The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-02

when the New Hork Herald cOrfeSpOn-
dent at Key West received that famous
cipher message: Rain and hail'-War
has been declared, fleet ordered to sea.
In the twinkling of an eye, with his
masterful word painting, he changes
the dull, dead conditions that had pre-
vailed in and about that sleepy south
ern city for two months, into one Of
busting life and activity. And the phil
osophy that he INDUCES in as the setting
sun that night spreads its fiery back
ground over the bay. I'm the
quick changes Of war and under its
cruel tests unknown men will become
leaders of men and those who had at
tanned high places and had risen and
fattened in the days of peace will be
pushed aside into oblivion" : New
alliances, new enemies, new friends a
new map and new chapter in the his
tory of the world" And how truthfully
it has all come to pass! Men and con-
ditions have changed. The powerful
have become powerless and those who
were unknown that night at Key West
have passed on to power and influence
in naval, military and civic life. And
the map of the world has changed in
deed!
Mr.. Davis has travelled the world over
and it is a precious compliment to hear
him say relative to his life on the New
IOl N, LII AO lllllILoAJ PpeN heNNp NN''i
visited have I seen discipline better
than in the ten days that l remained
there. The organization was perfect"
And again, 1.-The best sailor Is the man
who not only can stand by his gun, but
who can stand watch eight hours on
end without stealing a few minutes
sleep; who respects himself his ship
and his officers, who is thoroughly in
earnest when he is alone cleaning bit
of brasswork or when he is aiming a
four-inch gun in the presence of the
enemy"
1t is amusing to read his story of
the rocking chair period" the waiting
time at Tampa, when the life of an
army was the life of an hotel. Lucky
It was that Tampa Bay Hotel was there
built as it was out of all proportion to
the size and wealth Of Tampa or the
transient visitors who might be ex-
pected to come there. He sums the
time all up in what one of the cavalry
generals said there: "Only God knows
why Plant built a hotel here; but thank
God he did" His story of life in the
military camps of southern Florida Is
intensely realistic. No one escapes him
from Miles to the humblest private.
And how pathetically he tells of the
death and burial service of young
Wesie Brass of the I'd Massachusetts,
volunteers, and of the poor woman
who cried outside the chapel because
she could not take him to ner own
house.
That service! One can almost hear
the words Of the chaplain in the quiet
Of that Southern summer afternoon, Il
am the resurrection and the life" and
then the bowling Of Il thousand heads
of the soldier boys. And the sound of
that hymn must be echoing yet through
the pine grove about the chapel:
The day is spent and I am far from
home,
Lead Thou me on.
"That he had died before he saw the
enemy" said Davis, did not count for
much. He had started for the front"
Mr.. Davis story of the embarkation
and of the voyage of the transports to
Cuba is full Of criticism for everybody
connected with it. 1t is only equalled
in all his book by the unstinted praise
he gives to the officers and soldiers for
their gallant work before Santiago.
Mr. Davis we present at san Juan and
Las Grasimas, ard is equipped to speak
with authority. His vivid sketches Of
those two battles are more than realis-
tic: they are thrilling.
So. too, in the story of those fearful
days and nights in the trenches and
rife pits in front of Santiago. He was
all along the line ana llNeu III tneul
from July to the 18th. He was as far
to the front, too, as any man could go
and live. and he tells of things exact
ly as they were to the hour of the sur
render.
Just before the formal surrender Mr..
Davis hurried on to Porto Rico, where
better things were promised. In com
parison to the Santiago nightmare.
said he, the Porto Rican expedition
was a fete des feurs. The command
ing general would not permit the en-
envy to make IT otherwise"
And here Is a hard slap at ShafteF:
There WAS more careful preparation
and forethought exhibited in the ad-
vance our generals made upon the lit
tie towns captured in Porto Rico than
was shown in the entire campaign
against the city Of Santiago-Gen. |
Chaffee's reconnaissance and capture Of
Ell Capey always alone excepted"
With but a few skirmishes, Mr.. Davis |
declares the Porto Rican campaign to |
have been a not altogether unpleasant /!
affair." And" said he, in closing, "as |
il came to us with willing arms and !
the blessings of its people on the flag,