The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1898-10-20


parently near At hand. Mr.. Hull, chairman
Of the House Military Committee. drafted
Q BIN embodying the IDEAS Of the most ex-
perienced officers Of the army. which pro-
vided for IN increase Of the regular estab-
confidently expected at the War Depart
neat vo1,d. % . war measure, Be enacted
into law: and the thought given to prelim-
mary prsparstioo proceeded with that end
IN view.
what Congfess GRANTED.
TIE orxanised militia opposed the passage
Of such q measure, fearing that II It became
law II would destroy their organization
BY replacing II, and Congress failed to
pass the measure. Had this bill become
law. the splendid recruiting organization
of the regular army, with the multitude
of applications for enlistments. could have
been quickly recruited to the full strength
from men chosen with peculiar fitness for
military service. without the strong ties
binding them to home. school and business.
which. when excitement wanes, breed dis
content and nostalgia. All Of the men so
enlisted would have been quickly gathered
in companies and regiments of the regular
army, where. with their veteran comrades
side by side in the same tents and the s. me
messes. they would have quickly adapted
themselves to the splendid discipline and
thorough instruction under the watcnfui
care of the trained and Jealous officers so
necessary to the health. instruction and
efficiency of an army.
RexulaPs and Volunteers.
BY this failure it became necessary to
send the regular army. small rs it was.
in compact regiments, carefully looking
after their own health and comfort. and
side hy side were regiments Of men equally
patriotic and jealous but suffering from 4
lack Of knowledge. which rendered the SUI
pcriority Of the one over the other. SO ap-
parent.
In the camp at Chickamausa. where the
volunteers and the regulars were campln:
side by side. in the ratio of about two OF
the former to one Of the latter. there were
425 deaths among the volunteers and only
one Of the regulars.
No Drawer, no more Jealous, no more de-
voted soldiers ever followed countrys flag
than the volunteer soldiers in the American
army: but putting gun in mans hand no
more makes him a soldier than putting
plane in his hand makes him carpenter.
Our people and their representatives have
INDUCED in this mistake for thirty years.
The science of arms is profession which
requires a long apprenticeship and careful
training under schooling of a master. and no
amount of patriotism and no degree of brav-
cry can make up for the lack Of such train
ing and apprenticeship. If without it great
results are obtained it is at the expenditure
of life to degree so shocking that the true
cause is lost to sight for the moment and
until reason makes it plain.
Congress ActS-but Too Late.
Finally Congress did effect a partial
REORGANIZATION and about doubled the en-
listed strength Of the regular army, but
did it at time when the States were or
ganizng their own troops and the influence
of friends in regiments already enlisted
carried the men into the State organizations
rather than the regular army, and delayed
its recruitment.
How anL Why Camps Were Chosen.
After the State troops were mustered into
the United States service it became neces-
sary to gather them into large camps of i'll
struction for the purpose of organization and
formation into brisades. divisions and army
CORPS Several points of concentration were
selected. notably Chickamauga. on account
of the great extent of country there owned
by the United States. and owe which 1OO.-
600 men had once engaged in the grand
maneuvers of a great battle. The selection
was Influenced by the splendid character OF
the roads throughout the park. its adaptable
ity to camping purposes on account OF
abundant shade. open fields. rolling surface
A. n fQn0rtpu
BY Gen. Boynton. chairman of the Park
Commission.
why Camp Alger Was Selected.
In a great war between two nations the
capital Of the country is always supposed
to be a final objective. and one Of the mill
tary weaknesses Of the United States is the
location of its beautiful capital within fifty
miles Of the sea, and upon a tide-water
river.
With an adversary having nearly one
hundred thousand troops within eighty
miles Of our territory. and a navy supposed
to be AZ strong il not stronger than our
own. it was but a reasonable precaution TO
take measures against the possibility Of an
attack OF Washington. For that reason
force Of some thirty thousand men were
gathered together in the vicinity Of that
city for the double purpose Of organization.
instruction and possible defense.
For tina, reason Camp Alger was estab-
lished. The site selected was ten or twelve
miles from Washington. upon which had
camped during the War Of the Rebellion
frequently an equal and at times a vastly
greater force. without Inconvenience or
more than the average death-rate from
disease.
Tampa Was Near Cuba.
TAMPA was selected as a point of en-
barkation on account of its proximity to
the Cuba coast. and with the thought
that q sojourn in the Southern ATTITUDES
would in 3 measure prepare the troops for
a climate L was known they must endure
in a tropiC al campaign. As soon as posi-
be after the enbarkation Of a portion, the
remainder of the troops were removed
When the danger Of attack upon Wash
ington had entirely passed. troops were
moved from Camp Alger.
Al t. Moatauk Point.
Montauk Point was selected because of
its splendid adaptability as q recuperatias
point. with sat water bathing. fresh ocean
breezes. excellent artesian water. good sur
face drainage and sufficiently isolated to
protect the eenters Of population of the
United States from fever infection b-ou3h,