Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-11-17
ARMY BLUNDERS
How the Massachusetts Troops
We're Treated.
Views ofan Old Soldier Regarding the
Management Of the War
Department.

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the Boston and Albany, both Of which
great railroads run right past the
state camp at South birmingham?
In fact, the state camp was located
at that point principally on account
of the transportation facilities offered
by these lines. Ifelther Of these plans
water from Boston or rail from
Framingham) had been adopted the
New York blunders would not have
occurred. Every officer In the army
knows Of the hardships and tempta-
tions to which soldiers are inevitably
subjected, and by walt In or
march through large city like New
York, and avoid such places as
they would a rattlesnake. In
this case IL seems to have been chosen
without single argument in its IA
vor and all the well known facts
against IL,
But still worse than the above. The
men we're hustled into the cars at
Framingham In heavy marching or
der They had to unsling their
knapsacKs ir the cars In order TO be
at all comfortable. They had to again
sling them at Newport before trans
fer TO the boat, unsling them again
as soon as they got located on deck
and again sling them when they got
TO New York.
Now, 'every oliicer OF experience
knows that men do not sleep we'll the
frst night they are herded together on
a transport, and II Is fair to presume
that they we're not In the best possible
condition to Slthstand the treatment
your correspondent says they received
10 that city. Army surgeons know
that recruits under the most favor
able circumstances are not Ia condi-
tlon to withstand hardships OF even a
mild nature for several months.
Many ,of them are suffering from
homeslckness (nostalgia) and their
rations and surroundings are all new.
They have to undergo process OF
accllmatlzation, as II were, before
they are at their best. They ought
10 be broked into the new life OF hard
ship as gradually as possible, aud
their duties at first be made as pleas
ant aud agreeable as the circum-
stances will admit OF. Who
wants to think OF running a
new colt at the highest jump
the first time a bit Is put in his
mouth? lie may be fine animal, Just
as nearly all American volunteers are,
but like a good colt, they ueed 10 be
"broken in" and given easy, and, II
possible, agreeable work at first II you
desire TO make the best soldiers OF
them, that is, tit for them TO endure
hardships In che future without
breaking down. II the war department
had left the management OF affairs 20
real sOldiers-such as had made such
Lhlngsa lifelong business and study,
instead OF allowing politicians to in-
terfere and rob our best officers OF
their sense OF responsibility by taking
the command OF their troops out OF
their hands, as was done in many
cases, affairs would have gone better
all round,
What is the use OF having com
manding general II he IS not allowed
TO command ? Why not discharge
him and save his ialary 10 the people
II he is only allowed 10 wear uni
form and look pretty ? What l mean
is, what Is the use OF having a secre-
tary OF war and commanding gen.
eral, too, II the former Is To command
the army direct Instead OF through
the commanding general. OF course
we all concede that the secretary OF
war, as the mOuthpiece OF the presl-
dent, commands the army, but IL is
supposed by sensible people that this
should be done through the general,
whom the law makes commander OF
the army as much as IL maKes hlm
secretary OF war. 1 am a very old
soldier, and / never before heard OF a
secretary OF war entering camp or
garrison and giving commads
direct TO colOnels, majors, cap
talns. surgeons aud the pri-
Yates. HIS business, IL would seem, is
ia his Office at Washington. not 10 the
camps, intefering with the legitimate
duties OF officers. weakening their
discipline and robhing them OF their
responsibility. Why the president
OF inst class railroad who knew his
business wouldn't attempt 70 instruct
a section hand. HE would send for
the roadmasLer II he saw anything
amlss with he road-bed. aod cause
him 20 give attention 10 the delln-
auent section hand. No great ousl-
ness could be carried on successfully
without respect for organization by
every one Ia power and this want OF
respect for organization, feel, and
nearly every old soldier feels, Is the
chief cause Of friction In the war de-
paTtment OF today.
Old SOLDIER.
Gan DlegO Gal NOVemhef 3. 1898.