The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-16

the top fastened over MS shoulders.
Holes were cut IN the sides for his arms,
and the pleasecfgrih on his face showed
that he at least fully appreciated his own
inventive genius. | admit that this bath
ing suit had rather crude appearance,
but it seemed to meet all visible require
mentS.
As our camp is not over burdened with
feminine society, many of these darkies
ride boldly intos tt19 gulf with nothing on
at all. The horses always seem to enjoy
the bath as mudh az their riders
When soldier ID our camp is not at
work, he is generallx asleep or lying down
on his bunk. Possibly this accounts for
campaign, for among the white troops
there has never been the slightest trouble
about discipline.
Quite a large number of recruits has
recently been added to the command and
they are now going through the evolu-
tons of the awkward squad. Their drill
is no joke, and they are rapidly being
hammered into shape for business" In
the infantry and cavalry regiments these
rockies" are taught the school of the
soldier" and in the artillery they are after
wards initiated into the mysteries OF "Sec-
ton drill and Standing gun drill" 1t is
remarkable how quickly they learn this;
but, then, perspiring Drill Sergeant Gov
cred with dust is a fierce-lOoking indI-
vidual, and what he says is generally
RENE m bered. There is no place like
camp, where recruits so rapidly learn the
duties Of soldier and lose their new"
appearance. They soon become accus-
toned to the life-especially if they have
plenty to eat. soldiers stomach is the
barometer of his feelings. and he seldom
has any complaints as to his food here.
ApropoS of the volunteer officers around
Tampa, many OF whom seem to US to be
very young for their positions, / will tell
story heard somewhere out in Wyoming.
young Lieutenant who had been re-
Gently appointed from civil life was as
signed to an infantry regiment in which
his father was then serving as Major.
The young man was promptly made Ad-
lutant of his fathers battalion, and every
body in the post turned out to see him
conduct his first parade.
Now, it is the custom, as every soldier
knows, for the Adutant, after forming the
battalion, to salute the commanding officer
and say, "Sir, the parade is formed;
whereupon the latter returns the salute,
and answers, Take your post, sir"
The young Lieutenant, however, forgot
himself, and after q most grandiloquent
salute said:
Father, the parade is formed"
The old gentleman flushed under his
helmet, ground his teeth, and in a voice
choking with emotion replied:
Take your post, you - little fool"
Several nights ago l saw very interest
ing group on one of the verandaS of the
Tampa Bay Hotel 1t consisted of Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee and about ID young ladies
from Cuba. They were all sitting in
circle. each senorita listening in rapt
attention while the intrepid old soldier
told them stories in the beautiful Ian
guage of Spain
They have some curious ideas, these
Cuban girls, and under no circumstances
Will they dance while their brothers and
sweethearts are at war. / don't know,
but | imagine that many a curly-headed
youth in our army would rest more easily
If he knew his enchantress at home would
abstain from dancing on his account.
Still, think weAlf prefer an American
girl as she is; fdk dou BIT if they can be
improved upon Tits 4ide of heaven.
Some of the MEch&an troops who have
guns, and here bthe reason as told by
one OF their ofTid&s4 They thought that
if they left tIieiE Oh guns behind they
would receive bAnds new ones from the
Government; bit they didn't When
they arrived with no guns they were
promptly supplied with old Springfield
rifles INTENDED for the Cubans). which
had been used by the Regular Army for
years in hunting antelope and settling
Indian disputes on the frontier The
Michigan boys take it good -naturedly, |
however, acknowledging it as a Joke on
The other day saw group of six
sailors from one of The gunboats in the
harbor making their way towards their
ship. They were al bit unwieldy from
having too much bilge water in their
holds. One man in particular was I'M
able to navigate, and four others, under
the directions of a typical gray whiskered
old salt, attempted with many weave
no" and altogether" to raise him upon
their broad but unsteady shoulders.
After several Intellectual attempts they
finally got him loaded ION their backs, |
and started off, with the old tar giving
signals as to the rate of speed and proper
nautical course
Whether it was due to the very bizarre
nature of the signals or to some fault of
the steering gear do not know. but from
the cratic course they pursued / am in
cHned to believe they either grounded
somewhere Or emptied their bunkcrs long
before they reached port.
A rumor Of moving has developed into
an order for four batteries to get ready to
move 1t appears that all of Skaters
corps. battalion of engineers and four
light batteries of artillery will comprise
the expedition, and have been ordered to
be in readiness to go. The artillery has
already begun to load it's guns on the
transports, but no definite date has been
fixed for the move. Gen. Miles has ar
rived, and is at the Tampa Bay Hotel.
The infantry are packed up and their
wagons on the way mere.
DIR. GUY c. n. GODFREY.
TIE DELIEE c0D0C