New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
SERIOUS TROTBLY FEARED.
DISCHARGED MEN N PORTO RICO GROW
DESPERATE FROM LACK OF FUNDS
AND TROPER HOI-sING

San Juan de Porto Rico. Nov 2-'The recent Dis
charge 81 half the troops stationed IN the island
has brought about condition 81 affairs for which
the Officers mere and the civil authorities wers
totally unprspsred A. Is known. most ~ the sol-
diers composing tho garrisons ~ Porto Rioo rad
enlisted for service After the actual termlna-
ton ~ hostilities the Department officials were
overwhelmed with applications FOR discharge from
the impatient volunteers who had Enthusiastically
entered the volunteer and Regular armies when re-
eruits were called for AZ the beginning % the war
with Spain
When Secretary Aiger cane To Porto Rico hs
found that applications we're pending from all tho
war recruits. Many ~ them personally lnporiuned
him 70 grant then, immediate discharge BEFORE no
departed ne delivered orders ~ General Henry 20
discharge these applicants a.; once The publication
~ tho order haf the effect ~ depicting the reri-
msnis and batteries An army ~ clerks was kept
busy making out the final papers ann the psy-
masters worked dsv snd night ray On 'hs IN
patient men
About April n nearly q thousand soldier. rad
heen discharged md hld received their nrsi
rnsn,s The expectation % departing for home .,
an cary date upon Army transports made them
careless about their expenditures T. vas not long
before their MONEY had beer spen- Most % re
discharged mon oonccn'rstci IN sar Juan and
Ponce wfere hotel accommodations are very lin
tied and ihe cost ~ liy'nE FOR Americans II quite
expensive The devs - waiting FOR transports
dition n tho mon became more serious For me
last Ten days several hundred have been onsouie.y
without Want - money and ~ hotel
Communications threw hundreds into no streets and
herroons where they have become o source -
apprehension ~ both military and civil authorities
Al night they compelled 20 sleep outdoors In
anv place where they ind resting place.
Night after NIGHT tho wharves and quarternss,.-.'
yards are dotted Nth tho darn forms ~ sleeping
soldiers Those who are able fnd = farp6ul'n.
covering pile ~ goods considered lucky. In
such circumstances they sleep under the heavy dew
Of This tropical climate snd are often awakened
hy the doWnpour - tho tropical rains In fhs
morning thew may be seen wandering through the
streets wet and dishevellsd searching for means or
friends 70 provide breakfast Their fate Il GER
rainly pitlfl and they condemn In severe
language the Indifference ~ those whom tney sess
are responsible for n
P-ivate citizens arc doing much 20 alleviate the
distress and General Henry has ordered ihaf the
barracks should he open 20 them 30 thai they may
secure food and lodging Tho barracks - san
Juan. however are crowded even with the regular
garrisons and though the officers have been will
10 assist the unfortunate mon. they have often
beer unable - do The men say they are
Obliged 20 play the part ~ tramps while await
lnr the arrival of transports Frequent brawls
occur In the cafes and barrooms. which are the
resort u most of them. and would take but itils
20 create serious trouble
when the transport Buford. formerly the Missis-
sippi arrived n fev DAYS ago tho thousand men
who had been discharged IN the middle OF April
exaspersted hy learning that eight hundred
men who had only that day arrived IN San Juan
for discharge were 70 be sent first upon the trans
port pursuant caned order from Washing
ton The latter 20 be paid by paymasfers on
board the transport while the men who had been
frs discharged most ~ whom Rad spent their
money were wait until other transports arrived.
So great he indignation that for time an
outbreak was feared There was even report
circulated that an effort would he made - take
rorcible possession Of the Buforl Had leader
come forward h. would nave received vigorous and
desperate assistance The orncials responsible for
the delay are receiving the maledctions Of thou
sands OF men
Much complain is also made by the returning
soldiers regarding The unclean condition ~ some
Of the transports They say they did not complain
AZ the shortcomings ~ tho officials m this respect
when they came ~ Porto Rico because state ~
war then prevailed. but they res NJ being
he-ded Ike cattle into crowded and foul vessels.