Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-15

when news came of the destruction of
Ceryera's fleet at the mouth of San
tiagO harbOr? And where were there
soldiers more anxious TO drive the
Spaniard off the West Indian islands
into the sea than the boys of Com
pany 4?
Perhaps the support given them at
home had great deal to do in keep
ing the Rock Island soldiers up to the
scratch. The sendof they had when
they left home, the excursions to
Springfield and to Camp Alger, the
many visitors and the encouraging let
tiers from home, the carload OF pr0vis-
ions sent from Rock Island to relieve
the real or fancied wants of Com
pany A while near Washington, the
little repair kits from members of the
W. r. {. of this city and many other
evidences Of consideration and affec-
ton constantly kept the boys keyed
up to the task before them.
Discipline Was Lax.
Probably Company A would not at
any time been considered a finished
unit in the service but it's failings
were not more marked than those OF
other companies. Americans may not
make model soldiers, but, like the Ca
nadians in the European war, they
are there when there is fighting to be
done. There were breaches of disci-
pine IN camp and on the march in
SO that would not be tolerated in anv
organization of regulars, even in this
country. "SaSsing" the nOn-cOms and
even sometimes commissioned officers
was the ordinary diversion of these
volunteer priyates. An incident at
Camp Alger illustrates how lightly
some OF the men regarded their ObIi-
cations. July , the men drew a
months pay and the next night con-
siderable number of troops from Penn
sylvania, having imbibed such liquid
refreshments as were peddled to them
by enterprising dealers lowering
around in the woods. decided they
were going home the Fourth. and they
started The provost guard was set
on their trail and they were rounded
up after battle, and eventually decid-
ed to postpone their visit till after the
war was ended
Many Of the boys never handled A
gun till musket' was placed in their
hands and, IN case Of trouble, the
weapons might have been useful to
them as clubs, but certainly not to
shoot with Many of the troops were
with their equipment and IN
others, this being responsible in some
for shortcomings that were
laid at the door of the war deDart- /
ment. After landing at Guanica in the
Porto Rican campaign Company A was /
sent on outpost duty and remained /
there among the mosquitoes and in the /
heat for As hours without relief. The /
second day the supply of water gave
out and early in the morning detail /
was dispatched for camp with a col
lection OF canteens. There seemed to /
be some difficulty in finding water. bur
he Canteen bearers connected with :;
liberal supply OF native rum. After
hours OF waiting during which the
men on guard were furnishing. a sec
md detail was sent down and at last
! supply was secured, though some o.
he original canteens never were re
covered.
During this same period of outnost
guard duty the boys imagined at var
Gus times that they were about to be
ngaged IN battle. They were sta
Toned in heavy shTubbery in which
Countless 5paniards were supposed TO
'e lurking. Naturally, il did not re
ulre much of stretch of the imap-
nation at night to see things and In
ee 10 shoot The first night out there
sas an almost constant fusiIlade and
long toward morning the firing he