The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-02
AMERICAN SOLDIERS BEST ON
EARTH, SAYS MAI. GEN. MERRITT
Man Who Commanded Manila Praises Regulars and Volunteers
Fight Calamity and Garry All Before Them; National Trait Of
Personal Initiative the Glory and Strength Of Our Troops;
Signal Men Who Cooy Made Repairs Under the Enemys Fire

I .ertsi difference between the American
volunteer from the city ard his brother
from The country Whether he ss AT
/. Fastener. Southerner a dweiler In the
great central valley OF the Mississippi.
from he Rocky mountains or the Pacinc
slope. he believes Ia the United States and
the Star spangaee Banner and 10 always
willing and always AZ.
There were with ne AZ Manila the
/ Aston battery, from New York, a remark
I ably fire body OF unHuaily intelligent men;
] the Tenth Pennsylvania. the Thirteenth
| Minnesota and some regiments from CALI
I fornla and Oregon. They were from all
I walks Of life and from Amos; ali parts
/ Of the country. Some had been trained
| In the National Guard and some had not.
some were from rural districts and some
| from urban homes. But I could see TO
apprecsahle difference In their fighting
| qualities nor IN their general adaptaeility
to military life"
Gen. Merritt has q profound respect for
American versatility, and consders /; no
small factor in the victories that have
been won by our armies since last spring
Said ne
We could have selected men CT alrnos,
every calling from the troops who wen,
TO Mania. Some xere learned In the
law: others could build and repair the
most intricate machinery. or lay out. con-
stract and operate railway. or get up
newspaper. including reporting. editing
typeseiting, printing and publishing. or
conduct a mercantile bissness or carry
on banking establishment, or work a
farm. The same IL true of our regular
army In greater degree than OF any other
existing military organization and the
American people should be proud that 1t
Is so
1T IL no wonder that such men are
readily transformed into veterans. Given
enough trained officers the United States
can at any time create an army out OF
the raw material In less time than any
other nation; an army. too. that will not
only fight braveiy and inteiligently. but
will also give more heed TO sanitation and
will bear the brunt OF climatic changes
and camp life with less loss OF general
health than could be raised from any
other existing population. Trained Of
hcers are necessary. that there may be
some one to tell these intelligent men
what To do and what not to do. how
20 avoid the danger Of camp life. how to
look after sanitation and the like. as much
rs TO direct them In battle. IN saying this
do not wish TO reflect on the volunteer
officers; the truth Is that they have shown
their adaptabiii,y quite as Agnally az the
men In the ranks and as body are en-
titled to the highest praise. 1t was a
distinguishing characteristic OF the volun-
tact al Manila that they were willing and
anxious 10 learn: that they appreciated
the Importance Of proper training and ap-
piled themselves diligently to getting II
as rapidly az possible"
As 10 the army of the future Gen Mer-
rift expressed himself freely.
II do not think the United States needs
what would In Europe be considered
large standing army" he said. answering
n question. circumstances might arise
In which a great fighting force would be
necessary. but /, could then be quickly
created, and. with trained officers. would
speedily be available 10 meet any force
OF similar or even greater strength.
II should say tina, We shoud have "a. 600
men In the islands which were SPANS
but now are Americas while 5000 men
should be In regular reserve service ut
deta he'd points In the United States. This
would give 900 in all
Thirty thousand OF the saodo sen, to
the islands should be stationed In the
Philippines and co,oD in Cuta and Porto
Rico The nucleus 81 the army abroad
and at first the major part. should be
made up Of Americans, but eventually n
fair proportion might he drawn from the
natives OF the Islands think Il would
be eyninentiy wise 10 enlist soma thouss-
anas ~ Tuhans and Porto Ricans soon
They will make effective soldiers for ser
vice In their own lands, they Will he proud
Of bearing arms under the Stars and
| Stripes and the recognition % the native
| population In that way will help along
cordial relations enormously I should
| say that tgo-thirts Of the forces main
| .aned in Cuba ard Porto Rico might
[ ultimately Ne OF native blood.
81. woyid net be well. perhaps. to enlist
! FfIirinos under our Rag N once. but the
| day is not far distant when this can Se
A., done with benefit 10 all concerned. II
| should he begun gradually And should Do
| deferred until paclflcation has been at
comnimsnted. but that may not be 80 far
| IN the future ss some suppose