The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-27
At
The POST
Camp Mckinley
and Its Gallant
Men.
IA GOOD LOT
OF SOLDIERS
How They Live. What They Eat
and the Money They
Spend Here.

Out at Camp Mckinley the thirty
transport have been comfortably hous-
ed, and when the fourteen men now
under way here have arrived the bat
terry will be full to all practical intents
and purposes AT present there are 109
men at the camp. OF these, forty-eight
will leave next month, and an almost
equal number in January. The number
of officers at present is four. In order
to have a full list of these. seven are
necessary, but the work OF the post can
be conducted efficiently with the num-
Der now on hand
1t Is not likely that the present site
win be occupied for a long continued
period of time. At Kahauiki the Gov
eminent has reservation of l 400 acres,
extending from the hills to the rice
fields and taro patches below. AT pres
ent the work of the battery here Is
confined entirely to infantry practice,
and the theoretical study OF artillery
defense. Considerable time and study
has been expended by the officers sta
toned here in studying the defense OF
this harbor. Plans and specifications of
the same haze been sent TO Washing
ton on different occasions, giving the
results of their labors. From their in
vestigations they have come to the
conclusion that one central post should
be established, and stations placed at
points of vantage along the shore. Men
could be put in charge of these, say,
for a month or two at time. and then
relieved of their detail. The location OF
the guns would depend upon the place
occupied by the central station, but the
general results. no matter where TINS
might be, would be the same so far as
| the protection of the harbor is con-
cerned.
| Few people are aware of life as it is
| lived at Camp Mckinley. To begin
with. 1t is doubtful If there is to be
found body of soldiers anywhere who
possess a higher standard Of morals
than do the men who are stationed In
Honolulu. One Of the officers said yes
terday that out Of the entire lot there
was not a single one who was drunk
ard Occasionally some Of the men I'm
bibe too much, but this is through a
desire to be conyivial, rather than be-
cause Of perverted appetite. In speak
officers say that while the intention OF
those who caused it's closing was no
doubt for the best, their efforts were
fmisdirected. II the abolition of the can
|teen meant that enlisted men would be
prevented from drinking at all, and that
1.-THE soldiers would be compelled to fore
go liquor II. all forms, for all time well
and good Such is not the case. Since
beer and light wines have been prohib-
lifted at the post the men who get con-
vivially drunk go elsewhere, and spend
their money for whisky and swipes.
THE cause of temperance. so far as the
soldier Is concerned, has not been help
ed. AS 1t was, small profit was made
ION the canteen, which. by the way, Is
mot a distinct institution, but one of the
many departments of the Post Ex-
Ichange, which Is nothing more nor less
than an enlisted mans club. No treat
ing was allowed in the canteen, and
each and every man was limited to his
allowance of wine and beer.
The Post Exchange forms quite
feature in the life of the soldier. Here
1T is that he secures pipes, tobacco,
shirts of different pattern from those
issued by Uncle Sam, cigars, belts and
ice cream Lunches are served the
men here, the bill of fare being differ
l. nt from that furnished in the regular
mess.
| The men at the camp have excellent
fare. Aside from the provisions OBJ
| tanned from the commissary, the men
have a garden of their own, One man
has been detailed to take charge of it,
land other men are ordered to assist him
from time to time, as the occasion de-
mands Here are to be seen, growing
thrifty, tomatoes, radishes, lettuce,
onions, green peas, beets, string beans
and cucumbers. Experiments are now
being carried on with watermelons, and,
/ to the credit of the gardener, it looks as
though he were going to be quite sue
! cessful Aside from the garden, the
officers in charge of the mess are per
/ mitted-in fact, encouraged by the
/ Government-to save as much of the
rations apportioned them as is consist
ent with good economy and sell the
same back to the commissary.. With
the funds so secured fresh meat, pine
APPLES, bananas and things of a SINH
llar nature are secured.
Theoretically the men are supposed
To DO their own laundry work, but the
washing and framing Of clothes is done
70 reasonably here that thu, men are
lallowed to give their linen to outsiders
for cleaning.
The men have a gymnasium OF their
lown. and among the rank and file, there
are many who play handball and base
ball with more than ordinary Skill
When football Is on the battery has
its own eleven. A reading room fur
nished with papers and magazines Is
also TO be found here. A piano is rent
led by the soldiers, in order that they
may not be without a knowledge OF cur
rent songs One Of the priyates,
lyoung man, has a most excellent voice
and has not even peer, to say nothitis
lof a superior in Honolulu in the sing1ns
of songs Of the ragtime school He
would be a hit in any vaudeville mouse
He will, without doubt, as soon as n'
is a time-expired man. return to tn'
Estates and become q vaudeville vocal