The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24

Conflicting Statements as to His Be
haviOr Under Fire-Capt. Metz, of
Company d, Proclaimed as Min
nesOta's Real Day-In-and-Day-
Out Hero - Praise for BjOrn-
stad.
DR.. Rudolph Schiffmann and Fred G.
Schiffmann, who went to San Francisco
with the Commercial club delegation to
meet the Thirteenth regiment, returned
home yesterday morning. Some Of the
other members of the delegation re-
turned yesterday and some today. They
had engaged quarters at the Occidental
hotel In San Francisco, and when they
arrived fourd in front of the hotel @
large banner which announced in flaming
letters that there was the headquarters
Of the st. Paul Commercial club. Over
the stairway was another banner Of the
same import. The Minneapolis delegation
was located at the Palace hotel The
Commercial club rooms were very pop
ular with the returned soldiers and Off
GERS, as either Fred Schiffmann or Oar
Reese, ard generally both, were con-
stantly on hand to dispense hospitality
in real old st. Paul style and chat with
the boys about those at home.
Fred Schiffmann, chatting with
Glob man about affairs in the regi-
n1ent, said: Il talked with as many as
100 Of the boys and some of the officers
In regard to the charges against Col.
T rot,
the feeling against him exists almost en-
tirely among the officers. The privates
and non-commissloned officers to whom
talked could not say of their own
knowledge whether the allegations of
cold feet were we'll founded or not
In regard to that phase Of the question
they would simply say they did not know,
but all Of them agreed that While Anies
was with the regiment and In command
the boys were well treated, and their
comfort was looked after better than at
any other time; and, therefore, they de-
clare they will stand by him They are
inclined to believe that Ames was really
sick when he left the regiment Only one
of the men to " HON talked remembered
to have seen Ames on the firing line, and
he assured NE that, although In the
thickest Of it Ames was perfectly cool
and showed no evidences of cod feet"
"One of the officers, however, told me
very different story. He said that the
first charges of cowardice against Col
Anies were made by a private who came
from Minneapolis, and one of Ames
brother Elks in that city. That man, the
officer stated wrote home, and stated that
he had seen Ames, on the field, run be-
hind one Of the companies, and get be-
hind a stump. An officer also told me
that when Ames was on the sick list at
Manila, he agreed with several of the
officers that If they would use their in
fuence to have Gen. Otis send him home
as an invalid he would retire as soon as
he reached San Francisco The fact that
one Of the reasons why the officers feel
coolly toward him.
From what l heard concerning Col.
Reeve 1 should say that, as an officer
he had the respect, but not the love of
his men. He certainly was unpopular
with the enlisted men of the regiment
but I did not hear any of the men say
he lacked bravery. The boys appeared to
think that he was too severe and rigid In
his discipline, and too much inclined to
assume the position of an officer of the
regular army toward his subordinates.
Speaking Of what occurred after the ar
rival of the regiment Mr.. Schiffmann
said: Il don't think Gov. Lind and his
staff increased their popularity much by
rendering banquet to the officers, and
leaving the men out in the cold-in fact
there was considerable unfavorable COM
ment. The soldiers got plenty of ban
quoting, as it was, and have been hand
somely treated ever since they have been
at San Francisco, but that slight coming
from their own people was felt
Mr.. Schiffmann stated that Capt Metz
is by common consent of the men the
hero Of the regiment "All of the boys
unite in saying that Metz is the real
fighter Of them ALL" said he land that
he was always in the thickest of it, and
never tired Of fighting. Capt. Bjornstad
is also spoken of in the highest terms
for bravery