Arizona republican., 1898-07-30
..MlNING SUPPLIES.
LESSONS or THE WAR.
Germany Finds Out Our Value on
 Sea and Land.

The course of the Spanish-American war up to date has brought many dis illusions to the despisers of militia armies, and the German newspaper strategists especially, who jeered at "the militia generals going into the field in elegant dress" have become somewhat more cautious in their crltl- cism since the fights of July and z before Santiago. When we consider under what unfavorable circumstances the American soldiers were obliged to fight. we must admit that they have ex- hibited an endurance and bravery that cannot be surpassed by any troops, no matter how well trained. Dismounted cavalrymen were employed to storm a strong position; a preparation for the infantry attack by artillery fire was impossible, as there was no artil- lery; the men suffered from lack of food, because the commissariat had to struggle with great difficulties of trans portation; the preliminary prepara- tions for the care of the wounded were very defective. All this was known to the soldiers, who, nevertheless, ad vanced with undiminished courage The positions the Americans gained on both days of battle they not only retained, but later won still more ground.
 The Spanish troops, whose military qualities are valued very highly by the opponenss of the militia, were stationed in excellent strong positions, had with them sufficient artillery, made use oe snnokeless powder, were superior in number to the Americans, and were commanded by officers experienced in war. Why did not these European trained troops sally out of Santiago and simply drive the Americans into the sea? Why does not Marshal Blan- co, who is said to have at his com mand a we'll armed army of at least 100000 men, accustomed to the climate and to fighting, make his superiority felt? Our newspaper strategists and despisers Of militia soldiers have not yet ventured to give an answer to these questions.
 The value of troops does not depend merely on the military drill, such as is usual in Europe. There is militia and militia. A popular army like the Swiss, with it's full equipment ever ready for war, represents a stronger
 
 the American state militia, which is not intended for foreign service, and out of which, when war breaks cut an army must first be formed In spite of all these disadvantages and diff ,culties,. the Americans have set an . army on foot in few weeks which was obliged to take the field under un- favorable circumstances, and neverthe- less has shown itself therein not mere i. ly equal, but superior to it's we'll train ed adversary.
 ,.. Almost as instructive as the combats on land have been the sea fights. In the first place, former experience has been confirmd, namely, that a bom- bardmens of modern earthworks, even with guns of large caliber, does little damage. When the English sixteen years ago bombarded the Notifications of Alexandria they believed they had completely destroyed them, but on landing they found ont, to their aston ishment, how little harm their heavy firing had done. The Americans have now met with the same experience at Havana, at San Juan de Porto Rico and at Santiago de Cuba. It is not alarm over the mines but fear of the guns of Morro castle and of Lo SOcapa that has restrained Admiral Sampson up to the present from risking an entry into the harbor of Santiago, although the MorrO fort has been repeatedly bombarded and the newspaper reports haze more than once announced that the fort has been reduced to a heap of ruins.'
 Of an effective use of mines we have heard as little as of the use of torpe- does. In the battle between the fleets the Americans had no occasion to ap- proach the Spaniards near enough to