Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-08
PORTO RICO SOLDIERS
Sketch of Command Now in
Washington.
CAME FOR INAUGURAL
DISTRICT MEM IN COMMAND OF
COMPANIES.
Said to Make Good and Are Thorough
" Amenable to Command Of
Their Officers.

Final orders were issued today for the de-
parture of the battalion of Porto Rican
troops and the brown men of the West
Indies started on their return to their homes
with a new idea of the majesty and strength
of the republic to which they give their
allegiance. ~,
The steamship Arkadia, on which the reg
iment came from Porto Rico, and in which
they have been quartered since their ar
rival pulled out from the government wharf
at the Washington barracks shortly after
10 o'clock this morning, and the plaudits of
the soldiers of the enginee battalion and
hospital corps stationed at the barracks
mingled with the cheers of the Porto Ricans
and the music of their band A little tug
that seemed to be small enough to be put in
the hawse hole of the Arkadia grappled
with the bow of the big ocean freighter and
wheeled her into the .eschannel. and the
homeward journey Of the colonial soldiers
was begun. The men have been IN Washing
ton since Friday night, and they enjoyed
every minute of their. stay. Their officers
say they saw the whole town and much of
the surrounding country such energetic
SlghtSeerS were they.
The Porto Rican provisional regiment oc-
cupies anomalous position in the organi-
cation Of the United States4army The en-
listed men are part and parcel OF the regu-
lar army, with all the privileges -appertaln-
ing thereto. The officers are appointed for
terms of four years and almost every year
there is great agita ton in their ranks for
fear the regiment will be disbanded. There
does not appear to be anys one who really
understands the status of the regiment to-
day who knows whether or not it will
be retained in the service. During the re-
cent session of Congress the commissioner
from Porto Rico, Mr.. Federico Degetau,
made a speech in the House in which he
said Porto Rico is so well content under
American rule that the presence of troops
on the island is unnecessary While the
people of Porto Rico, it is said, appreciated
the compliment Mr.. Degetau paid them.
they have expressed sthe wish that he had
been little more explicit and had told the
members of Congress that while there Is
no need for the presence of troops to sup
press instruction or things of that sort,
there is great need for the members of the
Porto Rican provisional regiment on the
island and that the people VIII never con-
sent to its disbandment.
Regiment Popular at Home.
The Porto Rico provisional regiment Is
the most popular thing on the island that
has come to it's people since the American
flag was raised over the palace in San Juan.
There is great indignation among the peo-
pie of the island every time there is talk
of disbandng the regiment and every OFF,
cial of the government, from the governor
down. is aware SO it is said, that the regi-
ment is doing as great work, in quiet
way, to educate the people and to convince
them of the honesty of the intentions OF
the United States as the excellent system
of public instruction that has been organ
lied for the islands Porto Rico is out
post of the United States military eStab-
lishment and the native troops are the only
soldiers that are there now. From care
full examination of the statistics obtainabie
S f0npH the SnnnOrt of the native
regiment costs the general government less
than the support of sufficient number or
troops of the army would cost If the fortif1-
cations on the island were manned by white
soldiers.
Enlisted Men Well Paid.
The enlisted men of the regiment are the
best paid natives Of their class in the island,
it is said. and the fact of their being mem
bers of the regiment gives them a certain
social prestige they would not do without.
The officers of the regular army who have
served with them say the Porto Ricans are
superb soldiers; they take great pride in
their service and their uniforms and are
looked upon with much favor by all OF
sheir people. About 20 per cent of the
membership of the regiment are married
men and the training they get from the Off
GERS is shown in the Improvement of their
homes. Ia
The benefit to the islands of the presence
of this regiment 1t Is claimed, has another
way of showing itself also. The organiza-
ton brings to Porto Rico an immense sum
of money each month from the United
States every penny of which is expended on
the island. This comes In the pay of the
men and in the purchase Of the necessary
quartermaster's and commissary stores.
The money Is distributed evenly over the
business section of the island and of
course, makes an acceptable Increase In the
circulation. This Is an item that those in
charge say cannot be overlooked in sum-
ming up the advantages to be gained by
keeping the regiment intact and perma-
nent part of the military establishment OF
the country.
The regiment Is made up of eight COM
panies of infantry. organized into two bat
talions. Its field officers are officers of the
regular army detailed for such duties and
its company and staff officers appoint.
ed for terms of four years from among
those who were volunteer officers during
the war with Spain or FROM native Porto
Rlcans. Appointment has recently been
made of a number of native second lieuten-
ants, as a result of examinations held on
the island short time ago. Many of the
officers of the regiment are men who have
seen service in both Cuba and the Philip
pines, and there are two of the captains
who were officers of the District regiment
of volunteers during the war with Spain.
The regiment holds the record for turning
out the best rife team in the army last
year and 1t promises to do much this
year. 1t Is some pleasure to District mill
tldlen 10 reIlect tnat the captain OF the
Porto Rican rifle team, the man who has
done as much as anyone to make the
team an aggregation or crack shots, is
Capt. Frank l.. Graham, one of the old
members of the brigade rifle team Of the
National Guard of the District and cap
tain in the District regiment during the
last war
Battalion Of Volunteers.
In 1899 authority was given the Secretary
of War to organize a battalion of volun-
teers from among the natives of Porto
Rico. to be differed by men who were ma
tives of the United States. In February,
1900, another battalion was authorized, the
provision being made that the second bat
TALON should be mounted. Col. James A.
Buchanan, at present the commanding off,
Ger of the oath Regular Infantry. and then
a major in the 18th Infantry, was appointed
a lieutenant colonel OF volunteers and
placed in command of the regiment. The
organization remained volunteer regiment
until February, 1901 when the army reor-
ganization bill became 1aW and authority
was given to cover the regiment into the
regular establishment assa provisional reg
iment of infantry. It was provided that
the second or mounted battalion should re-