The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-09-19
HOLD THE VOL UNrEERS.

DreSlQ6QGS decision DOG W DuSISI
out any more volunteers. 1t is clear
now that no demand on Spain will be
granted unless we are prepared to en-
force it. Spain never would have
engaged in war had we had six
months ago an army of 100000
soldiers ready for military opera
tions. She will yield without further
resistance if we keep 100000 soldiers
roady for military operations. She
will not yield if we reduce the num-
Der one-half or break down the great
organization we have spent so much
money to create.
Very few regiments have been
mustered out. In most cases the
mer of regiments ordered home have
been given furIoughs for thirty or
sixty days. The cenvalescents on
furlough will recover their health
and those who were homesick will
find that lounging about the city or
country village IS quite as irksome as
camp lite. If they are called again
to service they will return with zest
to take up active campaigning IN
weather better suited to military
operations than was the summer.
If there is possibility of con-
tinuance of the war the government
cannot afford to master out any more
volunteers. The experience which
they have had is invaluable because
in it they have gained what can be
gained in no other way. The troops
that have been in camp or in the
field for four months have passed
through the most trying period of a
soldiers life. Seasoned and trained
as they are, they are worth to the
government four times their number
in green men. The government de-
sires, of course, to reduce war ex-
penses, but if there is a possibility
that hostllltles will be resumed it
would be economy to keep the present
volunteers in service or under orders,
and season and train them still
further.
Many ridiculous complaints are
made about garrison and patrol duty
among the volunteers. The inference
is that troops sent to Cuba, or Porto
Rico, or the Philippines, will have no
other than police duty to perform.
The chances are the other way. The
volunteer army which has just cut its
eye teeth and is fairly ready for the
work of war would, in event of a dis
agreement with Spain, have opportu-
nifty to do under more favorable con-
ditions what Skaters army did In
Cuba.
Remaining in service through
Septemb Der and October will be no
hardship to troops in camp in this
country or in Porto Rico. Service
through the winter months in Cuba
will not be trying or dangerous.
Every months service adds 10 the
value of the soldier, and from this
time forward fewer mistakes will be
made by officers and men. Even if
there be no resumption of the war
against Spain the extra sixty days
service or extr SIX months, as the
case may be, will leave the volun-
teers much better for their experience
in the army than they would be if
discharged now. This in itself will
be of great advantage to the nation.
In view of future calls for volunteers
it is most desirable that the men now
in service carry to their homes, when
they are discharged, fair knowledge
of a soldiers life, and that they are
discharged, fair knowledge of a SOL
dier's life, and that they be con-
trolled by soldierly instinct, spirit,
and pride.
A