Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-27
LINCOLN ENDORSES CAVALRY.
Holds That Ii is a Necessary Part of
tho National q (uard.


tho National Guard.
Ames Aug. 27.-In view of the pres
sent agitation concerning the retention
,of troop in the national guard and
what has been said regarding the use-
ifulness of cavalry in modern warfare,
Gen. James Rush Lincoln was inter-
viewed. Gen. Lincoln is at present the
colonel commanding the Fifty-first regi-3
Sment with which troop A was camped
at the recent encampment at Red Oak.
Gen. Lincoln said, when asked his opin-
ion of cavalry and its usefulness in the
guard:
1T has been fad. until the wars in
the Philippines and South Africa
showed how short sighted those had
been who predicted and decried the use
fulness, of cavalry upon the modern bait
tletield. We in America had ssen an
army organized for the Spanish Ameri-
can War without efficient cavalry to do
even the scouting necessary to enable
an army to obtain the information re-
quired that it might be able to maintain
even u successful defensive. South
Africa next presented the deplorable
spectacle of an army attempting to adj
vance in an unknown country without
.enough cavalry to reconnoiter the coun-
Try to such an extent as to enable 1t to
maintain contact with an enemy, un-
known as to location and numbers and
ce,taiilly unappreciated as to his great
mobility. and with unbelieved power for
giving sudden and unexpectedly hard
blows Today every thoughtful soldier
knows how impossible it is for IN army
to exist and maintain its fighting power
without cavalry to guard it and pro-
tect 1T in iis rest; how impossible for
an army to advance without the cavalry
to cover the country in its front, locate
its enemy, and hold them. in hand to
receive the blow. to be delivered against
them. In victory how small the success
land worthless the results without cav
airy to push the defeated army and pre-
went 1t rallylng and preparing for re-
newed resistance. In fact, without cav
AIRY a victory becomes the success, of
the prize ring, the victor standing to
receive the applause of the moment. the
Idefeated retiring to his corner to refit
and refrain for another combat. Had
the first battlesdof the Philippines had
the presence of cavalry to follow the de-
feated insurgents, Aguinaldo would
| have been quickly undone and a long
draWn-Out War been crushed in it's early
stages by the help OF that branch of the
service whichsmay not be able to deliver
charge such as has made the heroes
tof San Juan hill immortal, but it would
lhave gained the information necessary
10 make blows when delivered effective,
made Victories when gained crushing by
linterrupting communications, Destroy
ling supplies. harraSang and tiring out
a defeated army and compelling a ces-
sation of hostilities to be followed by a
peace and not Il guerrilla war of un-
know duration.
IL these statements are true, then
why should We train infantry alone in
/ times OF peace?
1t takes longer time. more labor and
much more enthusiasm to turn out a
eaHalry.nan than an infantryman. This
lcayalryman must become one With his
| morse, and the arm he5is to WELD must
be understood by man and horse alike
| 10 make 1t effective. Each must under
I3stand its uses and lend himself to the
effort required in action to make it a
weapon against 4 foe and not also a
terror to those who carry it.
Yes, Iowa should have n good cava.-
lry organization. and the dozen men whn
eontended for the rough riding prize al
lied Oak on the last day of camp. by
their horsenlanship and quick response
Ito commands proved that Iowa was
liable 10 furnnsal the Very best materia
for cavalrymen and the intelligence re-
lauired to make them thoroughly effi-
Icient.
Iowa is a horse state and she should
/ be prepared to give the nation both
horse and rider TO battle for the protee-
tion of the flag in the hour of need
Yes. am an old cavalryman and a loY-
Ter of the horse, but | heiieve can ane
lido assign lis proper place in the armet
strength of a nation.
5sig
Woodbtne Hepnbiica,is WORKING.