The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-12
WITH THE TROOPS At MANILA
WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERS SPENT
An ENJOYABLE CHRISTMAS.
Many Presents From Home. Though
Some Inappropriate-L1eu Col.
Fife Charges Bsttaine With Gem
spiracy-Livelys Times at Front.

Sraeiai C'ogrpsnorfsnce
WITH THE WASHINGTON V0T.T-N-
TEERS. MANILA. F. l. Dec. 23-Chstst-
mas = ecsning on. bringing with t'sanle
lonesome feelings 70 the hearts and minds
@ the officers and men % the American
army here. especially those IN the vol1n-
tser regiments, who are accustomed To
spend their holidays among their Ir3enssS
and acqaaintances. and many are the long
;nss for the ok-time festivities low
ever, the novelty of a Christmas In a dis
taai and tropical hand takes away some of
the regret THAI hangs over Us. II is for
Instance, a hssie unusual even for those of
us from the smiling and temperate climate
or " ashingte1 state 10 find ourselves on
December ~ unable to sleeD earlier han
10 c'clock 1T night on account Of the sx-
IRENE heat, ana in danger Of being over
come by the heat and humidity az sh, ell
mate II We venture out and especially II
we engage In any violent exercise during
the eariv afternoon.
4 great meny-in fact. nearly all--of the
companies are arranging for a consider
able spread for Christmas dinner. Some Of
THESE feasts VIII consist merely Of a fe9
extras such as fruit and cake but many
OF them will assume the dignity Of chicken
and turkey dinners, served In courses
Chieken and other poultry until quite re-
Gently. have been very cheap but lust
now. IN company with great many artI-
cies OF commerce and consumption they
are yielding "a the pressure caused BY khs
sudden Increase in the population and in
huS Of money caused by Inc American
military otcuIation OF the city and rising
rapidly. Two weeks ago chickens could
be had for s. A dozen, Mexican money
Now they ars in demand at from s. to So
AMI one turkey of good size and condition
readily commands the latter price. In
View OF these facts. very elaborate feast
for a company of 100 men involves soma
considerable expense.
\ great many ~ the soldiers have receiv-
ed presents from home. and among them
not a few articles OF food Of various Trans
portable varieties. About twenty iona OF
Christmas presents arrived on the recent
transports. and the quartermaster's depart
meni has found largo task imposed upon
II In the distribution Of L. \ half a dozen
large boxes containing several hundred
packages have come to this regiment. and
sergeant who has charge Of the iistr.bu-
ton or them has been kept busy for three
days with the task. More are 10 follow.
Gift Not Entirely Desirable.
Many OF the presents. IN fact most OF
them, are quite appropriate 10 the eondl-
lions OF the recipients. consisting of small
luAufies IN the articles OF clothing toilet ar
tcles. etc. but some OF them are frauSht
with an inappropriateness which is rather
amusing TO say the least For instance
eompany !, Of Walla Walla. received from
the eharitably inclined ladies OF that town
suit or heavy wooden underwear for each
man In the company. The boys. unable al
most TO endure any kind of clothing In this
hot climate, feel very grateful, for the kind
ihoughfuiness and good intentions which
prompted the gift smile when il Is mon
toned and say that these clothes will come
in most conveniently about the time they
land in the United States upon their return
home.
C"urt-Martiai of Lieut.. Col. Fife.
Ihe Washington regiment has been caus-
ing some considerable stir here since It's ar
rival. Besides attracting considerable at-
tention and favorable comment from mill
tary men for It's fine appearance IN driI,
on the march and on parades, II has had
other desirable and undesirable things han
pen u and In 1t which have caused II to be
noticed. The trial of two OF It's officers by
general court-martial for unbeeoming con-
duct IL one of these. As vet nothing 10
known Of the proceedings nor the rruha bic
result OF the trial except that ii IL a hard
and bitterly contested one The defense Il
seems, is trying 10 establish in the case os
Lieut.. Col Fife that the worthy accused IS
Il prominent. in fact the only urofni-
nent, candidate for the next governor
OF the state of Washington on the Re-
publican ticket and that the accusation
made against him is merely the workings
Of a conspiracy inaugurated By Gov Reg
ers 10 ruin the lieutenant coionel's reputs-
ton and thus assure Rogers of being re-
elected. In this conspiracy II ls alleged
and maintained with considerable force If
little reason that Gov. Rogers PRINCIPAL
agent and prime mover Is Lieut. Ballaine
ex-Adjt. Gen. Bailaine. once OF some prom
inence in journalism. then IN Republican
and then Popuiist politics IN the stale nu-
NOR has it thar Lieut. Balaias while ,eSfI-
fXlnG in the case. was accused ~ the con-
spiracy, whersupon he exploded a bomb In
the camp of the enemy by alleging that in
the campaign II 1896 Fife vas a Silver Re
publican and supported Gov Rogers.
The case promises a least 70 he long
drawn out ore. Lieut.. Col Fife = defended
ny Major W"issnberger and Capt Forison.
and they are making every effort Ia clear
the accused Of the odun OF the charge.
The charge is brought under the sxty-hrss
article az war, the punishment for which
s dismissal from the service
An attempt was made 10 induce cant
Moore. who preferred the charge TO rlosiI-
~ ana change 1t to the sgxty-second article
o. war. which Is merely punishable as A
court martial may direct
Inspection of the Regiment
on Tuesday December - the regiment
VAS inspected by Capt. Birchaimer, the
acting Inspector general ~ the First
division, and made n tlne appearance, both
on the parade ground and IN their bar
racks and quarters. On account of the
very hesvy duty which the regiment 81
performing the turnout was rather smsn.