The Washington times., 1905-07-18
FIGHT OVER AGAIN
SANTIAGO BAIT TIE
Veteran Fencibles Celebrate
Seventh Anniversary.
MAY REJoIN DISTRICT GUARD
Would Make July II a National R0li-
day - Speechmaking and
Good Cheer

SOOU NuGSI-
Another chapter was added to the his
tory of Company c, OF the First Dis
1rict Observation-Disclosures known as the
National Fencibles' when il celebrat-
ed the seventh anniversary Of the bat
tie of Santiago de Cuba, in the Spanish
War Veterans Han, last night
The celebration consisted of a banquet
and much speech making, The main
room of the building was used for the
scene of festivities and the hall was
decorated with large American flags,
loaned by the War Department for the
occasion, and quantities. of bunting.
American. Cuban and Spanish flags were
G~ouped over the banquet table
Capt. Charles s. Domer. formerly cap
tain oI Company c. was the presiding
officer. His little speeches Introducing
the different speakers was nappy and
received applause.
May Rejoin Militia
Promptly at 3 O'Clock the bugler
sounded assembly Former members of
Company c held a short business meet
ing in the parlors of the hall,
At this meeting il was decided if pos
sible, to reorsanize the old company and
with the Same officers, and offer their
services TO the District Militia They
may become company OF the new reg
iment that is shortly TO be formed il.
the National Guard
After the meeting Bugler Smith, of
the First Tennessee Regiment I. s V
sounded the mess call" All the vet
Grams were welcomed to the hall.
1t was moro of Il cali to arms No
sooner did the veterans enter the hall
than the refreshments began TO flow and
the firing line OF old Company c was
After quite an extended attack had
been made upon the good things Cap
tain Domer ordered cease firing Hos
tilities stopped and the oratoricaI am
of
During the speeches unique souvenirs
IN the shape of Krag-Jorgensen bullets.
tied with bits of red, white and blue and
bit of yellow ribbon, were passed
around to those present.
The bullets were those distributed. bv
Colonel Roosevelt to the company on
the night of July Il, 1898. AS the com
were again distributed last night as
mementos of the celebration.
Novel Propositions.
Many new ideas We're brought out by
the speeches of the evening. Some want
ed Santiago Day made a national hoH-
day: another wanted the celebration to
he a yearly affair. another wanted the
old members Of the company to join the
National Guard, and many other pa
triotic views were expressed.
Colonel N. Emmett Urell received a
great ovation when his presence in the
hall was noticed He came late and did
not go upon the platform until escorted
there by Captain Domer amid the cheers
OF the veterans.
Colonel Urell was In happy vein. He
said upon reaching the rostrum. that,
as usual. the Company's scouts were on
the alert and were not letting anything
escape. he said he made no pretense OF
making a speech What he had 10 say
however pleased his old soldiers.
Spanish War Record.
In a review OF the company's service
In the Spanish War Colonel UrelI said:
AS look back over seven years Il
the time when we lined up in the
trenches behind that great band of ours
its strains sounded sweeter than the
Marine Band. which has never played
On an occasion like that The Spanfards
heard It and they Immediately thought
of Surrendering. II that was not quite
enough. O'Connor's taps did the rest.
You al ought 10 be proud that vol
were there, even though General Miles
said he never saw such a lot Of savage:
in his life. The old men, some OF whom
are here, fought against their brother,
forty years ago. but they never in theil
tour years of lighting saw any hardship
Prison was a hotel beside Santiago, foI
at Libby they gave the best they had
while at Santiago they gave nothing.
Patriotic to the Core.
When the boys started from here
they were young, and most of then
came from school. They were patriotic
20 the core. and ready and willing Il
do any fighting. / remember how nnx
ious every man was and how he want
ed 70 get on the firing line It is 9
pity they never got there.
Though no man was brayer than an.
other. though your company went far
ther than any other. you did your duty
You had no Jolly rebs' in front of you
and if you had, there would have beer
no surrender like that which was made
but there were sons OF those 'rebs,' Wht
showed they loved the old nag as muct
as any OF Us.
I'VE were the first regiment at CamI
AIger. getting off May y. which was tn,
anniversary of my first arrival In Wash
ingt0n, in 1861. At Tampa We though
we We're going 10 get away sooner. uu1
were delayed q month. and nnalIy go
away on q ship that We thought woult
sink before We arrived at our desJlna
ZION. We finally got TO the trenches
and 1 felt the inspiration of being with
The younger men again.
Other Speakers.
other speakers of the evening were
Maj. tGeq BfdckeHt toI- J. Ed"iI
Brown, immigration inspector from Bal
Iimore; Commander Michael J. Hacl1ett
of the Army and Navy Union: Lieut.
Col Richard a O'Brien, of the First
District Regiment: and J. ". Mitchell
Colonel Brien made an ardent plea
for the 'oId veterans to join the Ma
tionaI Guard In this connection hC
said;
You showed patriotism In going tJ
cuba, and when you got there yot
obeyed orders That same valuable ex
LeTieuce you received would be OF serV
Ice in the National Guard which j
would build up and hold together. Ne
have been getting out after skor
term of service, ana men who are We
developed are needed.
Patriotism means the Willingness Il
be ready for war in time of peace. fo,
should not keep away because you may
not like a few individuals in IL. I an
III the Guard because | love my countr5