The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-06
Veterans Unfit For War.

fought by young men who have had no
military experience, said an official of
the war department to-day. SThere
has been a great deal said and publish
ed about the veterans of the late war
forming the nucleus of the army that
some of us expect to invade Cuba or
defend our own coasts; but as mat
ter of fact most Of these veterans are
barred from service. In the first place:
they are too old; and, in the second
place, they are drawing pensions be-
cause of disability. Either of these con-
ditions would disqualify them for mil
itary service.
This Official explained that the records
show that very few of the Revolution
ary soldiers served in the war Of 1872,
which was begun twenty-nine years
after the peace Of Paris, which closed
the Revolution. Thirty-three years
have elapsed siuce the close of the
Civil war, and boys who were is in
1865 are 81 years old now. The age
Of military service is between IS and
45 the world over, and those veterans
who were youths at the surrender at
Appomattox are now far beyond the
limit in age. The war. however, was
fought, for the most part, by men of
middle age, who are now, Of course.
much too old to endure the fatigue of
campaign.
There is another matter that dis
qualities host of veterans of the war.
This is the pension roll Veterans
who receive pensions are supposed to
be suffering some disability. If they
are, they are disqualified for active
service. and could not pass the
physical examination necessary for
enlistment. Moreover, in the opinion
of this official, the Government would
stultify itself by accepting for active
duty men whom it has pensioned
because of disability The pension
roll, therefore, would become a list of
exemptions.
MANY thousands of these old SOL
der, said this official, "have practi
cally volunteered their services al
ready. They are anxious to serve
their country in the field again, and it
will be matter Of grave regret that
the country cannot use the splendid
valor that won Gettysburg and saved
the Union. But that 1T cannot make
use of them is evident; and we are
~looking to the younger generation,
which has, we are confident. the same
amenity to discipline and the same
natural qualities of the soldier which
won our wars in the past and can win
them in the future
! Even if the veterans where accepted
for military duty, it is thought they
would not be able to. withstand the
rigors Of the Cuban summer climate.
A few marches would send most, of
them into the hospitals or home sick
on leave. The war department ex-
poets, therefore, to depend on vigor-
Gus young recruits, oficered as far as
possible by men who have been sea-
soned by service in the West or vcter-
an officers of the Civil war. Among
the veteran officers were mentioned
Gems. Miles and Merritt, whose robust
health fits them for active duty in the
field.
But the department realizes that
the war must be fought in the main
by the new generation, and that it
must rely upon undisciplined troops
and to Il large extent upon officers who
have had no experience in actual war
fare. This applies also to the veter-
ans of the Confederate service, though
80 less extent. They would have no
pensioned disability in the way of en-
listing, but old age probably would
bar them from the army of occupation
or active defence.
On the other hand, the Spaniards
have seen more military service than
the troops which the United States
could put in the field. They have
many veterans Of African, Philippine,
Cuban and Carlist wars, and the regu-
lar troops arc greatly in excess of those
Of the United States.
These matters: while they are con
sidcrcd seriously by the military de-
partmcnt, are not disturbing its conf
dencc in any degree. 1t is chaiing,
however, like the navy department.
under the present policy Of the prcsi-
dent, and the wish is often heard that
an Executive like Lincoln or Jackson
occupied the White House in this cri-