The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-18
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NE93. 04a- We01ey 8s1fs&i H&s pNsDs
h6neest n such . position that the gov
ssnm<nt Il justified in Withholding from
Nm his proposed command and putting
Sim hack into fort where he VIII b
onGe heiaind large~sized guns He has
not only cast o most undes<ryed siur
w9ou the volunteers. but has shown an
excssdingiy lad sxampae b. Discussing
erocOeed arrangements and critie1sans
- plAns Of his superior offIcess- He has
even gone 20 far m 70 manifest . spirit
q nnainy. He a&id. Tor tnstsnce; Gen
Otis fnay - willing to 80 on without
four saore regiments Of regular troops.
ana take only 100 trained men and IA
- nndiseipiined. but am noL do
30 propose 70 90 without force thst y
suitable 20 nay rank-"
This II very per lesson 10 incuIcase
u ne andisespiined men who are vsinn~
eoeeleg - sesys undsr Gen Merritt. II
) mat3 eensEn1 sAay choose where BE-
onnn - ard how he shall 20. why not
8 m1gzdter general do the sane? And
Why not also esery successive officer.
1own IL THE rank and nie. until. like the
ss1untxess ~ Chehaais. they REFUSE 10
- anywhere unless they can pick their
oun c1sgnss!
Cea- Merritt has risen 70 the highest
f1ak Ia the array, bat be does noe seem
70 b very vel posted on the history 81
TIE civil war. without dstrscting from
TIRE credit to which the small regular
army ard its few officers were entitled,
II may be said that II wss the yolun-
tcefA led By volunteer officers. who
fought the war There were I,o0o.oos
men In the Geld. and al the beginning
81 the war less than 1900 regulars.
There wss very scant time for discip,in-
tzsg the volunteers when they were
called out 70 serve during tbs rebellion.
ead very many thousands had no train
Ing whatever, while most Of this volnn-
fesFs whose services Gen. Merritt de-
1ptses have been for years members Of
military companies and are not only
wsli drilled. but good maxksmen. Most
men who enter the army go into 1t as
3 bcstness. while the volunteers have
sacrificed much fer service which can
not last long. and they viii then be
thrown back into the ranks % ciyti life
% begin anew. They have responded to
. can on the part Of their country and
they carry with them an inspiration
Ehich the regular soldier cannot feel.
A pleasant effort At apology Is made
Tor Gen. Merritt by Adjt. Gen. corhin.
who said tho story could not be true.
because Gen. Merritt was not ths eort
of . man 10 say he would refuse 10 60
nnySsere that his orders carried him.
That IL the theory upon which q soldier
proceeds. but In this case Gen. Merritt
u quoted upon very rellahls authority
with having said: Il may not 60 to
The Philippines 1t all. 1t In proposed to
giye me is.ooo men. only 1000 Of them
segulass," There Is no mistakine the
meaning Of this language That some
thing Of the kind has occurred Is shcwn
by the further remark Of Gen. Ger
bin that the department Is now arrang-
tns to give Gen. Merritt the regulars he
wantA
Gen. Merritt or any other responsible
cfflcer n justified in planning his cam
pAien and calculating the number OF
man he win need for IL But that is a
subject for discussion with his superior
officers sn council and net In the col
amns OF the newspapers.