BE sent by Express for Rays
Men-The MinnevasEa II ROomy
md Comfortable Transport.
Unless there is a change Of plans, and
that does not appear probable, before the
people of Savannah have arisen this morn
ing, the Second Battalion of the Fifth
United States Regiment of Volunteers will
have left its camp at the Georgia car
works marched to the Ocean Steamship
Company's docks and aboard the trans
port Leona.
The Leona is scheduled TO sail between
6 and Z o'clock. At O'Clock the men of
the Second Battalion are expected to be
up, to have had breakfast and 10 be in
readiness to move. They will be In light
marching order. There will be no carry
ing Of sixty pounds of accoutrements for
three hours in the heat of the day. I'm
der the circumstances they should cover
the distance to the wharf in two hours
easily That, at least, is the expectation
of Maj. Willis, of the quartermaster's de-
partment, who will superintend their en-
barkation for Santiago. All of their
heavy baggage has been transferred TO
the wharf and arrangements made that
will insure a speedy loading this morning.
The Leona arrived yesterday morning.
She is known as transport No. q, and IS
OF 1881 tons net register There viii be
about 400 men to put on her, and there
mill he Ia ae he pi
carry several hundred more. The Leona
will be well supplied with ice and water
and the men made as comfortable as pos
sble. If the officers of the companies
and of the battalion look after the well
fare of the men en- route as Maj. Willis
has done they will have no reason to COM
plain.
Whether some of them will do so is an
other matter. 1t is to be regretted, but
1t Is a fact, that the Second Battalion
was rapidly getting demoralized yeser-
day when Col Ray stepped in to bring or
der out of neglect
Col. Ray is senior officer here and is
responsible if things go wrong with any
of the forces. no matter whether in his
immediate regiment or not. Yesterday
morning he was informed that there were
complaints from the men of the Fifth
that they were not getting proper ra-
tons This and other things coming to
his ears tended to show that the camp
over at the car works needed regulating,
and needed il at once.
Mai. Willis had found on his visit to
the camp that information as TO the num-
Der of men, horses. etc, was not at hand,
that proper roll calls were not being had,
and that there was a general lack of dis
cipline which threatened endless confu-
sion when the time for embarkation ar
rived. He reported the matter to Col.
Ray, who went over to the camp and in
al Moi
verbatim report of that interview
would greatly enlven the reports Of the
war department. Col. Rays language Is
occasionally forcible, at times even pic
turesque. Mai. Mooney doubtless appre-
ciates this fact. and also realizes that the
colonel has way of not mincing matters.
The major II seems, really didn't know
how many men were going on the trans
port. or how many horses, or how many
were sick. or much of anything else that
was desirable to know at this especial
time Practically every commissioned
company officer of the battalion was show
ing off his uniform at the De Soto or on
BroughtOn street. The surgeon was not
at hand and no sick report was available.
So Col. Ray, who has been in the army
thirty-hve years. may be excused for say
ing: This is h--ll of a state of AFFAIRS"
Some very pointed directions were given
about the conduct of the camp and the
enforcement of better discipline. The Ma
jor has only been in the service about six
or seven weeks, may not have known one
military movement from another before
he got the appointment, looks well i'm his
new uniform, and once he got stirred up
Is said to have made business go with a
rush The second battalion is claimed to
be the crack battalion of the regiment
The delinGuencies of the volunteer system
We're displayed, to some extent, in this
incident
White this battalion viii get off this
morning, Col Rays regiment will not
leave Savannah until tomorrow after
noon, and perhaps not until Friday morn
ing. Col. Ray announced 10 has officers
yesterday that owing to some changes on
the transport the regiment would be de-
layed about forty-eight hours longer. This
will be good news TO the friends of the
men here.
The Minnewaska arrived early yester-
day afternoon. She is said to be The larg-
est vessel that has ever come to this port.
She is 400 feet long over all of 1868 tons
net register, and was drawing 22i5 feet aft
and II feet forward. She can carry 1909
tons weight She is equipped to carry POO
troops, 1000 horses and in addition 5000
tons of freight. Stanchious were up for
1850 hammocks, but only seventy ham
mocks were found aboard of her 1t will
probably be necessary to have 1000 sent
here by express. Ample coal is on board
both transports for their needs. Consid-
cradle ice viii be taken on the Mlnnewas-
ka, and it is probable hat if 900 cords of
fire wood can be obtained a a reasonable
price and at once that quantity win be
forwarded TO Santiago on her for the use
OF the troops. Closets, bathing facilities,
ana changes in the arrangements for the
men are to be made. Part of the stalls
for the horses viii be removed to give the
men better sleeping quarters. as there
are but about 100 head Of stock to be
handled on this rim
Capt. w. w. Hopkins Is in command of
the steamer. Surgeon Henry b. Lee is on
board. The crew are about eighty-seven
in all. There are fine cabin accommodate
tons for the officers. Eighty cabin pas
eengers can be comfortably accommodate
ed. While built more especu.ly for
freighter, the Mrnewaska has always
been in favor by a select few people of
means, who desired TO take a sea voyage
of some length Of time, She Is said to be
one Of the most comfortable boats aaoat,