The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-28
Short Memories.

1t is singular how very short the memo
ries OF a majority OF the people are. For
example. take the case OF Col. Mills, now
superintendent of the military academy at
Booz hazing case. which occurred some
time before his appointment to the po-
sition of superintendent, he has been
made the target of a considerable amount
of unwarranted abuse. AS sample OF
this abuse. 1t may be mentioned that
several of the country newspapers I'm this
state allude to him as "bandbox coll
onel," or by some epithet indicating the
belief of the writer that the colonel does
not belong to the fighting arm Of the
service or had never been engaged in ac-
tual warfare.
Two years ago. when Col. Mills was APP
pointed to the SUPPLEMENTARY of the
military academy. the action of the
president received the warmest approval.
because. while the presidents were few
iot the appointment VI a man VI Ills
rank to such an important position. his
record I'm the Spanish war entitled him
to high consideration on the part OF the
government There was probably no
officer in the regular army. certainly no
OFFICER of the rank which Col. Mills then
held. who rendered more conspicuous SER
vice. and not one occupied larger share
of newspaper space.
Col Mills belongs distinctively to the
rank of fighting officers. AS cavalry
lieutenant he distinguished himself in the
Crow campaign of 1857, and in the Sioux
campaign OF 1890 He was only
first lieutenant when the war broke out.
but solely on account of his fighting rec
ord and high military qualifications. he
was chosen by Gen. Shafter as his adju-
tant general, with rank as captain Of
volunteers. AT every stage Of the cam
paign around Santiago he distinguished
dents who were unsparing In their criti-
cisms Of Gen. Shafter were united in
their commentator of his adjutant gen.
erai. whose tIreless activity. energy and
dash was a constant theme of discussion
by them He especially distinguished him.
sef at Las Guasimas and in the final bat
ties around Santiago. and was brevetted
major and lieutenant colonel for gallantry
in the field. He was finally disabled by
a wound In the head.
Just two years ago all OF these facts
were familiar to the readers OF the news
paper press, and Col Mills picture was
seen as commonly in those newspapers
and the magazines as the pictures of
Shafter. or Wheeler, or Roosevelt. or the
other distinguished figures of the San
tiaso campaign. Now. ON account OF an
affair which occurred before ne was SUI
perintendent. and the accounts of which
we're wildly exaggerated. these little
country newspapers feel called upon to
stigmatize this gallant soldier as band
box colonel Possibly. however. this title
is given to him because the title of lieu
tenant colonel is all that he has OF the
rank. 1t is his simply by brevet. After
twenty-five years in the army. and ardu-
Gus service on the plains and in Cuba,
his actual rank is that OF captain OF the
Sixth cavalry. and he receives from q
grateful country the daily pay OF a frst-
class mechanic. while performing the du-
ties Of head OF the best conducted train
ing school for army officers which there
Is in the world