Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-18

the MORO. An Othcer should Do de-
tailed to take charge of small arms
practice A range officer should be APP
pointed and required to make estl-
mates for the material and labor re-
CURED to place the range in condition
for the target season, as well as the
selection of the range, location OF the
different firing points, etc.
''The old time conditions are severed,
and the regiment will lose not only its
military Identification but also it's
effectiveness unless the mass is leaven-
ed by the assignment of veterans. The
Second Artillery will shortly be a regl-
ment of unacclimated recruits and the
officers be transferred into drill ser
geants. If the reasons of location OF
climate are advanced as cause why
target practice cannot be had here, it is
submitted that such be required to be
had at Columbus Barracks or some re-
cruiting station of concentration before
sending recruits to this department.
'"The majority of the men now in
ranks do not know the number of their
squad or who is in charge Of it; do not
know the condition of their clothing
accounts; do not know what the SOL
dier's handbook imparts; do not know
the component parts of the ration; do
not know how properly to take care of
their own equipments; are not imbued
with the spirit of military traditions,
and do not know the extent OF their
own ignorance upon matters consld-
cred elementary year ago. The men
are willing enough, but being willing
is hardly being ready"
Colonel Reade recommends that Off
GERS of the Medical Corps and COM
manders be enjoined to not confine the
education of recruits to drilling under
arms. Existing orders require that in
struction in some of the details of san
itation and self-care be impaired to all
enlisted men of the army by their COM
pany commanders for at least four
hours each month.
The colonel tells of a visit he had
from a wealthy Cuban who wanted to
pay $100 for admission to American
citizenship and for putting his way
ward son into a reformatory. The
money was to be divided between Col
onel Reade and a Cuban who intro
duced the applicant. Stories of similar
experiences are told by other officers.
Lieut.. Col. William Black, Captain
GrebeI and Colonel Bliss state that
brides are not uncommon.
A case is instanced by Colonel Black
where employees of the bureau under
his charge have been bought UP" or
have been approached by parties pre-
ferring pecuniary inducement to do or
not to do dishonorable things" Col
onel Bliss is the collector of the port
at Havana. He says that the venality
torious, and that he has ceased to be
either mad or embarrassed when ner-
chant importers try to touch him.
Colonel Reade found it a study in
color to inspect regiment clad in
khaki When original packages were
pea green, even canary green, are
noted. When donned by the men the
sunlight either deepened or lightened
these shades, and new tints were dis
covered. After washing, the khaki
suit he declares, becomes more uniform
in color. 81 asked an officer he says,
what in his opinion, was the chief
recommendation of the khaki. He re-
piled that khaki had the merit desired
by the boarding house mistress in pur-
chasing plates, amy color that wouldn't
show dirt
zone trouble is that what is called
khaki is not khaki The cotton drill
ing used by the contractors about a
year ago on emergency orders from the
government in making what were
called khaki suits varies as to texture,
color, weight, etc. The garments ad-
mirably served their purpose, and in
the Province of Santiago and also Tam
pa were welcome substitutes for kersey
trousers and for lined flannel blouses
previously worn by our soldiers in
Northern ATTITUDES. The minor details
now criticised were then unimportant
triheS."
There are several shades of colors in
the campaign hats issued by the quar-
termaster's department and worn by
the Second Artillery. Some are gray,
some are drab, some are almost purple.
All should have beneath the swaziland
an inner band of corrugated stiff
material thus admitting of ventilation
None are so provided, and the men
mutiIate their hats by Sitting the sides
to insure ventilation.
Havana, according to Colonel Reade,
is congested with former soldiers no
longer under military control. There
are two classes of these ex-soldiers-
first, honorably discharged men who
have applied for and received their dis
charge under the condition of their en-