The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-12

Views of Lieut.. Col. May on What
Federal Troops Should Be.

views or Lieut. Col. May on What
Federal Troops Should Be.
Lieutenant Colonel May, now that he 10
identified with the Third Regiment. which
has been rechlistened the observation-disclosures
f1fty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, has made
up his mind to bend all his energies to the
end Of making it a fine body of troops, If
patient and painstaking work will accomp-
lish it. The American soldier is, he said,
peculiar being, and experience has taught
the most successful army officers that the
best results are obtained from them by
working on their self-respect instead OF
bully-ragging" their military training into
them as is done in the armies of many ma
TONS The American soldier undoubtedly
stands at the head of the list of the worlds
soldiers, mainly because his motives are
patriotic and he is of a higher order of in
telligence than the men of the armies Of
other nations. Every man is taught by his
officers that he is an important factor in the
success of the army and every opportunity
is given him to elevate himself from the
ranks to the position of a commissioned
officer. Hardly year passes but some
man is thus honored when he has applied
himself to his work and fitted himself to
pass the necessary examination. Once in u
While, as In all organizations, cur is al
lowed to creep in, but such men are the ex-
ception rather than the rule. No officer IS
allowed to abuse private, and all those in
clined to do so are held in check. The most
difficult problem confronting the army off,
Gals is that of a better method of obtain
ing respect from the men for the noncom-
m1SSfoned officers. Colonel May argues that
the plan of compelling sergeants and corr
pora1S to live in common with priVateS is
not conducive TO the enforcement of respect
for them by the privates. Many of the lat
ter are every year refused promotions be-
cause of the embarrassment 1t causes to as
sumo commanding position over men with
after day. The best method to pursue in the
matter, Colonel May believes, would be to
enlist men especially for this service as iS
done in the European armies. In his own
experience, he said, he had never hurt the
feelings of a single private in the service,
Intentionally, and, in any event, never with
out an apology to the man. The trying part
or the work OF getting a body of volunteer
troops In Soldierly shape is that the off,
GERS are accustomed to meet their men on
a footing of equality in private life, and it
requires considerable effort on the part OF
the men to bring themselves to obey orders
from the officer without question and accord
tnem the same respect and confidence that
the regular troops do to their officers with
Whom they hold practically no social rela-
tons, When however, the volunteers have
mastered this hard task there is developed
the highest type of the soldier. and it is
this self-sacrilice on the part of freemen,
says Colonel May. that has made the Amer
international disputes. At any rate it is the
purpose of Colonel May to give the boys of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES fty-seVenth Regi-
ment the benefit of his experience to the end
that they cultivate that higher aim of every
true soldier which is stimulated by a re-
spect and confidence in their officers and
which adds greater dignity to their man
hood ana additional glory 10 their country.