The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-11
Poultney Bigelow Arraigns the Con-
duct of the War, as Regards
the Army.
MEN UNFIT TO COMMAND
Placed Where Ignorance and Incompetence Operate
Cruelty to the Rank and File and
to Delay the Invasion.

the men would strike by reason Of the m
competent boss IS placed IN charge OF unslr
comfort and safety.
The brigadiers are bad enough. hst VIA.
shall we say OF the men intrus;sd with
punches OF b-igades. called divisionsf
Here'we find men commanding six or mors
regiments. These men should De Wss,
Point graduates. who have kept their milf
tary knowledge fresh by constant prac-
tice and study. IAeard an ambitious can
tain say yesterday shat ne felt very rusty
merely because he had bean three wears
away from his regiment on a speclal de-
tail. II West Pointer needs BRUSHING
up In his profession after merely threa
years absence what must De the state of
newly made major general who has not
worn uniform in thirty odd years. Such
appointments discourage the soldiers OF
the regular army. I, makes them feel
that West Point education counts Tor lit
tie-that long years OF hare frontier work
are as nothing as compared 10 having a
political pull
Many men personally admire General
F1tzhugh Lee. and like 20 have him araia
in the army. but they do not quite under
stand why ne should be crowded IN over
the heads OF deserving colonels merely he
cause he happened 20 be consul AZ Ha-
vana. II he deserved reward. by an means
let congress prescus him with a hanasoms
persion and hogorary titles. but let the in
ternal machinery OF the army ba kept IN
good order. In mOnarchal countries II
is understood that princes and such are
TO be provided with high military rank.
but all the officers of real importance
would strike II such political favoritism
were attempted as notN disgTaces our SEP
vice All the English royal family hold
military positions and Anay draw military
/ pay. yet when General kkchsner made his
brilliant march into the Soudan he was
! left absolutely free % make his own dis
positions as to the campaign. There were
no ornamental colonies on alss stan. other
/ wise there would have Been no victory
And now Tor the stan. What Is a stan9
There appear 10 De a notion az Washing
ton that a stan officer IS selected By tho
generals wife. with special reference 10
his capacity Tor holding a parasol or write
ing out French bill OF fare. This Is
the notion Of the stan as 81 prevailed tn
Europe fifty years ago. Today We are
the only nation, with the possible excsp-
ton OF the Chinese who sreat our star
positions as means OF gratifying personal
or political friends. We are preparing
disaster for ourselves.
Today the stan should be made up ~
not merely soldiers n tae ordinary sense.
but soldiers who davc become specialists
in certain branches - military k1owIedgs
An army machine toslay - vastly more
complicated than &c ever was before. and
the mere fighting g. calls FOR knowie.lf-o
not readily acquired excepting hy years
OF preparation. In tho German army on
GERS who desire 10 80 upon ne star ars
first subject 20 examination f1r special
fitness as ordinary soldiers They rnust -
highly recommended a. men ~ 20 iesd
troops IN the field Then. when they have
successfully passed tuese tests they q 20
a special war college, where they take
what We might CAL post graduate courses.
which are in css nature 81 ara extension
% the West Point course. They are taken
on long horsehack tours lasting many
days. and on these trips shey have 20 act
as though they were inspecting the ground
IN advance Of an invading army Trey
have 70 make reports upon tte march
routes available upon the points that s1
enemy migat occupy. upon the opacity
OF the land 20 sustain faravfnE parties.
upon the extent % which ARTILLERY or cav
airy would be available. upaH ere nature
o. che streams AMI what pon'30ns might
be necessary.
Il seems sary 20 make a report % th's
kind but u r. II fact ore q TIE most ar
acuIt things fa enc word TIE power %
record accurately is very rare. aad more
rare suu Is nc kaowisdgs - bow 60 re-
port exactly che important thsuFa.
sfaH officers IN var are sent a. fhs
OF fhs Commanding oFeeF
to gather Information ab51f ths condition
and position n separate urftH undar afaa
o. - lrapart Information ard Frrtaba
lead troopa under Gre. Tasy are ura ea
whom the commanding Officer s81g3 rely
f9r hyperion kI3zfs3ge iu matters ~ te-
.si. snd % O. largely from TIE reports =
Etar officers .Eat f1e army g. so .a re-
49n when troops break rsu5 aa 1ffrsr
- ire star 81 taers &c Efso ,seu their
!. racr1a. 20 tff tseu where frsg ere 20
hat fer ras hight Wa-1 a.zat ea-@s
~ a staT Officer .s CO haad -a teas -
lre1 men % r8mo ~ quarters Ttsg RI
aaf vsla raser aaf fses asse Seer pcs
-ds5 f1r tsena beforefssf ssaT1r SON.
~ <ar fhe CAPTAINS a-f e1la-es a8t -
zhi GTss and o. the essksar
wheB cur treaoa frars-s t-s 80 =
aer weary railway Js4rrsIa So Taupz
-akelanE AaG Crsttans1za .arr sla-f
asf n9tsioF had a<ea es-s 81 tset- -7--
srt. sazs u1s stsT oa1s-s zers r.rrr
rrasle "a grs-ssrcHs a-s l5as fse5 f
, o. ere bess @t1a2: asy as2 E=1-