The National tribune., 1907-01-03
UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS.

Now that the new Commander-in-
Chief of the United Spanish War Vet
Grams, Capt. Hamilton Ward, of Buffalo,
N Y, has assumed command, it Is stat
ed that one of his first moves will be
to recruit the ranks of the organization.
There are several fields in which mis-
sionary work can be done, and it is
predicted that before the next National
Encampment in September, at Okla
homa City, Okla, upwards of 100 Camps
will have been added to the already
long list
The uniform question having been
settled at the recent National Encamp-
ment, it is proposed to induce all the
Camps to bring about the uniforining
Of it's members. The regulation uni
form, comprising the blue blouse and
gray trousers, was retained by action
of the Encampment, and the Camps
can decide whether they will adopt the
campaign hat or the recently devised
bell-top cap in blue and gray. On oc-
casions of parade or ceremony it is also
permissible under the rules for men,
bers to wear the Army uniforms they
wore in the service during the War
with Spain.
Many individual comrades are ad-
dressing communications to Capt. j.
Walter Mitchell, Secretary of the Ma
tional Committee on Legislation at
Washington. d. c., heartily indorsing
the action of President Roosevelt in
eliminating from the military service
the three companies of colored infantry
which were stationed at Brownsville,
Tex. A member of a Chicago Camp
states in his letter that "a serious blow
would have been administered to good
order and military discipline for all
time had President Roosevelt permit
4 L., H.
dismissed battalion to remain in the
service"
He added that the action of the nom
commissioned officers of the three COM
panies "in not ferreting out the real
offenders, as they could have done.
makes them in reality particeps GRIM
inis by their concealment of the GRIM
inals."
A matter that is now receiving the
attention of the National Committee on
Legislation of the u. S. w. v. Is a reso-
luton adopted by the recent National
Encampment favOring the pensionins
of Army nurses who served during the
War with Spain. DR.. Laura Hughes, OF
the Association of Nurses of the Span
ish War, in defining their position, said
1--WE feel that we are Spanish War
Veterans just as you soldiers are. We
are not an auxiliary, but veterans of
that war While the Army transports
brought and are bringing back soldiers
who have become mentally and physi-
cally incapacitated. so those transports
have and are bringing back nurses who
are similarly incapacitated."
She exprest the hope that the Spanish
War nurses who suffered under the
blazing skies in the tropics may be in
| cluded under the law which provides
for the nurses who rendered such hero
ic service in the civil war.
Congress will also be asked by the
Committee on Legislation to enact laws
as will enforce proper honor and re-
spect for the United States uniform Of
enlisted men in the Army and Navy
when worn In public places. Recent
incidents were recalled where soldiers
and sailors were tumbled out into the
streets by keepers of theaters. dance
halls and other resorts for no other Of
fense than because they wore the Union
blue of the Army and Navy.
1t is also proposed to have monster
petition circulated among soldiers of
the civil war and those of the War with
Spain, urging Congress to pass laws for
the better protection of the Flag. A
communication from California told of
an insult to "Old Glory" by q number
of Cinnamon and Japanese in a tea
house or chop suey joint in that State.
The Mongolians nailed an American
Flag against the side Of the shack and
used it as a target. The marksmen
were endeavOring to see how many of
the stars they could shoot out of the
blue ground of the Flag, it Is said.
Word was carried to a Camp of Spanish
War Veterans then in session as TO the
desecraticu of the Flag by the China
men and Japs, and the members of the
Camp, with the American fighting yell,
charged the shack. dispersed the Orien-
tails, scattering them in every direction
and nearly demolishing the building in
which the target shooting was taking
place. The shot-up Flag was rescued,
and is preserved by the Camp as a me-
mento.-Capt. ]. Walter Mitchell, Ma
tional Historian, U. 8. w. ", Washing
ton, D. c.