New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-03
SOLDIERS OBJECT TO
TRAVEL ON FRE|GH1ER
18th and 69th Regiments Want
Passenger Steamers to Take
Them to War Game.
9TH AND FIST DO BETTER
Some Soldiers Will Kick, Even
if They Get Ice Cream, an ON
Ger Says, Pointing Out Trip
Takes Only Five Hours.

Members of the 10Th and 69th regi-
mcnts of the National Guard of New
York. who learned yesterday that II Is
planned to send them to the seat OF
war i'm Connecticut on Saturday morn
ing on two old freight steamers. are
not overioyed at the projected voyage.
Some of the members who have gone
down to Pier 2S East River and have
looked over the steamers assert that 1t
is an outrage to send them as so much
freight on steamers which, il is said.
have no regular accommodations for
passengers.
The men say they do not mind going
TO war but cannot see clearly why they
should be booked to be transported on
old freighters. while the 18th and list
regiments have been assigned a fine
passenger steamer.
There are other details which the
members of the 18th and the 69th regi-
nents and some of their friends THINK
unfair determinations against them,
and the kick is caused by the follow
ing:
According to the present plans the
69th Regiment will board the ancient
frcighter New Haven on Saturday
morning at ; o'clock. some seven nun
dred strong, with its entire wagon
train of some fourteen army wagons
and about one hundred horses.
In addition to this wagon train the
New Haven will also carry the entire
wagon train and animals OF the 'lst
Regiment. which will also consist OF
about fourteen wagons and one hum
dred animals.
The freighter is entirely cased in on
her main deck, there being three cargo
gangways on each side, but no win
dows. The only accommodation FOR the
regiment will be the hurricane deck as
the main deck will be taken up with
the wagons and animals. There are no
seats on the hurricane deck, and no
shelter for the officers and men in case
it rains, unless they go below and try
to squeeze in among the horses. The
New Haven, it is also said. has only
three lifeboats and no life preservers.
The 18th Regiment, unless the plans
are changed. will have freighter, city
of Fall River, which has also plougned
the waters Of the Sound for SO long a
time that no one can tell when she be-
gan her nautical career The 18th. in
addition to its wagons and animals, is
also to be favored with the company of
the animals and wagons of the 9TH
Regiment.
The 18th and the list regiments have
been assigned the passenger steamer
Richard Peck, well known at one time
as the Flyer of the Sound. Brigadler
General George r. Dyer and stan'
LIST Brigade. will also make the voyage
to the war on the Richard Peck. She
has numerous boats and life preservers'
commodious ca bins and staterooms and
all the luxuries of travel.
Both the 18th and the 69th regiments
will have to set up temperance bars
themselves. as the freighters have no
cafes. These regiments will also have
20 hire camp stools II they desire 10 ne
comfortable otherwise the officers and
men will have to stand up during the
7J-mile trip to New Haven. There are
no seats of any kind aboard the
Ireghters.
A high official of the guard, who did
not desire to have his name used, said:
Soldiers have to stand all kinds of
hardships; it is a part of the business
but they will kick, even il they get ice
cream. 1t is only run of some five
hours to New Haven on the freight
steamers, and being on the hurricane
deck for this short time will be much
better than being in a hot train with
engines burning soft coal. In wars in
the past men have been transported in
freight cars and on platform cars, and
were glad to get them. The exigencies
of the service require many sacrifices"