The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-13
WORK FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
More Difficult and Important than
that Already bone.
Philadelphia Times

1t has been shown that the regular army
OF the United States, small as it is and in
adequate as it might have proved had we
come up against a modern military power,
Is abundantly capable of doing all the actual
lighting required in a war with Spain.
Where our military system has been found
lacking is in the civil administration of the
army, which is directed from Washington.
We may safely assume now that the actual
fighting is all but over. No serious engage
ment is likely to take place in Porto Rico,
and the situation in the Philippines will
have to be resolved by diplomacy. The one
fierce battle at Santiago, joined with the
destruction of the Spanish fleet, was de-
cisive, and the army a fighting organi-
cation has for the present done its work.
But with the conclusion of a peace COM
pact will begin that difficult work of occu-
patton and pacihcation in which the civil
administration of the army will be all i'm
portant., There will be no more glorious
battles by which the men in the field can
distract attention from the men at home.
The fight will be with disorder and disease,
not with an enemy in arms. 1t will be a
matter of camps and transportation, of
feeding and sanitation and hospital service
and all these things in which our organiza-
ton has proved so weak. Instead of Alger' s
work being over. it has lust begun. and his
opportunities of laundering and mischief are
from this time multiplied.
SuppCSing the peace agreement to be
made, what next? In the first place, to get
the Spanish army out of Cuba and Porto
Rico is a task for which neither the Span
iards nor Colonel Heckar, Mr.. Ayers bust
ness associate, has shown any aptitude.
Torals army is stiI where it surrendered
except so many as have been released by
death-and Blanco's evacuation of Havana
will be q much more tremendous undertake
ing And BlancO'S army will have to be
replaced by an American army, not some
time in the distant future. but at once The
War Department is still trying to find some
troops to relieve the worn veterans under
Shafter; how long will it probably take it
to provide an adequate force for the whole
island?
These are serious considerations that must
be faced at Washington. 1t is eXcusable TO
send an army with insufficient provisions
and equipment when there is immediate
fighting to be done. though inexcusable to
leave 1t uncared for afterwards; it will not
be eXcusable to send army of occupation
to Cuba without the most elaborate and
complete provision for its health and COM
fort Fortunately the great body Of the
regular troops who are to go into camp on
Long island may be sufficiently recuperated
and recruited before winter to return to
service, and they will necessarily be our
main reliance for the work TO be done in
Cuba which requires officers of education
and experience as we'll as disciplined SOL
diers but the actual work upon the island
will be less eXacting than the direction of
affairs at Washington and the War De-
partment record up to now is not such as to
inspire unlimited confidence in its ability to
meet the new requirements.