The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-21


enlisted men serving in this depart
mcnt who are entitled TO discharge
from the service of the United States
under the provisions of paragraph ?,
General orders No. 80 Headquarters
Of the Army, A. G.. o.. series of 1898.
as amended by paragraph l. General
Orders No. 179, Headquarters of the
Army, A q. O., will, upon their indi-
vidual application be discharged from
the service of the United States by
their respective company troop, bat
terry or detachment commanders"
The above is part of an order re-
Gently issued from the department
headquarters which has created no end
Of excitement among the war soldiers,
or as they are better known, "the
rockies" When it first became known
that Secretary Alger was coming to
San Juan, a number of schemes were
concocted with a view to securing an
interview with SO distinguished a per-
son. The rockies" had something to
ask him, and they intended doing so,
whether the means employed were foul
or fair.
\ reception was rendered Secretary
Alger on the evening of his arrival, and
orders were given to the gaurds to
allow no one to enter but those who
had been invited.
SECURED AN INTERVIEW.
However, Notwithstanding all the
precautions used. a private from Com
pany G., Eleventh infantry, succeeded
in personally Interviewing the secre-
tarS's private secretary.
He made an eloquent plea in favor
of those who enlisted for war service
| only and asked why the government
still kept them here against their
wishes in Il foreign cline, instead of
allowing them to return to their homes
| and the employment they had left.
Peace had long since been ratified and
| according to the terms of their en-
listment had been concluded. The re-
suit of the interview was that before
Secretary Alger left he had given or
ders to discharge the recruits.
Secretary of War Russell A. Alger
and party arrived in San Juan at T.. 80
o'clock on the afternoon of April s,
having come by special train on the
San Juan railroad The secretary
rode in the car which was exhibited
at the Columbian exposition. Bat
| terry G, of the Seventh Light Artillery,
| fired the salute of seventeen guns.
Shortly after their arrival the party
| drove to the city hall, where they were
| entertained at luncheon as the guests
| Of the city.
The spacious council chamber, in
! which the tables We're arranged was
! beautifully decorated with tropical
| foliage and plants. Magnificent pot
| ted palms and large palm branches
! gave to the room most beautiful ap-
| pearanCe
VISIT TO THE FORTS.
After the luncheon, a visit was made
/ to the various forts on the island of
! San Juan and at o'clock a grand re-
| view was given on Campo Moro, in
! which the Eleventh infantry, light az
| tillery and cavalry participated. From
! here the party drove TO the Plaza de
! Alfonso MI where a grand ovation
was given them by the school children.
short pithy speeches We're given. af-
| ter which the children sang in English
| the words My Country "ris of Thee"
Mr.. Alger joined in with the singers,
| and at the conclusion Of the first verse.
| hurrah upon hurrah was given. Hats
were waived, and many were so en-
| thusiastic as to place their hats upon
| the ends of their canes while others
/ threw them way up i'm the air The
| sight was one likely to leave last
| ing impression. Among the children
were some whose dresses were rich in
material; some who scarce had suftic-
! lent covering; some had black skins;
/ some had white, but they WED with
each other i'm their efforts to sing our
national hymn in English Mr.. Alger
seemed to be well satisfied, and drove
away amid cheers ana wen wishes.
! At present there is considerable bus
! tie and excitement among the soldiers.
and ii they do all they say they intend
/ doing when they arrive i'm America. IL
/ is evident that dclicucics. especially
| pie and cake. will be a scarce article
for Il few days after the arrival of the
soldier boys upon American soil.
Thc Scranton boys win return home
/ with a proud and honorable record
/ for 1t has been their privilege and hon
OF to serve their country at the front
/ II is unnecessary to dwell uron their
/ Happenings since their departure from
! America last July TO participate in the
! Porto RiCan campaign, for IL has been
told and told until perhaps the public
| knows it by heart.
BORE THEMSELVES RRAVELY.
Suffice it to say, that throughout the
! trying ordealS of the campaign.
! through the weary. forced marches
the rain, the hunger, and various hard
| ships incident to campaign the
young soldier, or at least the rookie,
! bore himself with bravery and fortl-
! tude, never once complaining but
realizing that this was but part of
! his duty towards his country.
| 70 lie around, however. in the bar
| racks, with nothing to do, Was a life
not suited To young men of ambition.
| War was over; they had done their
duty their country no longer had nee
of their services, and, therefore. each
/ and every one longed To return 10 the
! loved ones he had left, to home with
its joys and comforts.
| Days passed into weeks and weeks
into months, still there We're no signs
of being discharged, and the men ac-
cordingly grew impatient. Now we
know what is TO be done. and everyone
is satisfied ana content.
Two weeks viii probably find us once
more in Scranton, proud In the fact
| that We have been able to serve our
country whore the bullets flew thick
and fast, and ready and willing at anv
time again, if it be necessary 10 raise
our arms i'm the defense of our glori-
Gus "Rcd, White and Blue"