The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-06
SATURDAY, AUGUST G. 1898.
nn1Nc ruEARMY AWAY.

Tha letter addressed Dy Noi- lHeo"Oie
Roosevelt to General Shafter at Santiago
and the "round-robbin" signed by COM
handing officers setting forth the sani-
,arv conditions OF our troops at Santiago
make a most pitiful exhibit We cannot
imagine any state Of affairs that would
make a stronger appeal to the synpa-
thies and heart Of q people than TINS
These men have deserved as well OF this
countrv as any men that ever lived. We
known of no conditions in war that were
moro unfavorable than those they fought
under. but they faced them all without
ainching and made a most gallant ana
heroic light. Never did the discipline
training and personnel of troops shine out
more oonsplcuously than that Of Uncle
Sans regulars on the 1st and "a days Of
July at Santiago.
Moving through a dense tropical under
growth OF cactus and other thorns, SO
thick that they could not see ten feet
and under an incessant and murdcrcus
fire all the while, they preserved their
ranks nevertheless, and moved through
It all with as much order as If they had
been upon a holiday parade charging the
enemy in his stone pits and wire pro-
tected breastworks, when the jungle was
rassed. with a vim and an enthusiasm
that swept everything before It, 1t is
one OF the most splendid and heroic
things that has ever been done in war,
and every man and officer who took part
in II deserves the undying regard OF
grateful country.
IL Is too pitiful indeed that these lion
hearted men should be left to perish slow
IN OF fovers in Cuba They should be
brought away and brought away at once
IL every Spanish prisoner takes up arms
and we have to conquer them again when
the fever season is over II is not to be
thought OF that these gallant soldiers
shall be left al Santiago one day longer
than is necessary for bringing them away.
Col. Roosevelt will probably bring down
upon his head a storm Of denunclaton
for his estimate OF one regular being
worth three volunteers. but old soldiers
Will shake their heads and mutter that
they are not ready TO condemn Roosevelt
too quickly. General Kents official re-
port OF the San Juan battle certainly
places the regulars in most glazing con-
trast with the volunteers there lie tells
us that the first battalion OF the Seventy
first New York. became panic stricken
when called upon to face the Spanish fire
under the terrible conditions we have de-
scribed, and that 1t intentionally fed in
confusion. running over everything In its
rear This picture Of the men crouchins
in the bushes and refusing to advance is
about as harsh condemnation Of them
as commanding officer ever made upon
troops But what a contrast ne presents
when ne tells OF how the regulars came
up and, marching over the PROSTATE
forces Of the soventy-first, moved with
steadiness and precision over all the OBJ
stacles and right up TO the enemys forts
and trenches, from which they ran them
in hopeless confusion.
The difference in the conduct OF these
two commands grows out OF the difference
IN the two systems. Tho men OF the
ssventy-hrst New York are personally
Just as good men as the men Of the regu-
lars and II they had been subjected TO
the training OF the regulars. they would
have given just as good an account Of
themselves. But all the officers of the
regulars are trained professional soldiers,
an6 the men have been drilled and train
ed by them until It comes just as natur-
ally 10 them to obey the word of COM
mand as TO breathe the air. The trouble
with the volunteers come from the in
evltable mixture Of politics with the mil
ttary that Is incident TO volunteer organ
szatlons. 1t Is the weak spot In a vol
unteer soldiery. and 1t Is the point 10
which all OF our attention in military
matters should hereafter be directed
You cannot have good soldiers without
goo0 officers. ana you can never have
xood officers whlls they are chosen by
political methods