Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1898-08-31
ReguIars bod voIunteers contrasted

. The Army and Navy Register, the organ of the regular army, in 8 re- cent issue contained the following contrast between the regular army soldiers and the volunteer army which does manifest injustice to the latter, who proved themselves at least the equals of the regular sol dieIs:
 'It is our conviction that amohg the very most valuable of these les sons and one whiei. Eeyer would have been learned thoroughly, es- pecially by that inapt pupil, the congress of the United States, ex- cept through the experience of war, is the inestimable value of the sol diers of the regular army to this country. Their conduet-that of officers and men aIike-has been, as several reports of general officers ex- press it, beyond praise" It is no disparacemen of the volunteers to say that the regular troops in the late Santiago campaign bore the brunt of the fighting, demonstrated greater endurance under trying con ditions, manifested supreme courage in the face of the enemy's fire, and achieved results which untrained soldiers could not have achieved without sacrifice of three times as many lives and many weeks more of time. It seems supuThuous to praise the valor of these regulars at the same time that it Is unnecessary to applaud the generally good conduct of the volunteers. The deeds them selves are their own eulogium, and the foreign expert observers set them forth in technical valuation in terms so intelligible that the whole country has been thrilled with pleas ure at the words of European ad- miration and praise.
 ''It was in front of Fl Caney and on the heights of San Juan that the preeminent value of trained men under technically educated officers was demonstrated. It was there that the sharpest contrast was drawn (to military eyes at least be- tween the regulars aud the volun- tee-s. The former fought with the valor of intelligent patriotism; the latter wagsd the battle valiautiy, but ID conspicuous want of educa- tion and experience of schooled sol diers.
 "The only land engagement in the Philippines was also finely won by the regulars. Taking advantage of darkness and storm, the Spaniards attacked our camp, but they were taught costly lesson in the military art of coping promptly and success full y with surprise. The press reports which amplify to some ex- tent the official dispatches describ- ing the affair at Malate, give all too little information in regard to spe- ci6c details of the engagement. It is evident, however. that the regu- lars under General Greene agai n demonstrated the surpassing intelli- gence and yalor found, as it now ap- pears so indisputably, only in the standing army of the United States. Here is the lesson for congress. For eigp military men appreciate the value of our regular forces, and it would doubtless inspire still further respect in possible future enemies in Europe if 75,00O more of these standing troops should be author ized by law. It remains for the rep resentatives of the people 10 dem onstrate that they have learned what the people themselves have learned in this war and what Eu- rope has been forced to acknowledge through its military observers at the iront.n