The National tribune., 1899-08-03
RETIrRN OF TIE iST NEE.

RETURN OF THE fST NEB
: The arrival of the 1st Neb. at San Fran
l cisco and the facts that are given out by
i It's Colonel furnish us highly important
: data with which to form our Judgment as
to the nature of the operations in the Philip,
G pines, and their cost in human life by
battle and disease.
5 The 1St Neb is as fine a specimen of a
volunteer regiment as tie country ever sent
out. We doubt if better one could lie
! organized anywhere. 1t was made up OF
young men of good families and a fair
5 amount Of education. A large element
were sons of veterans. They had coed
homes, with fathers, mothers. sisters and
: sweethearts whom they loved and were
proud Of This counts for great deal
in the making of soldier. At the very
outset they came under the quite rigid
, discipline Of a Regular Army officer, who
probably showed some lack OF tact in II e
application of his discipline, but lie was
sincere. earnest and brave. and the men
soon recognized this, forgave him. and
ended by enthusiastic admiration. This
is phase of military life with which all
veterans are familiar. Tie American
volunteer is the most independent man on
earth, and the most reluctant to have his
free will fettered by the domination Of
another. But the moment he understands
the necessity Of military disdLlire, and
sees that discipline carried out boldly and
strictly, without fear, favor or affection,
he becomes lis enthusiastic supporter
When the American volunteer lecomes
disciplined he is the best disciplined sol
dier in the world.
The 1st Neb. went to the Philippines
last year with full ranks-something over
1,2OO men. II lay in the trenches around
Manila during all these weary weeks of
waiting, and took its full share Of all tie
discomforts and hardshiTs of trench life
in a tropical climate, and country in
fected by the insanitariness Of dense,
half-civiliZed population. 1t began the
fghting-the first Filipino slain being
killed by Nebraskan's rife-and for
five exciting months was constantly at
the front, and receiving almost daily men
tion for the dash and gallantry with which
it assailed the rebel works, swept across
open fields in face of a heavy fire, and
pushed its skirmish lines through dense
jungles swarming with lurking enemies
No regiment did better than the 1st Neb.,
and none could have done better.
In spite of all this, its total dcath-roII,
from battle, accidents and disease, is only
62, or five to company. Veterans Of the
rebellion may well look amazed at this
showing. They can recall regiments like
the 18th Me-, which lost in a little while
358 men dying from disease in the swamps
Of the lower Mississippi; or the 7th Vt, of
whom 407 died from disease; or the %
Mass. H. A, which lost 367 from the same
cause; or the 7th n. Y. III. A., which lost
373, and got no farther south than the
marches of the Second Corps. Or, turning
to battle losses, they can consider the 57th
Mass, which served about as long as the
| LIST Neb. has, and which out of a total
muster-roll of but ] ,O52 lost POI actually
killed. SIS wounded, and SO died of disease
Or there was the 1st Me. H. A., with a total
enrolment Of 2,202, which in less than 10
months fighting lost 423 killed, $50 wound
ed, and 260 died from disease
The deductions from these comparisons
are:
1. The tropical country of the Philip
pines is not so deadly to men exposed to its
full effects as the swamps of the lower
Mississippi, or even the relatively healthy
country of Virginia.
2. That science has made immense
strides Since 1868 in the art of taking
care of men in the, field and camp santa
ton.
2. The Filipinos must be the most
wretched shots that ever handled a gun,
and have no staying power.
There is great comfort from all these.
If the 1st Neb-wholly unacclinated,
and transported directly from the healthy
plains Of their State-could go through
such trying campaign as they did, with
so little loss from disease, white men Will
have no difficulty in living in that country,
if they take proper care of themselves, and
the regularity and discipline of camp life
shows them how to take care of themselves.
The Filipinos are not formidable enemies. |
If they can inflict no more loss than this
they are not dangerous at any time.
MRS. KATHERINE CHASE d led at her
home near Washington, July 81, at the |
age Of SO, Of Brights disease She was |
woman of rare beauty and accomplish
ments, and for many years filled a larger
place in society and politics than any other