Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-06-12
LIEUT.. DsAv0s TROOP L.
how thc Rcd Men arc Persuaded 70 wear
the Army blue

WAsHNGroN. May 3O.-After many
obstacles and some decided holding
back at several OF the reservations.
the oew policy Of recuiting entire
troops and companies Of Indians for
The cayalry and infantry OF the regu-
Oar army IS now progressing in a
promising way Two or three COM
panies have been completed, others
are approaching completion, and
thc fact that no one tribe
is relied upon for this purposc,
the various reservations being called
upon each for its own company or
part Uf accompany, indicates chat the
entire indian population can here
after be relied upon TO furnish its
quota TO the standing army. This,
indeed, is simply in accordance with
the experience OF all ages and nations.
DFrom the Romans, who found
auxiliaries in the distant nations
brought under the empire. to the
British with their great native Indian
army and the Russians with their
constant cnllsting Of troops in the
territories whichthey hayesublugated
in the trans-Caucasin regions. the
same rule has held good If the new
people are firmly united to the ad-
vaRcing empire. they take part in IT'S
military as wen as civil emplovments
In cur country. when The southern
slaves were freed they BEGAN TO he
introduced into our armies. ana in the
regular service to-day tho c5lored
regiments hold a record far in advance
Of the white troops for that form Of
LOYALTY to the Nag which is Indicated
by commfativc freedom from desert
ions.
At San Carlos. Tieut DODGE
Twentv-roarth Infsnlrv has enlisted
Ia body OF Indians. whom he
enthusiastically declares to he sas
Gne a set Of Young men as were cvpr
recruited for the armv." Those aro
foot soldiers. In Alabama. the Tn
dians wao had been Transported 10
Mount ycreon barracks from Arizona
in order to keeo them ont of trouhle
have welded another comnvnv. One
Of the most interesting processes Of
recruiting has been tbat which was
acc6mBlish last month at Rosehua
agency by Lieut. bravo. Sixth cav
alrr. wao has made an elaborate re-
go2. or tho 1b,cct.
Ills first trouble was that the In
dams d.d NOS want TO enlist for dutv
away from thor rese7yaflon Tnls
was net by the gooI old argument of
SIC recmitlar Sergeant aboat The adj
vantagcs Of travel ana usoe,pc the
world. vh.chproyed as a,,urlnG and
effective with red men as with while
Bat it was nrst enforced with NO.
culiar tact and ingenuity by singing
out for conversation some Of the old
men who had visited Washington and
were only tco glad TO illustrate from
their oWn experience and in their own
persons the advantages Of travel.
The next great objection was desire
on the part OF the Indians to stipulate
for appointment as non-comnlsslJucd
officers forthwith. Bet some Carlisle
pupils we're called upon to explain
how under the white mans system 81
raw recruit could not have the chey-
rons at once. Then sUl another diff
aculty was met in Che efforts of men
interested IN keeping asnany Indians
as possible at the reservations. st
last the enlistment was formally
opcned, and 1t is worth noting that
ort OF forty-two applicants Ia the first
thfee days only ten failed IN The
physical examinations although these,
as is known, are strict. Before the
end OF three weeks the tr9op was en-
listed TO thc Iull numoeefelalied.
Preciselyas with white men, the
recruiting officers pursued q policy of
Interesting Themselves in those whom
they desired town over Lieut. Drayo