Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-09

health and comfort to that of military
efficiency,
The war authorities have crowded
together in and about Tampa several
thousand men on the plausible pretext
that in a big camp of this kind the
troops could be exercised in large
bodies, and tho superior otllcera thus
get familiar with brigade and divisional
formation. We must bear in mind that
most of our troops have never since
the Civil War been brought together in
larger bodies than few companies at
time. Many colouela of regiments
have never until this war soen all their
msn together on parade ground.
Brigadier. generals have heen created
who have never seen tho regiments that
are to constitute their hrigadu. We
have for this war laid out com
plicated scheme of army organization,
and Entrusted the working of IT in most
instances to men who scarcely know the
manual Of arms
Let us tell the truth, dissgieeahle as
1t is. We arc strong enough to bear it,
and to profit by it.
While the nation has been periodically
voting men and money for this cam
raign of alleged phianthrophy, pro
motions have not been made wholly
from deserving otiicera whose lives have
been spont in active military work, hut
from ranks of politicians, who may
have had smattering OF militia drill,
or may have worn q uniform 40 years
ago.
To-day. 30 days after the declaration
OF war, there has not been held Mt
Tampa single military field exercise
likely to be of service to generals Of
brigade or division, let alone an army
corps. The main reason Is, 10 doubt,
thAt there are nn hriGadiers or major
generals in Tampa who would know
how to so 10 work in the matter.
lien. Wheeler, for instance, ia sup
posed to be the 6ashing leader OF u
cavalry division. admire tho veneer.
able warrior of the ConfederaGy, and
his appointment ia beautiful tribute
to the new spirit pervading North and
South. But his MACE 10 In Washing.
ton, on q strategic board, not in the
field, whore young blood is neeied.
Beai 'es. to put Gen. Wheeler in charge
of troops to-day is like putting on
hoard modern ironclad naval officer
whose knowledge of the sea was gained
exclusively in the days of Fafragut.
Aside from the incomnetence of
nearly every general 30 far mauufac-
tured by act of Congress-. the heat OF
Tampa ia 30 oppressive that field. day
Of any kind ia almost out OF the ques.
tion. The men would scarce be able
to march TO the mRnmuvring ground
and back, let alone 20 through fighting
Operatlons. As II is, the individual
battalions have all that can be ex-
pscted of them 10 merely dragging
themselves out of camp in tho early
morning and going through a few
exercises in neighboring field, and
then returning to epend the day swell.
turing in their tents until the sun goes
down.
What superfuous energy there ia
must be given to drilling the newly
arrived recruits.
What is now imperative, if the
troops are 10 be brought into an eff,
Gent condition, is to put them at once
on transports and bring them up North
to big camp of exercise on the most
hracing part of our coast, say about
Narragansett. Here they could b,
properly drilled in anticipation Of az
Invasion of Cuba in November.
Here generals might learn the
elementary duties of their new grades.
Instead of our men loAing their vitality
from day to DAY, as they are at present
doing, they would be storing up health
Up in the North the people woult
more reality see tho gross manner il
which our brave troops are being ex
plotted by politicians. If people u,
North could see what / have beer
seeing, there would be cry of in
dignant protest throughout the country
There 10 German military attach
at Tampa noting all these things; ant
what is concealed from the American
people in the North is carefully sent t,
Europe.
Nothing, ! am surs, is so we'll calcu
lated 10 encourage Spain in her nhsti
nate resistance as the knowledge tina
nur military resources are being sauan
dered as recklessy as were those 0
Franco in 1870.
Finally, let uH inaist that for th
successful conduct of war there mus
be- one man, and one man only, re-
Hponsible for tue command. To-day n
one is in command. There are half
! dozen people in Washington pretendin
to be directing operations. Gen. Mile
sits at tue War Department, with n
! more influence than his doorkeeper
} There is no head to the army. Tn
r railway, express, telegraph, steamship
: and other corporations are getting ia
a out OF this war; SO are all contractor
8 who deal with politics. The more IN
8 efficient the army. the better it suit
| them. If this war should be dragpe
( out for year or 80 they would be NOR
than delighted. Meanwhile brave boy
Q in blue will be dying in the heat 1
y Tampa, to say nothing Of the Cuba
9 swamps. And newspapers will be tel
1 ing the same old lie-that all this /
2 the inevitable consequence OF war.
T But ii is no such thing. The Unite
States army has competent officers
t They are, however, not consulted.
8 There ara those who holr that it
! unpatriotic to lay bare tho faults {
i. the army at a time when the enem
n may profit by tho news. My answer
It that the enemy already knows all thi
q much better than do the people who's
II money is naying for this war 10 time
Is Of peace oar army has baggud Congrss
Q to vote money enough to make the reg
mentH effective. Even as late as Jant
q airy of this year our representative
d declined to vote moat pressing measure
il for msking our fighting forces ADEQUATE
). When the war came, not single reg
# mont OF our army was at it's fu
u strength, not single gun at Sand
II Hook was provided with ammunition
"a not single mine was ready to he ut
q down III the channel of our creates
J. seaport. Our proas cried "On |
"a