The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-24
INDIANS As SOLDIERS.
How the Policy or Emp'ovinr Tber, Has
Rrorrcenrd With Rnmc nrnwhncks.

| WARRINGTON. Oct. 23.-lt Is quito evlden
that q wide difference OF opinion exists in the
army as to the expediency OF enlisting Indian'
as soldiers. While some officers regard the
policy as successful. others are quite as posi-
tive that 1t has been a failure. The action o
Secretary Lamont. n few months ago. In dis
banding several companies Of Indians that
had been mustered In. and stopping the re-
cruitins Of others at various points. is pretty
good evidence that tho War Department no
longer relies as much as formerly on getting
soldiers from this source. II is true that there
were special causes for the action taken in
those cases. In some instances recruiting
had been very slow. and therc was little pros
pect OF completing It, In one case it had
been thought advisable to consolidate two
companies. neither OF which was full. but tho
Indians made so much objection that dishand-
ment was substituted. During the present
year. also. white recruits have Teen abundant
on account OF the hard times. SO that there
was less need OF securing Indians.
But the current reports show that some Of
fcers do not think tho experiment OF enlisting
| Indians to he successful. Thus Brig Gen
| Carlin Ia understood to consider that the In
dian as soldier IL II tnilurr. Lieut. Col. Kent.
Inspector General OF tho Department OF Dn-
kota. eNpresscs tho opinion, in his annual re-
port. that tho experiment is OF doubtful sue
cess. 1t appears that UP TO June 30 last
there had been enlisted 0G3 Indians. with I'll
actually In tho ranks. divided into ak troops
| OF cavalry and nine comranies OF infantry.
But when tho original plan was started by
| Secretary Proctor 1t was evidently intended
to enlist about 1900 Indians. His O. der. is
sued in the spring Of 1901. prescribed the re-
cruitng o. Troop l. In each Of the first eight
cavalry regiments. with So men each. nni OF
Company l in nineteen infantry regiments.
with the same number. That would have
brought nearly 1000 Indians into the regular
army. In anticipation OF such enlstments the
existing number of scouts was reduced to 100.
Another fact which is worth noting is that
only % Indians were enlisted during the last
fiscal year.
Perhaps the most elaborate abatement OF the
drawbacks to the service Of Indians as soldiers
is the one made by Adjt Gen. Williams in his
Inst report. and already cited in these columns. /
His conclusion was that the present system Of
snstnE them mi II the regular rcGiments was
that, while they are excellent skirmishers and |
scouts when properly commanied. their en-
opinion and some. that have been expressed
Gen. Breckinrldge stated that tho rcpurts Of
inspecting officers In reference to Indian
though in some localities little rrogress had
been made toward filing the infantry com
I" yS the nan' GOOD snS.
proud Of the r Occupation. and Of great an.
Who GG eund sr1n d sfayr n Mi
ing them i'r the. infantry. reported that in
other resnects their enlistment had been sue
Ell and willing in the discharge OF their du-
Is.; sfubTTralnnts And generally well con
the part Of their o"cra" Cen BROOKE cf ia r 1
aided That as cnn e dsef f't the es
isaI OF m!,"kng soldiers 81 Indians prom;
progress with tho Indian ompany 'i at M s"1d
Sernon Not to accumulate Illustrations. Gen.
me tbnRt thu wso
troop md companies, ,in the regular regi-
rontented soldiers. instead Of a restless and
not be difficult to determine by experiences
now Tar thIs policy must be pursued to fully
the way the subject looked year aga
In rs current report Gen. Schoneld holds
hst s ensnE Indians has been
!, HIT "a, OF giving q sale outlet for the natural
fnSan goatb w Of as 4
2 tint object was the possiSf ty of sducatins
are. and. above all; Of making them litter to ,
,nrnme, citizens. And a second object was ,
indians Of the country can be relied upon for b
h |, share o. its military service; but as to Il
'ht'cl bolHt IhlHeT cautiously SAYS that Q
lnnn this question: .
The objections which tho Indians have made
o c"iisting were summarized By Gen Breokin- n
inEe m his report OF last year as follows: .
FIRST, the long term: second. living In houses L
instead OF tences: third. such horses as are Ii
'Xen the covh Try fourth. celibacy- any worthy n
GLOW q u should be married. NTH. exile"if n
ley hetonG 70 the regiment instead OF their =
RI q. who will say when they may be ordered T
rom home forever sixth. loss OF the 4O cents t,
day now paid mounted scouts for their Il
onics." such objections would naturally Z,
'man MS draw backs to their actual efficiency "
service, and, in addition. ii is found that the o.
l'lithry life is, sometimes irksome to the b.
ames with which the white soldier reiieves 4,
4" monotony NJ duty. and when stationed | o.
ear reservations they nre apt to contrast their
10 with the Incidence and q eedom of restraint u
those who are not In the army. Then al a
,0uEh the army authorities concsde that ten al
adams n each company may have their fam n,
linor!ty OF those who are married. W
But 1t Is to Ice hoped that the diff1culties In "
he way OF employing Indians as soldiers NAV la
? surmounted; since the aim Ia to absurn be
10 race INTO the body Of American citiZens oh
icy should sooner or later be able to furniah an
'elr quota to the military service Whether "a
10 change from their old employment as ~
outs to their present status as regulnrly en-. 70
'ted members Of the regiments has been =
Is n matter for the military an III
critics to determine as the result Of obser hi
tlon ana experience. But the general ten | h
'ncy OF army service must be in the direction Gu
educating the young men, loosing tribal re-. IN
nsider itself a part OF the American people re,