The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1902-03-28

- sA1NNf gt 3a rs
returning. Every vessel two each
month carries d load - men home.
The Sheridan pulled out a few days
ago, and on board were at lest fifteen
hundred men who are. or will be
discharged etc June 1st. It 10 doubt
full if one per- cent are re-enlisting.
The service is too hard and food
too poor, outside Of Manila, for men
to stay. In the Provincevery few
of the men get fresh meat or. vege-
tables at all all canned goods and
men cannot be expected to volun-
tarily remain. Ny former company
"H",22nd Inf. was a good sample.
We were in Baler Province of Prin-
ciple, Luzon,. from November 30",>
1900 to Jan'y II" 1902, nearly four
teen months, and during the time
fresh meat was issued by the gov
eminent only once, and fresh vege-,
tables reached the post twice. From
March 16 to August 10 we received
no mail. Mind, I am not recounting
our hardshipe, but trying to give
ysu some idea of service hete Of
which the above is q fair specimen.
The canned rations are good enough
but grow 10 tiresome.
The clothing issued to the army,
tho it has no idea of filing until a
ailor gets at it, is of fairly good
quality and is very satisfactory.
Taking it all in all the American
soldier here who is serving outside
of Manila, Zamboanga, Llvillo, and
the large towns, in practically an
exile from civiiazltion. He has no
associates but his own comrades,
fresh meat and vegetables do not
enter his dietory; he has little or no
reading matter has no amusements
and while off duty can do nothing
but NOPE around thinking of what
has been and what will be. He
finally get Disguised, goes to native
shack, gets a bottle of "vino," Jaw
bone, ZION credit) and you can ina
CINE the rest. Thanks to the effol is
of a lot Of meddling old women
It say meddling old women and re-
fer to no other class of women } the
soldiers's one and only source of
amusement has been abolished.
1 refer to the army Canteen.
Although the Canteen argument is
so old that every one knows it, I
will tell you exactly how it works.
This is no painted version Of the
matter but the straight facts as they
are, or were. Incidentally it, may
be we'll to mention the fact that
use liqour of no kind and am Therefore
not influenced BY that. 4 s. 49,.
52ft. Prior to the passage of the anti
canteen law, upon the arrival at a
post of command the command
ing Officer. would designate a board
of officers to run tie Post Exchange,
which is the official name of the so
called ''canteen". Each company
had company fund.- that is, all
of the money which belonged to the
company as whole; gathered from
various sources. sometimes started
by voluntary contributions from the
men, This money was in the hands
of the company commander, and the
governents held him responsible for
it. The board would obtain for
each commander the amount of
money which he wished to invest in
the ''canteen. The board there
procured a government building
&1uu Ill OuI AOOuA puO w a OdI duu
suitable furniture, and sold there
beer, wines cigars, and soft drinks,
at fair profit; In another room, or
yet Of rooms, good short order. res
taurant was started, and the edibles
were sold at cost, or less; another
room was fixed for a reading room
Ind subscriptions sent to all the
eading periodicals of the U. S. land,
t there were sucfiient funds, post
Library was started. if funds were
ample, pool and billiard tables were
and pool room opened.
It stated intervals, designated by
he G Commanding officers, the board
would meet, audit the accounts,
livide profits pro rata, and make
heir report. Everything was done
y the government. There was no
isorderly, conduct connected with
Z L. Il /