The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-12
WORN OUT.
Reduced by Sickness and Death
to 800 Men
The First Nebraska Petitions
Gen. Macarthur
FOR A LITTLE REST,
They Are Willing to Fight
They Say,
But Beg Temporary Retirement
From Firing Line.

Manila, May 12-The First regiment
Nebraska volunteer infantry is taking
the unusual step of respectfully peti-
tioning the division commander, Major
Gen. Macarthur to temporarily relieve
them from duty at the front The regi-
ment is badly exhausted by the cam
paign in which it has taken an active
part and not many more than 300 men
of the organization are at present fit
for duty. On Sunday last 100 men of
this regiment responded to the sick
call.
The men in view of the facts have
prepared a respectful memorial to Gen.
Macarthur, asking that their regiment
be withdrawn for short time from
the fighting line, in order that they may
recuperate. The memorial states that
the men are willing to fight, but are in
no condition to do so, owing to the
strain of long marching. continual fight
ing and outpost duty in which they
have been engaged. 1t is added that
many of the men have been unable to
have their clothing washed for months
past, having been compelled during all
that time to sleep in their uniforms to
be in readiness for fighting. The me-
mortal adds that since February q it
has lost 225 men in killed and wounded
and SO since the battle of Malolos.
The officers of the regiment propose
to present a similar memorial on be-
half of the men. The splendid record
of the First Nebraska in the entire
campaign and the tone of the memorial
prepared by the men is such that no
imputatiOn of INSTRUMENTATION can he
brought against them. officers of the
regiment said to the correspondent of
the Associated Press here today they
thought that the men had been worked
beyond endurance and should be given
a rest and some of the regular reSi-
ments which are now guarding the city,
be sent to the front.
Five volunteer regiments and the
Utah battery Of artillery are at San
Fernando. They muster in all about
2. 500 men. Many of the soldiers are in
hospitals suffering from heat or other
causes. The wounded were all suffer-
ing acutely and showed the effects of
exposure to the sun when they arrived.
Three days rest has already worked
wonders.
Since the army entered MalolOs the
soldiers have had little water to drink
except that which was brought on rail-
way trains from Manila and that was
of poor quality. The artesian wells at
San Fernando are doing much towards
making the men contented.
CASUALTY LIST.
Washington. May 12-The war depart
ment today received from Gen. Otis at
Manila the following list of casual
ties:
Wounded-First North Dakota, May
2. Company G, Private Charles OIstad,
hand, moderate.
Thirteenth Minnesota, May 8, Arthur
o. Diggles forehead severe
Second Oregon, Company F, Corporal
John G. Miller, arm slight
First Montana May 9, Company K,
First Sergeant PaIk Mcbride. chest,
severe; NJ, Private Swift. puncture, fore
arm. severe; Frank Smith F, Thirteenth h
Minnesota, reported killed May 1;should
read Frank Lewis.
Thirteenth Minnesota, April 25. D,
Privates Frank Whipplinger wrist,
slight; G, A. T. Williams, shoulder,
slight.
Third infantry, 29th. K, Private Ed
ward Rae. thigh, slight; May 11th, I,
Private Lendrum Benton, thumb, mod
crate.
Fourth cavalry, I. Private Charles H.
FRESH TROOPS TO THE FRONT.
Manila, May 12.-Fresh troops are be-
ginning to go to the front. Two bat
talions of the Seventeenth infantry
Cregulars) that had been holding the
lines about the city of Manila, will join
Major General MacArthurs division
about San Fernando tomorrow and one
battalion of the same regiment will re-
infOrce Major General LawtOn'S diVis-
ion near BacoIOr. These troops will be
replaced here by the Twenty-first in
fantry regiment which arrived from the
United States on board the transport
Hancock on yesterday.
Captain Grant of the Utah battery
whose success in managing the army
g-unboats Laguna de Bay and CaVa-
dOnga has won for him the sobriquet of
THE Dewey of the army" has been
put in command of the recently pur-
chased Spanish gunboats whose arms
the insurgents captured. These vessels
are now being prepared for operations
on the rivers and along the coast. The
arming of the gunboats is being push
ed with all diligence.
ETHNIT