The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-30
EDITORIAL COLUMN
LESSONS OF WAR,
Spirit Lake Beacon.

With nation, as with an individual.
there are some lessons very hard to
learn outside the school of experience
When the war clouds were darkening
last March no local strategy board in
all the broad land could discover any
good reason for delaying the actual
operations of war on land or water be.
You'd week or so. For taking a little
time to consider the issues preliminary
congress was denounced for dalliance
and the president was reviled as dast-
ard. ION to Cuba was the hoarse cry
of millions before it was possible to get
the work of military organization under
fair Roadway AS matter of fact it
was prudent for the government to con-
ceal the appalling degree of unreadi-
ness in which it found itself at this i'm
portant juncture. A man close to the
administration recently said to the
writer, ''When war was declared the
government had enough of nothing re-
quired in military operations except
canteens. There was not enough pow
der in sight to supply the guns of a
single battleship for two hours. We
were short in everything" Strange,
indeed, that the foresight of statesman
ship had not provided to some extent
against just such a contingency by no
means improbable, but so it was.
The departments were fairly sw amped
with the work of patching up conditions
under which it would be possibly to go
towar- AT every step, when the troops
began to move there was evidence of
missing links in the chain of arrange
ments. 1t has been demonstrated that
mobilization was ordered at points lack.
ing in the essentials of army life. For
days and days there was confusion and
delay because of the fact that the great
camp at Tampa was located on a single
line of road, and branch at that
Sanitary conditions We're not given
definite attention. Everywhere the
things most needed in soldier life have
been totally inadequate, to-wit: hospital
facilities, medical attendance and medi-
cal supplies. There is now mourning
throughout the land for noble young
men whose lives have been sacrificed to
this want of preparation. Under the
scorching sun and in the steaming at
mosphere of Cuba many brave boys
have lain for hours and hours with torn
flesh and waning vitality waiting for the
doctors that to many came too late
There were only a few hundred wound
ed at a time. What would have been
the result if engagements such as oc-
Cured in the civil war had been foughto
Sick and wounded soldiers were sent
home with nothing to eat on the way
except the regular camp fare of bacon
and hard tack, and with no provision
for the attendance and care so much
needed. There is bitterness in wounded
hearts all over this country engendered
by what seems tae needless sacrifice of
the best blood of the land to a want of
proper care. Those who try to explain
away the circumstances involved are
met with atspirit not to be overcome
with philosophy.
The critics will be able to prove that
in some OF the details of organization
and equipment someone has blundered.
Bleeding hearts cannot be convinced to
the contrary. Every lapse, however,
can be definitely traced to congestion in
the channels OF preparation. 1t was
not within the range of the possible to
provide for every detail in the alarming
condition OF unreadiness the govern
ment was in when suddenly confronted
with the grim fact of war. Added to
the enormous burdens of preparations
was the political pressure on the sources
OF authority for military opportunity on
the part of people with pull This
was so at the opening of the civil war
and ever will be under like conting-
ency. If we would prevent the sacrifices
entailed by neglect and inadequate
equipment let it be understood that at
no time in the future shall the govern
ment be subjected to the peril involved
in total unreadiness for war. 1t ought
to be apparent that fair equipment
for war is the best guarantee of peace
and safety for the republic.
All things considered the consuming
wonder is that errors and accidents
much more far reaching and overwhelm-
ing did not occur. To throw into the
field in the space of few weeks an
army OF almost quarter of million
soldiers is a task entirely beyond the
comprehension OF those remote from
the responsibility. All the while NOM
entous issues were arising and decisions
of overshadowing Importance were de-
manded of the president and the depart
ments. In SO far as the settlement of
these issues are concerned the admins
tration has been SO nearly faultless as
to excite the comment and admiration
of all nations Whila with uriaf M,