The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-12
Abandonment of Camp WiI<oR and Re-
Posts Probable Before Long.
SECRETARY ALGER PLEASED
SATISFIED WITH INVESTIGATORS
NAMED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Orders Issued for Erection of Winter
HospitaIs--One to Be Constructed
at Havana without Delay.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

epeclal 70 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-Friends of Gen.
Miles are authority for the statement that
the commanding general of the army is
about to make, through proper channels.
important recommendations to Congress
which are expected to be factors in the as
similation Of the Porto Ricans, Hawaiians,
Cubans and Filipinos by the United States
Nation. 1t is said that the general, study
ing the situation during his recent campaign
in the West Indies, came to the conclusion
that as the islands were eventually to be a
part of the United States and the climate
Is such as would make 1t mpracticable to
garrison them with American troops, the
bRst thing to do would be to enlist native
soldiers enough to meet whatever emer-
gencies might arise during the reconstruc-
tion period and reinforce them with colored
regiments. This will spare the United States
government the embarrassment of sending
white American soldiers to these unhealthy
countries, where the chances are their con-
atitutions will be wrecked. The colored men,
IL is said, can stand the climate.
This idea is not new one with the gen.
eral, as during his Indian campaigns the fact
was impressed on him that the only people
to effectually keep Indians under control
were Indian police. AS long as the govern
ment depended on white soldiers and civil
officers to keep the Indians in their proper
places 1t was never accomplished except
after hard-Iought battles and expensive ne
gotiations AS soon as the Indian police
were appointed, however, all this came to a
stop. and to-day, although the frontier posts
are practically deserted no apprehension is
felt by any cf the government officials, as
the Indian police have shown themselves ca
pable of meeting any emergency. With
them in the field. it is practically impossible
for an Indian to evade justice if he commits
a crime. In the old days the fixing of
identities among Indians was a never-ending
source of trouble TO the government OFF,
cials An Indian could commit a crime, and
unless some officer saw him do it, there was
hardly any way of proving him to have been
the culprit Now when any crime is COM
mitted the Indian police have q way of get
ting at the bottom of the thing and finding
the man. When they know, as they do
know, that they are clothed with the au-
thority of a government officer, they acquire
a dignity that has beep until lately foreign
to the Indian, and he has been proved to be
always true <tQ his obligation. General
Miles thinks that If the same idea is put in
operation in the newly-acquired islands UNI
der the supervision of American officials the
native troops will preserve order efectually,
beside being proof against sickness.
The uniforms now in use in the regular
army are also troubling General Miles, who.
after seeing the liveries of all the principal
countries of Europe, feels that the Amer
ican uniform is hardly what it should be.
His ideas are said to be anything but radi-
caf inasmuch as he does not desire to have
the old-time blue done away with, but
merely wants a little decoration added to
the clothes cf the privates. At present
there Is no way of telling to what branch
of the service soldier belongs except from
the device his cap, and that is not dis
tinguishable at ar.y greater distance than
about twenty feet. even to our army officer.
The uniforms of the officers denote the
branch of the service the wearers belong
TO by the different colors with which the
trousers are striped, white standing for in
fantry, yellow for cavalry, REQ ror artillery,
etc. General Mlless plan is for all the uni
forms of both officers and privates to have
placed on them the colors denoting the
service they are in. This will not only be
a convenience to everyone in the army, but
will make the uniforms more attractive.