Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-10
INVASION AND CRITICISM.


A considerable portion of our army is
now. or is soon to be, en- route for Cuba
while some othor commands are sailing
TO PARKWAY Manila. Our army officers are
now being gotten into fairly good shape
and we may expect that other embarka-
tions of troops Will follow quite rapidly.
SO far as the invasion of Cuba is CON
cerned, the Dispatch has always said
the administration would take a heavy
responsibility upon it's shoulders by Or
dering our troops there at this season of
the year. But now that it has done that
very thing, we must presume il has con-
sidered all the pros and cons Of the case
with tho result that il was forced to be-
lieve proongation Of the war would
cause more distress and death than would
probably result from immediate invasion.
Besides, ii rumor be credited, the OBJ
jective point Of our forces is Santiago,
which is far less unhealthy than Habana.
Other of our troops may so TO San Juan
in Porto Rico. which is probably an even
better place for campaigning than Sam
tiago. 1t is TO be regretted, however,
that so few of our men are uniformed |
fittngly for service i'm tropical climates. |
However we feel quite sure that this |
matter Will be corrected very soon. |
Brown-linen suits are now being turned |
out by the thousands by army con-
tractors.
The government has made great prepa-
rations for furnishing our men with pure
drinking water To that end, suitable APP
paratuses have been loaded upon the
troopshps. We shall, therefore be pre-
pared TO distil water from the sea. or to
boil and filter such water as may be found
upon the lands that are invaded. So.
in this way the lives of our men will be
wisely safegparded.
Whether the medical staff of the volun
teer army is quite what 1t ought to be is
subject upon which doctors differ In
some quarters an impression prevails
that the selections for the offices of sur-
geons and assistant surgeons were not |
made with as much care as they should |
have been. But we hope the fears ex- ,
pressed on this point are exaggerated. !
The executives of the several States
must have known that in making choice | :
Df the medical men an immense respon- !
iibility was devolved upon them, and we Y
are TO presume that they discharged their {
iuty conscientiously and to the best of 2
heir ability. r
1t is unavoidable that a country like f
'urs should make many mistakes in get I
ing ready for war as hastily as we have | 4
lone. And yet some of the blunders 4
~ admit might have been avoided I,
y the merest tyro In war. 1t would seem I,
hat any man Of average sense would s.
ave known that Il would be bet n
or 10 arm and equip five or ten volunteer
cgiments at time than TO try TO arm ! s,
nd equip one hundred and twenty-five RI
egiments! Yet that very mistake was b,
lsdel Again, II would seem that any II
rmy officer ought TO know that a big &C
amp would need a quantity Of water. OF
81 within sight of the War Department IN
amp Aiger was located, where water IN
very, very scarce. indeed. IT would "a
ZEN that any man in the army ought TO Nv
now that 10 concentrate a large bodv ed
troops for embarkation would require tr
inple railroad transportation for troops. by
provisions, &c. &c. yet Tampa, of
h'ch was selected as the chief point or wi
nbarkation. IS wofully without adequate tn
iiroad facilities. So much so. indeed, Il
'at miles OF cars have been sidetracked. trs
Id General Miles had 10 80 there and TO
load them by main force. is
Il would seem, too. that In a land which rel
odaces its own provisions and has mill ev,
ms OF dollars worth OF them for ex- die
inland at time OF the year when an
southern markets are Overlooking with 30
cehent garden products--our soldiers A
euld have been wa fed. "a,
aowever, we win 80 into this matter no ing
stAcr now Many Of the errors com wo
.shea OF have been corrected. Others
= DC reafedicd soon. Nearly all OF our T
,aoie came from trying 10 do every poi
~ on an itilnense scale. We would die