The National tribune., 1906-11-22

campment of the U. S. w. ", to be
held at Oklahoma City, Okla, the sug-
gestion has been made that clubs be
formed for the purpose of arranging
for the trip for comrades from the
East, North and Middle West. The
initiative in this matter has been taken
by Miles Camp, of Washington, D. c.,
the members of which body at their
last meeting formed an Oklahoma, 1907
club, with the suggestive motto, "Okla-
homa or bust" The comrades in the
coming Encampment City have prom
ised that they will give all visiting SOL
diers exhibitions of real broncho bust
ing, lariat contests and other illustra-
tions of how they do things in the wild
and woody West"
1t is said the New York Department
will arrange to go to Oklahoma City
in force as guard of honor to the
Comfaander-in-Ch -Chief-Elect, Capt. Ham
ilton Ward, of Buffalo.
The National Committee on Legisla-
ton of the United Spanish War Veter-
ans, thru its Secretary, Capt. ]. Walter
Mitchell, is preparing to make a hard
fight for the restoration of the Army
canteen at military posts and other
places where soldiers are stationed. The
Secretary has procured copies of the
recent annual report of Surg.-Gen.
OReilly, U. S. A, in which he shows
by facts and figures that habitual
drunkenness has greatly increased in
the Army since the canteen was abol-
ished by act of Congress and as di-
rect result of such abolishment. EX-
tracts from this report VIII be circu-
lated among former American soldiers.
There are other matters which VIII
be taken up by the committee in the
interest of the comrades of the U. s.
{nCIttlfpp npnSiOn lpgiSl3tiOn all
of which met with the approval of the
National body at the recent Encamp-
ment.
A colored Camp, which was named
in honor of Rear-Admiral Thomas, was
mustered in at Washington D. c., sew
eraI days ago, with substantial mem
bership. The Department mastering
officer, G. Leyburn Shorey, performed
the ceremony, assisted by the Depart
ment officers.
Incidents of the valor of colcred SOL
diers in the War with Spain and the
insurrection in the Philippines were re-
lated One of these was about 4 col
ored Corporal of cavalry in the San
tiago campaign who dashed into the
zone of fire, and amidst veritable
rain of Spanish bullets rescued white
officer who had been severely wounded,
bringing him into the American lines
in safety.
Another speaker told of a colored in
fantryman, who, altho shot thru both
legs, maintained a steady fire from his
"Krag'' on a band Of Filipino bolomen
and prevented them from advancing
and slashing with their razor-edged
boIos the wounded Americans who lay
upon the field.
Information recently received from
lril Snpin TO the effect that
an organization of Spanish soldiers who
fought against the Americans in Cuba
had been formed. 1t was supposed that
the association had been organized
along patriotic lines like the United
Spanish War Veterans of this country.
An officer of the American Society
wrote to the association of Spanish SOL
diers to learn something about pur-
poses and scope. He was surprised up
on receiving reply from a Spanish
officer to learn that its purpose was in
no wise patriotic.
I'VE have formed the Society" wrote
the officer so that we can make a
united effort to collect from the Gov
ernment of Spain our back pay as SOL
diers in Cuba
Commander-in-Chief Chas. r. Mil
ler, of the U. s. w. ". came to Wash
ington last Monday on d business mis-
a
Veterans of the District of Columbia
omitted anything in the nature of a
reception or public entertainment. He
recently sustained severe loss in the
death of his daughter Sarah at Cleve-
land, O., his home. and the comrades
who visited him during his stay at the
Army and Navy Club extended to him
their sincere and heartfelt sympathy.
The recent National Encampment of
the United Spanish War Veterans and
the publicity that was given its pro-
ceedings thru the press has served to
develop the fact that iii many parts of
the United States there has been form
ed Independent organizations of SOL
diers of the War with Spain. These
were known by various names. but
there was a singieness of purpose in all
of them-to keep alive the memories
of the late war and in comradely broth
erhood do all the good the members
could, besides declaring patriotic fealty
to the old Flag and the grandest coun
try under Gods bright sunlight.
Already two of these independent as.l
nocfationa have made applicatiOn to -