The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-28
U, S. ARMY THE
WORLDS WONDER
-
No Other Nation On Earth Has Ac-
COmpllShed Such Results 10 Organ.
lzIng and Drill IOg Men.
0lR VOLUNTEER MATERIAL
aa.aaa--ta-
Their AdaptabiIity tncqualled 10
All the Trying Emergencies
OF War.
0rR VOLUNTEER Material
By w. l., I'm, Capt. OF First Montana
Infantry.

By w. l.. Hill, Capt OF First Montana
Infantry.
The whole civilized world is astonlsh.
cd at whn, the United states has nc.
oompiiHhed In the last year and half
Never before did nation when 80 un.
prepared commence war by moblliZinR
upwards Of a quarter OF million mer
within lhr0 months. No ether nation
under the sun could duplicate the order
The merq organization Of such an army
/ was a marvel. and rather than com.
/ plain OF the mistakes that were made
We should wonder that the tasks could
be completed with 80 few errors There
may have been cmbalmed beef and
moldy hardtaek. but the fact remains
that the army was put into the ncld and
whipped everything Il went up against
The more we consider the details, the
more wonderful Il seems. Yet We never
tlc OF hearing the details and perhaps
the mos, interesting subject OF all 4,
tho man behind the gun.
Colonel Roosevelt In his very interest
ing history Of the Rough Riders leaves
oIso with the impression that the regu-
lars are The boys who do the work; tha,
with the noble exception OF the Rough
RIDERS, the volunteer army left grea,
deal to b. desired. and that the super
ioriIy of his command consisted not In
better drlll or finer discipline. but In thc
pernonal characteristics Of his men. II
IN Interesting 10 note that most OF the
western volunteers posse sscd Just those
characteristics for which Col. Roosevelt
cpmmends his own men. and whatever
may have been the conditions In Cuba,
or In the Philippine islards. the volun-
tecrs-lt can be said without any lnvi-
dious comparlsons--did just as good
work an any regulars could possibly
do
The Rough Riders regiment was the
most popular In the army and probably
II was so because Of the romance that
attaches TO the idea OF pioneer or
tronucrsman. They were supposed 10
be gathered from the very JumpIng-off
place Of sclylllgation-cvcn from the
undesirable states" Since Fenlmore
Coopcr's days ,he pioneer has been
worshipped In America and those who
know the old Western hunters and
prrspectors know that they stll retain
much Of the picturesque Innocence and
kindly philosophy OF tho Leather
Stocking" The Western volunteers are
not only inspired by the recollection OF
the citizen soldiers who fought at
Bunker Hin and Lexington. but are also
the sons OF men who after their share
Ia the civil war fought Indians on the
plains and In the mountains. From
their childhood they have heard stir
ring, true tales OF adventure by food
and field, Their recreation has been
hunting, fishing and camping out, and
there could be no better training for
soldier They have learned to look
after themselves-this is perhaps the
secret OF the American soldiers success.
his self confidence. the everlasting
nerve that would lead Rim to
Greet the embarrassed Gods
Or match with Destiny for beers"
One never ceases TO wonder at the
way In which nen from every walk In
life learned to adapt themselves 70
Educated gentlemen
used to all the refinements Of life, with
oul a murmur, stood In line to get their
tin plate full Of "mullIgan" or "smm."
Rough fellows anaccustomod to regard
the comfort Of others would share their
already short rations with comrade
who had none and all would step out
into storm Of lead with no more fear
than II It had been a spring snow show
er In Montana.
They were sick and sore, tired out,
often hungry and thirsty, but they
went on wadlng swamps, swimming
rivers, crawling through Jungles, from
a simple sense Of duty. Complaints are
made that there is no progress; II not
a foot OF ground was gained, stlll It
was worth while, for the sake Of poor
human nature, As Longfelow says;
"When ere Is spoken noble thought
When ere n noble Iced Is wrought
Our hearts In glad surprise
TO higher levels RISE"
II Is shameful that such men as these
should be helled rs 'ralSes and drunk
ards" They had their faults, no doubt,
but any one who served with them can
truthfully and fitly say: THANK God
whate'er come after, have lived and
toiled with men,"