The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-09
THURSDAY. JUNE 3 1s9s,
1r sunrLn RE ENDED.

NJ complaint against their rulers in re-
spect to the war now OF hand. The first
Is in regard TO the utter want OF pre-
marathon for war in which the outbreak
81 hostiiities found us; the second Is tho
inefRciency and diliatoriness OF prepare
lions since war has been upon MS.
The existing administration is in no
way responsible for the first. When It
came into charge Of the government we
were rapidly drifting into a fore-doomed
war. and it had, Of course, TO take mat
ters as 1t found them. Ever since the
Gigantic efec.s Of our civil war We have
assumed that all nations had an adequate
idea Of what we are capable of, and con-
seouertly assumed that no nation would
cause US TO go TO war. For that reason
the Congress Of the United States has
rested in a supine Indifference that scorn-
cd preparation. and the consequence is
we found ourselves plunged all at once
into a foreign war with little more OF
what is necessary for war than a people
that had never fired a gun. The people
of the United states hav good reason to
MAKE the most serious complaints Of their
past Congresses upon this account, and
they should see 70 it that the Congresses
OF the future make adequate prepara-
ton for war and never permit a sudden
war TO find us dgain in the condition we
were in when this one broke out.
But while the existing administration
must be acquitted Of all responsibility
for our want of preparation at the com
mencement Of this war, it cannot be ac-
Quilted Of responsibility for the condition
I'm which our present state of prepara-
ton stands. The evidence in respect TO
that IS so unanimous and so complete
that everybody is compelled to believe
that the present state OF things is little
short OF scandalous. Nirginians saw with
their own eyes how our volunteers were
neglected while in camp at this city. and
nothing could have been more morify-
ing than the sight they presented a day
or two ago when marching through the
streets Of Richmond 20 take the train for
jacksonville, Fla, where they are ox-
pected to embark for Cuba for active
hostilities with the enemy. Man after
man IN the ranks was without arms or
accoutrements of any kind. and all were
loaded down with blankets. overcOats
and uniforms at for a campaign in Alas
ka instead Of preparation for duty in the
tropics.
We take from the Washington Post OF
last Tuesday the following telegram from
Tampa, giving an account of the state of
things there in the District of Columbia
regiment:
TAMPA. FLA. June Elf Colonel Har-
ries' regiment, the First District Nolun-
teers. could remain in this delightful
camp for three months and be built up
with proper food. hard training and sum
mer equipment, n would then be fit for
action In the tropics. but n It should be
sent away now 81 is safe. though harsh.
90 say that not 20 per cent. of the men
could come back.
IL his Is not believed by those who
have remained at home and hidden their
fathers. brothers and husbands gOdspeed,
let them consider these few facts. which
the censor does not prohibit going out.
Since this regiment went into the field II
has been fed up" or prepared" for the
tropics ON salt pork. hard tack, beans and
bad cofee. IL is still being fed up" un-
dor a Florida sun, without fruit. vegeta-
blcs or FISH. The men are getting thinner
every day under the weight OF heavy I'M
derclOthos, fanel shirts. winter blouses
and trousers and shoes capable OF stand
ing the snow drifts Of tie COLI Meth
west.
Not a man in Colonel Harries' command
has fired a shot IN practice or any other
way since the regiment was mustered.
. Leaving out the few marksmen who vol
unteered from the National Guard, tho
government does not know that the men
could not hit a barn.
Their guns are OF the 1886 Springfield
l5-calibre. turned over 20 the regiment by
the District OF Columbia National Guard.
which battered them around for several
years after phcy were discarded by the
regular army. From all Indications tuey
are 10 be used to attack men behind
breastworks who are armed with Mausor
rifles. which can kill at a mile. Tney have
not been inspected, and there IS no sign
20 indicate that they Will be. scLie OF
unfit for action.
rounding the army here. an army which.
be It Understood. could not be duplicated
within a year II II were lost. II II should
10 IN this condition It has but once chance
20 win, and that chance lies IN tho won
derful determination OF the men. one
third Of whom are not marksmen. OF
course there Is not a man hero who does
mot know and feel that IL an expedition