The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-08-18
IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE.
The Georgia Recruits Tell One An.
other How to Manage
the War.

umes in history, but it is evident that
he would be a very common and ordi-
nary soldier if he were living to-day.
All of these strong and revolutionary
statements are made after a stroll
through Fort Mcpherson reservation,
where there are $500 embryo generals
and war heroes.
The luster on the glorious war rec
'ords of every great general who has
lived and died is dimmed in the at
mosphere of Fort Mcpherson, where
so much greatness lies loose and rest
less. None of the famous military
strategists who have won fame could
plan battles and accomplish brilliant
victories so well as do these raw re.
cruits at the fort, who are just simply
itching ter git at EN-"
They seem to have been born gener-
als-these recruits at the fort. One
is led to believe after listening to them
that this great government is making
a mistake by sending Miles, Shafter.
Brooke and others to lead the great
armies. The recruits themselves do
not doubt that a mistake has been
made. They say that Gen. Miles
should be on sentry duty at Fort Nc.
PhersOn; that he is entirely out of his
sphere when in command of the army
IVY, if old Miles had er been tittes
fer to command, he'd er licked their
air Spaniards long ago." said one long
gangling recruit the other day. Thi;
critic of Miles was sitting on the fence
of the reservation, nibbling at an ice
cream cake and licking its paper wrap
per to be sure that none of the rapidly,
melting cream escaped. He thrust his
left leg through the interval between
the planks of the fence and strength
ened by this new hold on the fence
he continued:
"Col. Miles amt no more fifteen to be
commander of this yere army thar
that ere Teller over there 'thout any
shirt on designating a recruit who
was attired in ragged striped trousers
rolled up above his knees.
81 jest wish l had ter run this war;
struck in a greasy-looking soldier
whose sole uniform consisted of q
campaign hat. He also wore an un,
dershirt and the relics of a pair of last
years trousers.
"Lemme tell yer, boys" he contin,
ued, the right kind of er way to er
walloped them Spaniards wuz ter went
straight across to Havanny and blow
up MORO castle the first thing. Then
after smashing Gen. Weyler's board.
ing house I'd gin them fellers lessin
in fightln'.
Nov, l jest know as how could er
took a regiment er you boys and er
sent Their whole Spanish army er hump,
in"
"Ah, git out, yer don't know whut
you're talkin' bout" snarled a recruit
with a large ginger cake in his hand
He took large swipe at the cake with
his mouth and continued in a muff1ed
tone, caused by an overclogging of the
gingerbread: IF you wuz to go over
there to blow up MOrrer castle you'd
git bowed up higher'n that ere flag,
pole. Wy amt you got sense ernuff
to know that Their 'arbor down there
in Cuba is packed full er torpedoes an
mines ser thick that Their fish has to
go outside ter swim?
"Ther onlyest woy to git Cuba is to
starve old Blanco. Now, if | wuz in old
these here volunteers and regulars
and git out erbout 40 miles this side Nv
Havana; then I'd march right down to
ther back side er town and pitch camp
Every time market wagon nd come
along I'd jest stop it and take all the
vegetables. Then I'd send the empty
wagon on to Blanco to let him know
that | meant business. l wouldn't let
single dairy wagon go in that blasted
town, and it wouldn't take me two
weeks to make old Blanco wish he had
a good supply of bareback. It's all bosh
to be blockadin' aroun' on the lake side
of Havana. Them fellers is too sharp
for old Admiral Watson, and they can
git all the grub they want. My plan
is ter starve 'em by putting soldiers
on Their back side er the city"
The plan met with flood of disap-
proval. Howls of condemnation of the
starvation plan arose on every side,
but the would-be conqueror munched
his ginger-calle undisturbed in his con-
fidence in his own ability to crush the
Spanish.
"Derned if l sec any militerry erbil.
ity in sittin' down by Havana and wait,
ing fur the people ter die. l say,
gimme blood. The way ter end this
here war is ter go at 'em with err rush
and bayonet the whole skeeda ttlin'
that amt kilt at the first shot" fired
in young man who looked very meek
in all respects except his mouth.
This warlike declaration was re-
ceived with cheers, and half hundred
recruits protested that this was the
onl y way to capture Spain.
81 wish Col. Cook 'ud gimme chance
tew set on them blamed Spaniards,"
yelled a red-faced young fellow. He
had come up from the direction of the
canteen, and looked more bloodthirs-
ty than water thirsty.
I'D like to frickersee some NV um,
and toast UNI on er bayonet," said
demonstrative young recruit who had
evidently been cooking. The other re-
cruitS were so busy in advancing nlans