Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-08-11

tlat the salt PORK De hot raw, aQC
that the bacon be done. Beans are
not palatable when they are hard
enough to be used as poker-chips
and rice is not good to eat when II
takes a mill to grind it. Hardtack
Is a good diet, but not as a steady
thing when there is opportunity for
fresh bread occasionally. These
things, however, are but superficial
causes of complaint, and are being
eradicated rapidly. Most Of them
were caused at the start by the roll
f! ing Of the ship, which SO seriously
incapacitated SO many Of the officers
of the regiment that proper inspec-
, ton was not possible. 1t also added
to the discomfort OF the men, so
that they were inclined to exaggerate
their hardships.
There Is a much more serious mat
ter for objection and complaint in
/ the equipment of the men. They are
sent out to climate terribly hot
and distressingly humid with an
absolutely inadequate supply of
proper clothing. Undertaking was
issued today. 1t is made of Canton
flannel, of a weight that would prove
extremely acceptable at the summit
Of White or Chilkoot Pass, and,
even such as it is, there is not
enough to 60 around. Shoes will not
go around-to one company which
turned in a requisition for sixty
four pairs, twenty-one pairs were
issued There is large supply
of brown duck suits to be issued
sometime. by-and-by, but not a he'll
met or a suitable sun-hat to go with
them.
Yet one Of the great dangers of life
in the Philippines Is sunstroke.
These things will be overcome, of
course, in time, and when we have
taken Manila" We can get all we
want and just what we want in
Manila-when we have taken it.
But the expectation is that in order
to take Manila we shall want some
guns-rifies for the soldiers. The
guns Of the First Oregon are quite
in keeping with the clothing outfit.
They are the old-fashioned Spring
field rifles. Originally they were
hardshooting guns, but that was
long ago. Now the rifling has been
worn out of a great many of them,
and something else is the matter
with some Of them. There are 200
new rifles, which ought to be in good
condition for service; they are Of the
old modal hut ofi
The First California boys carry the
same guns.
They are going to meet Mauser
rifles, and apparently some one is
relying on the pluck and dash of our
fellows, and on the cowardice of the
Spaniards. Our boys have got the
pluck, and they will show the dash.
There need be no question on that
score. But If the Spaniards happen
to stay and fight, there Is likely to be
a sorry tale to tell when these old
Springfelds take the field against
the Mausers.
Now all this adds new emphasis
to the great lesson this little war
with sixth-rate. bankrupt, "effete
monarchy" is teaching the United
States-the lesson of the folly Of be-
ing unprepared. But 1t points an
other moral. We need guns, sabres.
men. quipment--everythin pertain
ing to the makeup of an efficient
army. But, more than all, we need
a different system of administration.
Consider this: Uncle Sam has been
training a reasonably large number
of his young men for good many
years in the art of science of war
fare. Most Of them have developed
remarkable fitness for their oc-
cupation. Nearly every one of those
who have had experience extending
over years enough to put a captains
bars on their shoulder-straps Is COM
petent to equip and outfit an expedi-
ton of this size. Time is one of the
great considerations. There must
be no delay. All sorts of conven-
fences and comfort for the men are
sacrificed in order to gain time.
Even essentials of equipments are
let go. And yet, with all this i'm
stead of being put into the hands OF
the competent, thoroughly trained
men who have made such things their
life work and have developed 1t into
a science, is kept in the bureaus at
Washington. Every detail must be
reported ito the Department"
The Department" wheels around
on its revolving-chair and considers
the thing a while, and then tele-
graphs it's consent. But a day has
been lost, and the expedition might
have been 300 miles nearer Manila
and Admiral Dewey.
Some army men will say that this
ought not to be said now, because
it is furnishing information to the
enemy. But it is better to furnish
what small information the enemy
can get out OF this If it's publication
will do ANYTHING toward preventing