The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-02
SOLD BY THE
SOLDIERS
Uniforms Bought
From Men on
Rosecrans.
CLOTHING IS
CONFISCATED
A Raid Made by Army Captain
Saturday Results in Some
Startling Disclosures.

A BOUT three dozen army Overcoats
M and sundry other articles OF mill
Ia tary equipment belonging to the
men Of the Twenty-eighth Infantry en-
route to the Philippines on the Rose
Grams were seized Saturday morning By
detachment from the transport. The
greater part Of the confscated uniforms
was taken from the Chinese stalls at
the Fish market. though the thorough
raid conducted by the army men ex-
tended from IwiIei to KakaakO. Il Is a
violation OF the United States articles of
war to either sell or buy military prop
erty, and while the civilians who inno-
Gently purchased the uniforms viii not
be prosecuted, the~Soldiers who sold
their Overcoats and other clothing viii
hardly escape punishment OF some kind.
1t has long been the practice in Ho-
nolulu to purchase whatever the SOL
diers had to sell in the way of clothing
or equipment. fact that the soldiers
were quick to take advantage OF. 20
procure little spending money. while
on shore leave. In fact there are prob
ably enough uniforms and other articles
OF army equipment in the hands of Ho-
noluIu civilians To equip several regi-
ments OF Infantry or troops of cavalry.
Every passing transport discarded some
portion OF its equipment, but heretofore
the military authorities have taken no
notice OF the practice though there is
but little doubt but what they were
fully aware of it.
In this instance the matter was call
ed to the attention of Major Roach.
who commands the battalion of the
2Sth. on the Rosecrans by some officer
who saw private stealthny throw his
overcoat from the side of the trans
port to the naval dock below, then to
see another soldier pick up the garment
and disappear. To see was to act with
Major Roach.
The soldiers on board We're. imme
diateIy ordered to form into line on the
decks OF the transport. with their over |
coats on their arms. There was little |
time for delay, but when the roll was !
called there were very few who from |
some source did not procure an over J
coat. The few who had been unable to >
beg. borrow or steal the necessary gar ,
ment were closely questioned by their |
company commanders as 10 their |
whereabouts. and though all stoutly de-
MED selling them, and insisted that they /
had been sent home because they would /
not be used in the Philippines, Major |
Roach was inclined To be skeptical. and |
a search for the missing garments was /
ordered One Of the captains was de-
tailed tc make the investigation and ne /
called upon Deputy Sheriff Chilling
worth for assistance. The latter gave
him Chinese officer as a guide. and
together the raid was made Saturday
morning. From Kakaako 10 Iwilei the
ilI-assorted pair went in their search
for the missing overcoats. and every
resort in these two places was visited
with astonishing results In nearly
every house. at least one and oftener
two or three portions Of uniform were
but the military men dis
turbed nothing except that which had
been taken from of the Rosecrans.
Hundreds of garments were found.
which had formerly belonged To Uncle
sam but very few We're confiScated. In
the stalls at the fish market the best
results were obtained. that having evil
iently been the place nearest tne trans
port and where the transfer could be ,
.asiest effected. over "A score OF over ]
oats We're discovered there and taken
By the military authorities. They were
"a silly identified. the Twenty eighth
had been issued clothing just prior to
It's departure from Portland. ard the
Ivercoats were still new. having nuVer
been used. The Chinese professed utter r
ignorance of the method by which tle ?
had come into their stalls and q
we're unwilling To- even suggest. that [
i