The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-09
THE SENSATIONAL PRESS.
Effects of It's RAWLINGS shown in
Striking Way.

Washington Special to Chicago Tribune.
Adjutant General 0orbin, in discussing
the attempt of Mississippi regiment to
assassnate it's colonel asserted that the
sensational newspapers of the country are
responsible for the conduct of these men.
The demoralizing influence of the sensa-
uonal papers is beginning to bear fruit, =
said the adJutant general. "A short time
ago an Eastern newspaper headed TRADE
On the War Department, Shoot the OIL
GERS, and ii now seems that the men have
followed this bad advice. The sensational
newspapers seem to think that the liberty
accorded the press means license to say
anything regardless of truth and decency.
1t is undoubtedly true that there is much
SUFFERING in the army, but all the blame
should not be laid upon the War Depart
ment. If the position assumed by aNpor-
ton OF the press is maintained it is a Sc
rious question in my mind whether it will
not end in disorganizing the military forces
of the country and make it almost impossi-
BILE to raise another volunteer army if one
should be necessary. We are now placed
by what has been written about the man
agement Of the army. Our soldiers are LA
bic to treated as babies and our executive
officers either as imbeciieS or corrupt.
Special to Chicago Inter Ocean.
military authority of high standing
said THE worst effect OF this clamor about
the suffering of the volunteers Will be felt
by the States in their effort TO maintain an
efficient National Guard. This is the first
experience in war the National Guardsmen
heretofore been theoretical.
when this force was offered to the fed
eral government as an army everybody In
sisted that they were as good soldiers as
the regulars. But the clamor about them
undergoing the hardships which are com
mon to soldiers life, and which are borne
uncomplainingly by the regulars, has de-
moralized the men, and made a soldier
duty appear very undesirable to the young
men who make up the National Guard. 1t
will be found more difficult to fill the ranks
of the guard in future.
GAS for the United States army, this
clamor has demonstrated that we must
have a standing army of not less than
1000 men, for only with a trained and
seasoned army can we expect to go into
another war with any expectation of sue
cess.
1.-The army which went TO Santiago made
q great reputation for American soldiers,
regulars and volunteers, as fighting men,
and this reputation spread over Europe and
the whole world. But before it has become
q settled conviction that American soldiers
are the equal of any other soldiers ever
known in war our yellow press has begun
to strip the volunteers of every vestige of
courage and every quality of endurance,
they are simply enthusiasts, who will make
one rushing fight and then lie down and cry
over their hardshipS in camp.
I'VE want the world to understand that
the American soldier is a fighter and a
slayer The United States regulars have
demonstrated that they are such soldiers.
Most of the volunteers of this war have
endurance. The yellow press has excited
the people and the clamor has become gen
eral to send homo the volunteers because
they cannot endure camp life.