Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-03
GOOD HEALTH AND DISCIPLINE
Nebrnskans Mt Manila Attract Atten-
tiOn as Well Drilled and Gallant
Soldiers.


LINCOLN, March Especial. THE fol-
lowing letter was received today by General
Barry giving some interesting information
regarding the First Nebraska regiment:
CAMP SANTA MESA, MANILA, P. l.,
Jan. 21.-To the Adjutant General Of the
State of Nebraska, Lincoln: | enclose you
letters from the company commanders that
give better answers to your questions than l
can myself. l hope that they will prove
satisfactory. l have intended writing you
at length of the regiment, it's condition and
prospects.
We are in camp about mile from Manila
the junction of the San Juan and the
Pasig rivers and about 400 yards from the
Filipino insurgents who occupy Spanish
public buildings, the powder magazine, con-
vents and the waterworks, which are all on
our front in the village of San Juan del
Monte.
We have to keep out heavy guards and
outposts all night but during the" day the
duty Is very light and only four men, are on
guard at time in the camp. We are get
ting in fine shape as far as discipline and
drill are concerned, and think we have the
record on the island for good behavior and
health.
| enclose you copy Of our two last health
reports, and l will only add that the men
have learned the importance of keeping their
tents, camps and persons clean and orderly.
1t is no trouble now to enforce sanitary reg
ulations, because everyone takes a pride in
1t. There is no drunkenness in the COM
mand and very few breaches of discipline.
Today we were inspected by the division
inspector, regular army officer, and al
though 1t had been raining and the ground
was extremely muddy he repeatedly re-
marked on the fine appearance of the COM
mand. He commended especially c. X and
companies, and afterward said, II don't
know that ought to say that; because they
are all smart companies Then he said,
We'll, an inspector ought not to praise any
thing, l suppose, but it is So anyway"
AS we were the first regiment to be in
spected here by the divisional inspector and
as we did not have any previous notice Gt
was merely regular weekly inspection)
think we had something to feel proud Of
We have fine band now, the credit of
which Is almost entirely due to Lieutenant
Richards, who has taken great interest in
1t. 1t goes to Corrigidor island tomorrow
on an excursion, and about fifty Of the men
go with it. 1t is an all-day trip across the
bay to the island, whose Notifications Spain
was threatening the navy with, but which
on investigation proved to be conspicuous
by their absence.
What strikes everyone who visits this
camp, especially foreigners, is the healthy,
ruddy complexion of the men and their size
and strength. Some of them were boys
when they left home. Their friends will be
surprised to find them vigorous men when
JOHN NJ. STOTSENBERG,
Colonel First Nebraska
One OF the reports enclosed was that of
the brigade surgeon and was dated January
7, as follows:
First Nebraska Infantry, u s. v.-The
camp Of this company Is greatly improved.
The grounds are well policed and are
guarded against soiling by the men. Sick
! report remains at per cent. There are
only eight cases of intestinal affections and
sixteen of malarial disease in the regiment.
The report of the brigade surgeon for
January II was as follows
First Nebraska Infantry, U. S. V.-The
camp OF this regiment was seen after a
heavy nights rain and looked exceedingly
well. The hospital tents and dispensary are
to be especially commended. The grounds
around the closets and kitchens are clean,
refuse is deposited in baskets and barrels
and Is carted away from camp. Total num-
Der of sick Is seventyseven, being rs per
cent, 3.s per cent being sick in quarters.
All with slight affections.