Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-05-06
SOLDIER BOYS IN CAMP
Gov. Shaw's Appeal for Volunteers
in Iowa Meets with Most
Hearty Response.
NEARLY 5000 ARE IN CAMP M'KIAlEY.
The National Guard Is Composed of
Four Regiments of lnfantry-A
Serious PrOblem-The Governors
Inteations - The state Board of
Control at Work.
Especial correspondence.l

Control at Work.
Especial Correspondence.1
Des Moines, Ia, May 2.-Nearly 1900
brave, strong young men, the pick of
the communities in which they live, are
in camp in Camp Mckinley, the state
fair grounds. The response to Gov.
Shaw's call for volunteers from the ma
tional guard was larger than had been
expected, and very few men took advan-
tage of the privilege of remaining at
home. The final orders to come to Des
Moines were sent out Monday night,
after the receipt of the formal call for
troops from the secretary of war.
lowa's quota is three regiments of in
fantry and two batteries of light ar
tillery. The Iowa national guard is
composed of four regiments of infantry,
and the state does not maintain any ar
tillery. Instruction in artillery prac-
tce is given at the state university, ag-
ricultural college, normal school, Cor
nell college at Mount Vernon and Iowa
Wesleyan college in Mount Pleasant.
Many have left school in order to enter
the national guard or the batteries.
They hoped to be accepted as company
from each school, or as nearly so as
possible, but this did not seem prac-
ticable; besides, the faculty opposed the
boys leaving school to enter the army,
SO many of them left as individuals.
In Camp Mckinley.
The troops began to arrive early Tues
day morning, the two Des AIoines COM
panies going into camp at seven o'clock
in the morning, to welcome their COM
rades when they arrived from over the
state. Special trains came in all during
the day, and by the next morning 2,3sS
men were in camp, named Camp Nc
Kinley by Gov. Shaw. Gen. James Rush
Lincoln, inspector general of the Iowa
national guard and military instructor
in the agricultural college, was placed
In command of the camp by the gov
ernor. Maj. Joseph T. Davidson, as
sistant inspector general of the First
brigade, was appointed camp adjutant;
Maj. Arthur L. Rule, assistant inspector
general of the Second brigade, was ap-
pointed camp quartermaster; Maj. w.
8. II. Matthews, surgeon of the Third
regiment, was appointed camp surgeon,
and Capt. d. A. Emery, of Ottumwa,
was made camp commissary. The sol
diers were sheltered in the buildings
on the grounds, the First regiment in
the speed barns on the north side of
the race track, the Second regiment in
the grand stand, the Third regiment in
the cattle barns and the Fourth regi-
ment in the horse barns. They were
we'll provided with straw with which
to make beds, and it was good deal
better than going into tents the first
thing. Each company was ordered to
bring two days rations, but the boys
ate all they had the first day, and reg
ular rations were issued by the COM
missary department in camp. At first
some of he men had no blankets or
overcoats, and for several days there
was shortage of uniforms and guns.
Most of these things We're supplied
within day or two, and the troops
were very comfortably fitted out and
quartered. But the large number of
new volunteers makes it impossible for
the state to fiji out the troops at once.
The government must furnish the
equipment. and it has not had time to
arrive yet.
Who VIII Commands
The troops are expected to be ready
to-day, and the required number will
undoubtedly be on hand, though there
is some doubt at this writing who the
officers will be.
This is the most serious problem in
connection with the preparation of the
Iowa troops for service. President Nc
Kinley called for three regiments of
experienced men, those of military
training. the national guard preferred
The regular army regiment now con-
sists of IL companies of 81 men, so pri-
Yates and 25 officers each, SO that reg
iment is composed of zoos men, be-
sides the regimental officers. In order
to secure the services of the best trained
men and give the national guard the
preference Gov. Shaw ordered all four
regiments to come to Des Moines, as
the strength of all of them combined
was not above $500, and over 1900 men
would be required to fill the three regi-
ments. But the difficulty arose over
the officers. Each regiment of the ma
tional guard had its full set of officers,
all ready for service, or nearly SO, while
only three sets of officers can be pro-
vided for under the call Gov. Shaw
therefore requested all the officers and
men to volunteer to serve without rank
and take their chances on being re-
appointed to their present positions or
sent out as privates reduced in rank.
That seemed to be the only way to settle
the question.
An Examining Board.
An examining board was appointed
to examine into the qualifications of all
the officers and make recommendation