Evening star., 1898-07-30
The District Troops Regretted Santi-
ago's Capitulation.
WERE In THE MOST TRYING POSITION
Yellow Fever Has Not Reached
Them Yet.
SHAFTER ON A BUCKBOARD
ipecial From a STAFF Correspondent.

II
There was one regiment at least in the
investing line down here who severely re-
GREETED the capitulation of Santiago with
out fight. That regiment halls from the
District Of Columbia Colonel Harries' men
occupied a position on the line closest in to
the Spanish. 1t was regarded as the place
of honor and was given to the District
troops because General Lawton believes
they have the right sort of stun in them,
and because their coionei was anxious to
get there.
1t was the weak point on the line. too,
and the one where the Spanish were ex-
pected to make an effort to break through
in case they attempted sortie. Again, IL
was on the far right of the line. which
would have been hard hit in case Pando
had attempted a flank movement from the
west with his reputed force Of 5000 rifles.
Aching for Fight.
The District men knew all this and were
proud Of the confidence reposed in them,
and had determined to uphold at all haz-
ards the reputation they had acquired.
They were full of fight. They had borne
patiently and without a murmGr the abb
sence of everything which was almost nee
essary for existence-for the question OF
comfort had long since been abandoned.
They had lived for four or five days under
brush tepees and had been very short of
grub. Besides, they had done a good deal
of hard work, digging trenches. advancing
the line toward the Spanish position.
When the truce came they were within 200
yards of the Spanish front. The men were
aching for fight. They had established a
reputation for discipline and they wanted
to show that they were just as good ma
terial on the fighting line as they made in
camp.
1t transpired the other day that curious
mistake had been made in regard TO the
District men. General Lawton was under
the impression that they were armed with
Krag-Jorgensen rifles. He had no doubt of
their courage. But when he learned that
volunteer regiment had been placed in the
most exposed position on the line armed
only with the old Springfield he was aghast-
Not that the Springfield is not an effective
weapon, but it makes smoke enough TO shut
out all sight of everything in front and
presents a nice fog bank for the enemy to
make target of.
Reconnaissance of Three.
The boys at the front have a good joke
on the surgeons of the regiment and their
chaplain Soon after the white flag was
displayed on the Spanish trenches these
enterprising gentlemen sailed forth to
make a reconnaissance in force of three.
They wandered almost into the Spanish
trenches and would no doubt have entered
into conversation with the dons if they
had found any. They found nothing of
either spiritual or scientific interest, how
ever. and turned back toward their own
camp. Then they began to find matters
decidedly interesting. Our men had been
temporarily withdrawn from the outer
trenches and the outposts were some dis
tance back. They soon ran up against a
sentry, who declared he knew nothing OF
their identity and refused to be convinced,
by the most reassuring remarks of the,
gifted trio. The corporal of the guard was
no more relenting, but finally agreed to call
the sergeant This officer took even a more
rock-bound view of his orders than any of
his subordinates and was not too sure that
it would not be the proper thing TO sum-
marily shoot the whole party suspicious
characters. After long paIaver, however.
he summoned the officer of the guard, who
recognized the wanderers and admitted
them back to camp.
Now Getting Food.
Yesterday, through the untiring efforts
of Lieutenant J. II. Grifiiiths, the commits
sary officer, and Captain Jack Field, the
quartermaster the regiment besan receiy-
ing stores from Siboney, and the men once
more know what it is to have something
like an adequate food supply and to once
more enjoy the luxury of a shelter tent.
The road from the front to Siboney has
again been placed in something like pass
able shape, and the work OF getting sup
plies to the front can now be carried on
with considerable rapidity.
There is considerable fever reported
among the men at the front; but whether
It is genuine yellow jack seems still to be
a question. There have been no cases
among the District troops as yet.
Since the surrender there is much specu-
ation as to what the next move Will be.
There are all sorts of rumors afioat as
usual 1 heard from a pretty reliable
source that Gen. Miles had orders to take
The army out of Cuba and take il north to
avoid future trouble with the fever. There
IS also talk of a move on Porto Rico Ey-
arybody is anxious to get away from this
part of the island now, and Porto Rico or
nome is the general preference. The troops
% whom will fall the lot of remaining here
10 garrison tie captured province will be
as the martyrs of the expedition.
Shafter and wheeler.
Coming up from Siboney met both Gen.
y heeler and Gen. Shafter Wheeler. in an
bid brown duck uniform, scarcely looked
Ike the well-known figure on the floor of
he House; indeed, his appearance in the
ield is in his favor. He fully looks the
wiry. resolute soldier that he is. Shafter
s more spectacular. We hear great clat-
.ering of horses hoofs In the distance.
Presently a somewhat gaily caparisoned
entrouage of mounted horsemen swing
around a bend in the road, galloplng along
Is il on parade But where is our portiy
general among these dashing riders we
xonder? No form in sight seems TO fill the
eye sufficiently to suggest Shafter.
There is another sound of hoofs, less i'm
,ressive as to number, and the rattle OF
wheels, which echoes back from the jungle
ike the sound of distant laughter. Then a
blackboard wheels into sight drawn by two
ralloping mules. Bolt upright in this novel