The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
THE WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERS.
E4.sssrist Correspondence

Editorial Correspondence
sAE FRANCISCO. Aug. $--Tbs Wash
l-gtoa tro1ps ars taking taelr conde-r12-
sian % 3 career - inactivity wtta IS mach
philosophy as they are able D muster.
L ss s1sau sztLssz1tsoz 10 The rank and
lie that they ara enjoying nearly al zAs
comforts - a aozse. while taair fslIow-
sol@isrs are broIazx under the nerce -1go-s
Of Z tropical sun or EstAst2nsslng tn1po-
;s1tly IRE dreadful ravaSes ST qeztse0cs
All 9-sease II Cuba Taey w@rs TsaSon-
assy comfortable b@tc-e they we're iR61ced
70 enlist fer war they were never 20 see:
aZ1 = was -hen- as i iz aow, thsir eaiefest
desire 20 toilow tne asg into the eae-ay's
country. 10 matter what Ire hardShsrs
and esprivatiozs. ard 20 matter what Ire
penalties CT corssG 1srcss ID t6e-n per-
ssnally. Il Is lxsw.se little consolation
10 these brave boys 20 realize that thar
pastoral pursuits az Vancouver barracks
an4 their regular Ete and uozot0n5uS ex-
perisnces az he Preside are fire discipline,
They started tor The front. ard thay had
the Implied promise OF ne Cnlied States
authorities that they would he sent.
Taousan1s OF other regiments with no
better training On enlistment. hu- with 4
decidedly betts- political pun. have been
given first chance for glory and real
service. One ba,,zioa OF the Washington
regiment reached san Francisco IL he
van OF th@ volunteer troops. he Mime
sofa volunteers Only having preceded
them. The Other 5a,tailons veys ready AZ
the same time. They have had only the
mournfuI pleasure of sitting On the fence
while the favored sons u other states
went by
TIE First and Third batca.lons occupy
the comfortable quarters Of the regular
troops az the Preside. and ne Second
battalion under Leut--Col. Fife Is per-
forming similar police du.v ~ Angel
island. I had the pleasure Of seeing the
two Preside battalions at dress parade
last Friday night, and 7 an prepared %
say that they are the equals IF regulars
n precision and stea1iness % movement.
and in the skill. facility and uniformity
OF all their raanecvers. T. Is obvious that
the boys have proflted Immensely ny the
thorough soIdlerly training constantly
given them by Col. Wholley. I saw the
Seventh California. the crack regiment %
that state. give an exhibition drill the
following evening. Al Mechanics pavilion.
in the presence Of q grea: audience, which
was of course special Incentive for a
fine showing; and di3 not discover that
they possessed any quality or merit not
10 be found in equal degree among the
Washington boys. either as individuals or
as a whole. The high morale and splsn-
old organization OF the Washington regi-
ment have excited the admiration OF many
persons. ard it is The general opinion in
San Francisco that the reasons for de-
tanning so efficient body at home are
insufficient. whatever thsy are.
Last Sunday l had the pleasure OF max
ing thorough inspection OF the barracks
under the guidance OF Col. WhoIley.
From all I saw. and from all 7 heard IN
various sources. I am more than ever
satisfied that his appoin was most
1T and judic.ous. and that the admirable
physical and moral condition IN which the
regiment has been maintained is largely
due to his intelligence. diligence and al
thusias:n. II ought 70 be said right here
that in all my conversations with the
colonel. he had no word OF criticism 20
offer for the ma.treatmert Of his regi-
;nant by the government authorities; nor
did he at any time aliude to the subject.
or express any opinions 0. desires about
the whole matter. except 20 say that the
Washington troops had been more fortu-
nate than any others II their assignment
to quarters. Il would be an injustice 20
the colonel, however, TO assume thai, after
choosing the army for q career, and after
years Of technical training for the ener
gencies Of war. he Is content with the
vocation OF q mere Fedora! policeman.
The health % the Washington regiment
has been remarkably good At tho time
Of my visit there was only one soldier =
hospital! and there have been no deaths.
The regiment IS fortunate Ia having for
its surgeon Or. L. Z. Dawson, who cheer
fully resigned hLs large practice IN s.
at.le and accepted h.s present appoint
ncnt from Gov. Rogers He = most as
siGuous in his attention 20 the welfare
Of tae b0ys, and results STOW how thor
ough and competent his services have
been. Neither The colone! nor tbs doctor
mad great deal 10 say about the needs
Of the troops; bat 1 am sure that the
Red Cross soc.a<Ies Of Seattle and the
state can be q much use 20 them. That
they vii lie when they know just what
= wanted there - Of course no doubt.
II is fitting here to speak ot the mag
nificent work of the San Francisco Red
Cross women. They have found much 70
do. and they have done II nobly. They
have raised from the generous hearted
people Of Caifforr:a something Ike $15.Q0o
and they have had use for all II it. The
condition II which some OF the state
troops arrived in San Francisco vas
shocking The Kansas regiment. for In
stance. was living testimonial - the
though,.essness and improv.dence q thai
states people and the unpatrio..c conduct
OF SIS executive. The boys were lily
armed and scantuy clothed. and the
chilly and severe summer climate % Saa
Francisco wls 70 them 9 yer!:ania Valley
Forge The companies were modified d.
Tn.-.E,. IT,. IL: han III IN. uher