Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-19
BACK TO CAMP LIFE
Men of 4th Immunes Settle Down
to Regular Routine.
THEIR DUTIES WILL Be LIGHT
AnxiousIy Awaiting the Officer to
Muster Them Out.
QUESTION OF EXTRA PAY

QUESTION OF EXTRA PAY
Special From STAFF Correspondent
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. Nav 19-Today
gives promise of better weather at Camp
Meade, for which the boys of the 4th I'm
munes are very thankful. Yesterday was
one of the most unpleasant the regiment
has experienced since it has been in the
service the greatest inconvenience being
that of the raw, chilly air that went
straight to the bones of the "Cubans," as
the men designate themselves. This morn
ing, however, conditions had changed some
what, and although the sun did not shine
steadily, still it made the camp a much
more agreeable spot. Although the camp
was two inches deep in mud last night, by
O'Clock this morning the ground had dried
out almost completely. Revelle was sound
ed at an early hour and in a short time the
camp was the scene of busting activity.
Guard posted for the first time and a
list of service calls sent out to the various
company commanders. AT sick call there
were but few men reported, the maJority
of these being afflicted with slight colds.
In fact, nearly every man in the regiment
has been affected by the great change of
climate to a greater or a lesser degree, and
hardly one is free from this common NAL
ady.
Twelve Men in Hospital.
There are twelve men in the hospital from
the 4th Regiment, their affections ranging
from severe Gods, chills and fever to Stom
ach troubles. There is not a man, however,
who will not be out in two or three days.
Among the men in the hospital are the fol-
lowing: Sergeant ]. ]. Verser, Company c,
kidney trouble discharged from the hos
nit a 1av Raw
pany D. dysentery; Patrick A. Danaher,
Company A, stomach trouble; Julius Dahl,
Company A, dysentery and cold; James Ii.
Fisher Company A intermittent fever;
Robert A. Trouland Company A, cold. The
hospital service here is excellent and the
men who are now confined in the wards
express themselves well pleased with the
treatment accorded them. The meals fur
nished to patients are about the ordinary
standard of hospital rations, while the
medical service hardly be surpassed.
Maj. Henry and Lieut.. Ford, now of the
regular army, but stationed with this regi-
ment, the surgeons of the regiment, attend
to the men faithfully and have established
for themselves splendid regulations as
painstaking officers a result of their la
borS with the command in Cuba. Due to
their vigilance and effectual method of
dealing with disease there has been but one
case of measles and one case of smallpox
in the regiment since it was mustered into
service. The excellent record made by the
regiment of only four men dead from dis
is regarded by military men here as
most remarkable one. in fact, the best made
by any regiment in the service.
Dry Out Their Clothing.
BY noon today the men had succeeded in
drying out their clothing and shoes. A
fairly strong wind from the northwest aid
ing them greatly in this work. The wind is
also drying up the ground very fast, and by
night, provided there is no more rain, the
ground will be hard and firm once more.
The men began the routine duties of camp
life this morning, and from the way things
have settled down one would judge that the
regiment had been camped here for a much
longer period than one day.
1t is expected that the ordnance returns
will be made in about a week. After that
time the men will be principally engaged in
finding something to help them pass the
time away, as there will be no more drills
and nothing much to do save posting guard
and policing the camp. The date set for
the muster out is June 10 al the latest, and
if the mastering out officers can get around
to the regiment before that time the cere-
mony will be concluded earlier. The books
and papers of the regiment are in splendid
shape, and there should be no delay on ac-
count of them. The boys talk anEiouSly
bout getting home again, and the days be-
fore June 10 will be long ones, indeed. The
men have cheerfully accepted the situation
however, and may be depended upon to
keep the excellent reputation made by the
command for efficiency and discipline.
Give Their Officers No Trouble.
Col. Petit has had no trouble with his
men since reaching here. There was only
one absentee from camp last night without
permission, while those who received the
coveted passes to go to town behaved
themselves remarkably well. Middetown
generally has the opinion that the 4th Vol
unteer Infantry is the beSt-trained and DIS
ciplined regiment that 1t has ever seen and
t1a of hoo
portunity to get acquainted with soldiers
last summer.
The men will probably not be paid off I'M
til they are mustered out. The officers are
in favor of this mode of procedure since it
will enable the men to go home with more
of their money than they would have were
they paid in two or three days time.
Some of the men, of course, want their
money for the sake of the good times it
will bring to them, but the majority of
those who are the better element in the
regiment prefer to wait until they are ready
to go home before being visited by the pay
master. The men will have two months
back pay and the additional two months
and ten days allowed by the War Depart
ment. This will give them a tidy sum with
which to return home. Some of the men
who have been more careful of their cloth
ing than the others will have between $100
and $40, the non-commssioned officers, of
course, having a greater sum to their cred
1t. The men will receive also travel pay
allowances from Camp Meade to their place
of enlistment.
Question Regarding Extra Pay.
vexed question just now Is whether or
not the two months extra pay allowed will
include ration and clothing allowances for
the time. This of course, would increase
the per capita sum considerably.
1t will probably be decided, however, that
these allowances will not be given, as was
done in the case of those troops that re-
f,,rln ,yot, nov Sivf,
being mustered out. The men will get fine
meals today. All of the companies will
have soup and fresh beef. tomatoes, pota-
toes and onions. with bread and coffee,
while home companies will have even
greater variety, their bills of fare depend
ing upon the ingenuity and quickness of
those in charge Of the company mess. The
enlisted men are really better off than the
officers in this regard the officers mess
has not yet been established. number
take their meals in Middletown, while