The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-29
COL. FUNSTON
Will Command the First
Regiment That Kan
SaS Sends to
War.
AND 1T is ALL RIGHT.

Just before leaving lola for WASH
ington ON Wednesday Fred Funston
got telegram from Gov. Leedy ask
ing him to come to Topeka. He ac-
cordingly went to the capital and the
Kansas City journal tells the rest of
the story as follows:
Topeka, Kan, April 22.-(Special. J
Colonel Fred Funston Will command
the First regiment of Kansas
volunteers In Cuba. Governor Leedy
tonight rendered him the position of
colonel and he accepted. In making
this appointment the Governor has
scored a scoop on the federal army.
This morning Governor Leedy made
up his mind that Colonel Funston
would be just the man to lead the
Kansas forces by reason of his &C.
quaintanc5in Cuba and his experience
in the insurgent army. He asked
Colonel Funston by wire to come up.
The colonel came in tonight. II de-
sire to appoint you as colonel of the
First Kansas regiment of volunteers
said the governor, after n brief con-
versation about things In general.
81 will accept the place and try aud
bring honor to Kansas was the colo
nel's reply.
The two then discussed affairs aud
plans for the organization and
mobilization of the Kansas forces.
They can take no definite step until
President McKinley's call Is received,
but they both expect 1t tomorrow.
There Is one thing certain. The regi-
ment that Colonel Funston leads will
see hard service. That IL, if he has
his way. al want to go to get there, 1"
he said. If the Kansas troops are left
here to guard the coast | Will roar. 1t
would almost drive me to the point of
deserting.n The governor does not
appreheud that Colonel Funston will
DE left behind. because he Is too valu-
able man on the island. III believe
it will take about two months for the
United states to take complete charge
of Cuba said the colonel. or course
if we sink some of their battleships
ports, 1t will help us end it earlier,
but unless that happens it will he
slow work for while. 1t Is very
difficult to land troops, especially
artillery and cavalry on the open
coast. The navy should secure one OF
the ports first. The Spsniards have
very strong fort at Port Au Prince,
garrisoned by 5000 regulars. 1t will
take n hot siege to capture that town.
Havana will make desperate resist
:ance. | would rather campaign In
Cuba ia the rainy season than in the
dry. 1t Is harder to get around but
the water is purer. the atmosphere
better and there is more feet for
horses. All the Uuil ed States soldiers
must do IL to keep clean, eat go nj
food and keep in the shade. 1t is
cooler there in the summer, or wei
season, than in the winter or dry
season.
There Is another thing they should
guard against and that is eating
every kind of fruit they run across.
Leave fruit alone. Although don't
know what the plans of Of the federal
government are, | imagine that they
include The Invasion of Porto Rico
also That would he good place for
lighters to go. | don't want to go Ia
the Philippines. They are too far
away and doubt If any land troops
are scot there Colonel Funston
SAID he had received word to come tc
Washington where he thou9h hit staff
position awaited him, hut he prefer.
red to be colonel of Kansas regi.
ment. al won't wear 80 much gold
braid and ride such IA charger" SAID
ne, "but | will be up closer to tho
band wagon.n "What do YOU meal
by band wagon p " asked Ed. G
Little. 1.-THE fighting, of course,
was his response. The colonel will
remain in Topeka until his regiment
is organized and starts for Cuba. HI
says the Kansas troops would M
doubt he ready To move within 1
week.
The insurgents in their present con
dition, the colonel thinks, would no
he of much assistance to The United
states. Their only good would be a
scouts.