New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-31
SOLDIER AND BUREAUCRAT
OF THE MAN IN THE
r,r1n AND THE MAN AT THE DESK.
,rxr-Sc1Ar1oN OF DEPARTMENTAL
xrrvops-vADoR OF THE AMERI-
r.x so1prER-HAMPERED BY
z-r&rg FAULTS
-r,renArK TO THE TRIBUNE.

r,reHAFK TO THE TRIBUNE.l
=. Nav 30-The Business Mems AS
W~s'"As washington held a meeting few
.oo'a"O'' - take steps for the reception Of
Gays atV speeches were made by sew
A un'. citIzens on matters relating to such
eral ls~u'"e The star performer. however. was
az 0.eos .,.s Allen. q well-known professional
III -. national capital He lauded with
man % s.o,s,arv Long and the Navy. which
ou' So a. snanish fleets. but made severe
laid 10" the military administration Of the
,,'s language was infammatory in high
w.. and in large part unwarranted HAD
oes'ee' ., declared .Nis vehement speaker. as
-" IN The washington Post. some OF
-. ,,-eau chiefs would have been taken out
nv - death for the sufferings and anguish
- caused our boys in the field and camp 10
-. Seniority prevailed In the service,
- than ability. A change should have been
- 4, the Office OF SUPERINTENDENT In the
~ ~ our Quartermaster-General'a and IN the
,sos n Commissary- General
7yo Official Investigations have fully satisneo
80 nuhlic that the stan bureaus were lamen-
,.tly 3erelict in their duties during the Spanish
W but for one 70 assert that some or their
Ito oucht 10 have been shot 70 death is exag-
.,,.t,,g the faults OF a system into individual
e-,ra n too great magnitude. Probably Dr.
Aven himself when he sew this language IN
,o,d TYNE regretted its unbridled violence.
Vet this surprising outburst OF an Intelligent
,,,fzen ~ the capital is not without Its lesson.
7. demonstrates how carefully the public differ
.,,iates success and failure; with what nicely
4, senarates the impotent staff bureaus from the
raal army which did the fighting at Santiago
ga IN the Philippines with the troops in the
soldier in his grand capacity as a fighter.
whether officer or enlisted man. wherever he
va, more than fulfilled the public expectations
When the Spanish crisis confronted the coun-
Nv there was an immediate outcry that the
Army was not ready for war; that it was not
large enough 10 conquer Spain then. later, that
the recruits we're undiscpned and would prove
unreliable But although inadequately disci-
rlined. inadequately fed. inadecuately clothed,
inadsouaiely provided with transportation and
hosrltal supplies. with inadequate medical at
tendance and armed with inferior guns the
Army vet sought and fought the enemy TO
complete standstill at all points.
PRAISE FROM A FOREIGN SOURCE.
Colacldently. Colonel Sir George Clarke. an
English writer in "Brasseys Naval Annual"
sust out IN noting the unprepared condition OF
the American expeditionary force in front Of
santiago holds that except for the sterling
Qualities displayed by the troops. a serious re-
rulsc nj .ght have occurred" But confronted by
the enemy. ill fed as they sometimes were on
spoiled canned meat and decimated by disease.
they stood to their work manfully until SPANS
armies were compelled TO yield.
Il is true as pointed out time and again by
the thick and thin apologists Of the War De
Iartment bureaus. that every war brings It's
ouarrels and jealousies. It's crop OF criticism dis
agreements as 10 occurrences and the proper
distribution Of rewards and its official investi-
cations The crop" Of the Spanish has
now mainly been harvested. But amid all the
volume ~ fault-hnding and real dereliction dis
closed by both the public press and the official
investigations. not one black mark has been set
down against the soldier Of America, sword or
gun in hand. in front Of the common enemy.
His performances in both the West and East
Indies have won the unmeasured praise OF the
whole world. His record for bravery and dash.
FOR intelligence and discipline. for patience I'M
der the most trying circumstances. for unyield-
ing and unquestioning devotion to his cause.
now stands higher than that Of any other ma
tionality Whether Regular or volunteer. the
American officer and soldier is now accepted
by all foreigners as their fighting peer. II not
superior. No European now doubts that the
American Army and Navy are among the most
potent in existence. although limited in numer-
:cal strength.
THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS RECORD.
The American officer and soldier is educated
and disciplined 20 light As unfinching. re-
sourcefui fighters they are unequaled. and have
won imperishabe reaown on many bloody fields.
Not only in the short and brilliant war with
Spain were their courage and other martial
qualities fully demonstrated. but in other wars
with other enemies. Their youthful stamina
was thoroughly tested in two successful wars
with Britain. The campaigns OF Taylor and
Scott in Mexico are brilliant achievements in
military history. Fifty years ago. with a mere
handful Of American Regulars and volunteers,
General Scott penetrated in one short campaign
q the Mexican capital and dictated a glorious
peace. Not once was his army defeated or ser-
ousy delayed In its advance. His troops were
not only brave and victorious in battle but as
oonQuerors were humane and law-Abiding.
In the Civil War the American people were
subjected TO a crucial military test the like OF
which no other ever experienced, or perhaps
could have successfully withstood. In duration.
in the number of engagements and skirmishes.
In losses in killed and wounded and from dis
ease and other causes, II stands among the
creates: and most fearful Of all wars Every
variety Of courage. discipline. fortitude and
physical endurance was appealed to. and always
and everywhere the men Of both the North and
South displayed all the attributes OF an en-
batted. conauering race. 1t is doubtful II any
European troops were ever called to such pro-
tracted and trying tests as the indomitabis but
hopeless Federal charges at Fredericksburg
spottsylvania and Cold Harbor against the i'm
pregnabie lines Of breastworks or Longstreet'e
vain Confederate onsets at Gettysburg on JuI,,
2 and g. or Hoods mad PUSHES agains. tho
Union works before Franklin.
GRAvELOTTE AND GETTYSBURG
The German attack at Gravelotte was more like
these persistent American hand-to-h hand conflicts