New-York tribune., 1899-01-17
WARHEROES DINE TOGETHER
A NOTABLE GATHERING OF THE socI-
ETY. OF COLONIAL WARS.

SPEECHES By GENERAL FRANCIS V. GREENE
REAR-ApMrRAL GHERARpI. CAPTAIN JOHN
r. BARTLETT. GENERAL II. s
HAWKINS AND OTHERS.
The seventh annual dinner Of the Society OF Co.
IonlaI Wars in the State OF New-York held last
evening. at Demonicos. strictly In honor OF
the men who have returned with so much honor
from the scenes of the with Spain. In Cuba,
in Porto Rico and in the Philippines The oc-
cason remarkable for the presence OF prooa-
bly, who prominent in the latest
unpleasantness than have been gathered on any
single occasion in this city.
The banquet hail was gay with flags and punt
Ing and before the speaking began there was 'he
usual salute to the colors. and procession headed
by the drum corps OF those bearing flags to the
front of the hail. amid great enthusiasm. Frederic
J. dc Peyster. governor Of the society presided over
the dinner. At his table on either side sat the Rev.
6. Ellis Stevens. Camlus G. Kdder, Robert b.
Roosevelt. John Reid. the Rev. Or. George r. Van
De Water. Lieutenant Woodbury. Kane General
Avery u. Andrews. General Francis T. Roe. Cen
eral II. s Hawkins, Rear-Admiral Bancroft Che
rardi (retlred) General Francis V. Greene General
Stewart i. Woodford. General W. S. Worth. Com
mander J. w Miller. Colonel II. Chauncey jr.
Talbot Olyphant. Franklin Stanton. William NJ.
Massey. David Banks. Edward Shippen and the
Rev. Alexander Hamilton.
At long table dubbed the mess table. Just
below the guests table. sat score and more OF
the members OF the society who now veterans
Of the Spanish War. Among them were Adjutant
Henry s. Clark Captain John r. Bartlett. Colonel
Franklin Bartlett Captain Thomas y. Wood Lieu
tenant W. J. Sears. Major L. l.. Seaman. Major
Rufus NJ Townsend. Medical Director Deevan
Boodgood. Lieutenant-Commander a. B. Fry En-
sign S. y. Robinson. Captain Anthony j. Bleecker
Ensign William Dew Dlmock. Captain Henry Mel
Vile. Captain Francis +. Underhill, Lieutenant Iru
H. Newberry. Lieutenant Schuyler Schienelin
Major John p. Holland Major Harris B. Fisher.
Lieutenant Rene de Russey. Lieutenant J. W.
Poucher, Lieutenant T. NJ T. Rabarg Harold Hard
and Ad1utant ". ]. Schieffein.
A BRILLIANT GATHERING.
Nearly all Of the military and naval personases
present their uniforms and the big hall was
bright with gold lace and epaulettes and nedaIs'
The oratorcal programme full OF interest II
contained toasts on nearly every subject that has
been made prominent by the war. and the men VINO
responded to them were the men who have maze
| history within the last twelvemonth.
| After letters Of regret were read from General
| Leonard Wood General Joseph Wheeler and Gem
eral William w Gordon. Mr.. De Peyster called
for order and proceeded to outline the TACT that hs
! occasion which demanded none ou' an
! American pedigree Tonight" he said. I'VE arc
| met not to celebrate the memories OF our heroic
! dead az we have done often in the past. but 10
welcome the returning heroic living. We are met
| to honor thom. conscious all the time that IL IL
they who are honorlng u.s. After nrouSing great
applause by expressing the hope that the time was
not far distant when the Army would be as iree
! as the Navy from political pulls" Mr. De Peyster
! closed by saying: I'VE welcome you 10 country
that has at last forgotten Mason and Dixons line'
country converted too. we believe. 10 honest
money. and hence to prosperity
General Stewart l.. Woodford responding to the
toast Declaration of War with SPAIN" told again
p few Of the most significant and interesting facts
regarding his work in Madrid, and said that the
| results Of tho the most momentous OF
| any similarly short in history. SPANS pos
| sessions In tho Antilles and the Philippines had
been taken from her and dedicated to liberty. TO
| civilization and TO progress Every patriotic clt-
zen ought to thank God" said General Woodford
that the country has President wise and patent
| enough to learn the conditions OF the problem ne
! has 10 solve before attempting Its solution he
closed by expressing entire confidence IN the uti-
mate happy solution OF all the difnculues inc
United States has to face in the Philippines
WARM WELCOME TO GENERAL GREENE
General Francis V. cireene received a tremendous
ly enthusiastic greeting when he arose to answer
20 "The Philippine Campaign" I'm sorry those
two foremost figures in the Philippine campaign
cannot be here tonight" he said 'but Merritt has
married a young wife and Dewey. don't mind tell
ing you in confidence. is afraid to come home That
was the last thing he said TO me before left Ma
nila The Manila campaign delightful do
not mean that It picnic. 1t was full or hard-
ships The troops landed In a storm that shed more
rain than we had believed possible. The mud
was knee deep The men were never dry in twenty
four days They had only one suit OF clothes each
The fighting was steady and destructive But in all
that time never heard one complaint. Every regi-
ment was anxious to precede its neighbor into the
trenches.
This country" continued General Greepe, owes
much to General Wesley Merritt. than whom there
IS no ADLER nor more skilful soldier In this or any
other army Success In the Philippines has been
due in a great measure to the characters OF two
men, Dewe- and Merritt. who have worked in as
hearty accord II they were brothers. The dif-
ncultes OF administration that have recently arisen
were not apparent when left Manila. but have
small doub, that they will be thoroughly solved l
have heard some say that cannot govern colo
MES and tnat England Is the only country that
can Well think II you look through England $
history you Will not find any colonial governing
better done than Leonard Wood has done his down
IN Santiago Great appause) am sure we shall
be able to find man who will solve the problems
In the Philippines well as Wood has solved them
In Santiago"
Rear-Admiral Bancroft Gherardi. retired. spok.
to "The New Navy" I'm tfe old days" he said
81 used 10 pray % Lord give a ship that ism Z
rotten But the country has at last awakened 70
a realization Of It's necessities l think we should
a corresponding number Of cruisers and torpedo
boats The Admiral LAID stress % N on III the fact
but he had confidence that IT would be wei per- NJ
| formed. The Nays part at any rate "ould dc
thoroughly DONE he promised
JoKE ON THE COMMIsSARY-GE GENERAL
captaln John r. Bartlett who was In charge OF
the Office OF Naval Intelligence during the war
was the next speaker. He aroused a great deal OF
laughter by telling how one day a messenger from
the Office Of the Commissary General OF Suosist-
ence OF the United Army called at his office
and asked to be Informed about the existence OF a
Swedish intelligence bureau. as a Swedish nurse
was wanted. The officer in charge replied that he
didn't know anything about Swedish nurses, ou'
he could give the Commlssary- General some IN
formaton about Army transports. This sally
created roar OF laughter. Captain Bartlett gave
an Interesting description OF the work perlormec
M, Tic Office OF Naval Intelligence and the amoun