The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-16
WAR GOSSIP.
Skirmish Shots at Varisa9
Phases Of the Struggle.

considerable talk about the way that Cen.
Wesley Merritt, commanding the Military
| Division OF the Atlantic, had his great COM
mand summary shorn in two, and the
| bigger and more important part OF it given
| to junior officer. knowing ones remem-
bered that Gen. Merritt had once cOncurred
In recommendation by Custer for tho dis
missal of the present Secretary of Wax
from the army-a most unexpected act,
and TO this day inexpiicable. Il was
thought that the Secretary was using his
position TO get back at him" Others at
tributed 1t to feeling existing between Gen.
Miles an Gen. Merritt. Regular Army
officers have always much to say about
the baneful influence of politics in a vol
unteer army. They never say much about
the pernicious cIiques and factions which
always exist in every standing army. But.
no matter what feelings existed at the out
set, Gen. Merritt has now a proud COM
mand that ought to satisfy his highest am
billions for distinction. The chances are
that he will fill a large space in the public
eye for a long time to come. No other
American officer ever had an assignment
to duty of such character. 1t revives the
memory OF the old Roman Pro-Consuls.
The nearest approach to it was when Gen
Scott was placed in command of the ARM
invading Mexico, and when he had taken
the City of Mexico became ruler of the en-
tire country. But there was a great dea
of politics in the Mexican war-not enl.
large politics, but very small politics. The
Administration was then partisanly hostile
to Gen. Scott, and keenly alert to make .
partisan advantage out of every feature d
the occupation of the country. A Para
mount Commissioner was sent with the
army, whose business it was to get al
much out of the war as possible for his
party, and he constantly interfered and
checked Scott.
Now Gen. Merritt goes to the Philippines
with an absolutely free hand. He will have
from 25, eco to $1,000 men under his conn
mand, and liberty to deal with country
inhabited by 100000 people absolutely at
his discretion. His only limitations are the
laws of war and the necessities of the sit
uation. He can do in all things entirely az
he thinks best. He may make a reputation
for himself similar to that Lord Give made
in Hindustan, and pass into history as one
Of the greatest Americans. At this moment
he seems to have before him as great OPP
portunities as ever came to any man. How
we'll he will discharge himself of them can
only be conjectured. He may leap into
,reatnesss as suddenly as Commodore
Dewey did, and We all earnestly hope that
ne Will.
Our faith is that well-trained, well-de-
Teloped American officer is capable of any
hing, no matter what new and strange
problems present themselves, and we shall
continue to have that faith, unless there Ia
| demonstration to the contrary.
So far American officers have always
isen to the level of every emergency, and
We believe that they will continue to do 50.
len. Merritt is of the best type of an
American officer. He was born in New
York, and appointed to the Military
Academy from Illinois, graduating in 1867
he 22d in class in which Horace Porter,
las. III. Wilson, A. M. Randol, John M.
wilson, S. D. Ramseur, and A.sC M.
stood ahead of him. He was
First Lieutenant of Cavalry at the OUT
reak OF the war, but came out a Major
ieneral of Volunteers and Brevet Major
ieneral in the Regular Army, with six.
revets in all to his credit, gained as the
commander of a brigade and division Of
avalrv, from Gettysburg to Appomattox.
lie and Custer were together all the time
ulster, snowy, dashng and theatrical;
Ierritt solid, substantial and reliable. He
his position in the Regular Army
s a Colonel, and did good,
teady. soldierly service in the Indian
ghting in the West. He was appointed
General in 1887, and Major
eneral in 1895, and both appointments
ere approved by the Army as fitting and
ell-deServed.
At the same time, do not believe that
lere is a man in the world who will be
alled upon to learn nearly as much in
lie next three months as Gen. Wesley
Ierritt. In the first place, he is to take to
imself young wife, which is always
education for man of his age.
ext | suppose, he knows no more about
le Philippine Islands, their people and
,nditions. than any other well-informed
merican, which is precious little. He 10
go to a country about which three months
20 everyb in this country and Europe,
Inside of a few travellers, merchants,
lilors and geographers, was densely igno-
mt. He is to become ruler and military
ctator to 100000 people whose ideas,
ethods OF thought and practice are a.
idely different from all those to which he
Is been accustomed as it is possible TO
nceive. He is to make his will their law,
Id devise ways and means to bring them
the shortest time to some sort OF haf-
ony with American ways. He has got .
b before him, but believe he is going -
it well.
In spite of the determined efforts OF the
ocular Army people to have it called Q
trumpet" 1 notice that the boys and
cir officers will persist in styling it .
ougle." 1t is "bugle " in the everyday
mp talk, and even in regimental orders,
ID am inclined to think that 'bugle"i t
Ii remain. Bugle is the old, old English
rd, dating from the day when, as its
me implies, it was made from an ox's
m, and called the shaggy, skin-clad
itish warriors to battle. Trumpet is the
er word. derived from the Latin, but, az
ual, people prefer the common old words
every day things to the sonorous Latin
Iue terms.
rhe Mime sota boys, en- route to the
lippines, began their acquaintance
IN OrienfaiiSm in San Francisco with n