New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-13
A TRAVELLERS TALES.


acknowledgement concerning the statements
made in a recent magazine article 10y Mr.. Mil
lard. entitled "A Comparison of the Armies in
China" throws an instructive light upon the
travellers tales in criticism of the American
army which have inundated this country from
Cuba, the Philippines and China in the last
three years and furnished TO those who delight
TO find fault with their own country what they
would point TO unimpeachable proof that
soldiers were ruffians who were dsgracing their
flag. The word of a commissioner or an admi-
raj or a ma or-general or the President him
self counted as nothing against the letter from
the field written by some inexperienced woman
to her pastor, or some bOastfu soldier 10 his
admiring relatives Official denials were lightly
set aside as wilfully false when the travellers
tales were in line with the prepossessions of
the moralizng critics who professed to form
judgments on facts.
A few days ago General Macarthur pretty
thoroughly disposed of the exaggerated accounts
of immortality at Manila, which were probably
started by persons who had never seen the
seamy side OF life outside Of a country town
and had no just standard Of comparison between
Manila and any large American city, much less
any other Asiatic seaport. Of course, il is
not to be expected that he will convince people
that General Chaffee will have better luck
than every other official in dealing with the
class of Americans who believe that all Ameri-
cans in Office under President Mckinley are a
set of liars and thieves. He has, however, dealt
with Mr. Willard in fashion that leaves moth
ing more TO be desired by the general run Of
persons who may have read his article and
accepted its statements at their face value
General Chaffee's contradictions are detailed
and particular. He points out that Mr. Willard
leaves his readers to suppose that he writes of
the advance an eyewitness whereas he did
not arrive in Picking until two months after
the relief column whose actions he presumes TO
criticise as if with immediate knowledge. Mr.
Millard's statement that "our armies We're not
free from these wanton sacrifces'-killing
helpless peoples met by General Chaffee's
emphatic general denial: THE American force
was absolutely free from them" This denial is
followed by proof of such a multitude of mis-
statements that the whole fabric is seen TO be
tissue of error, and no particular statement
would be entitled TO weight even IL uncontra-
dicted. Mr.. Willard said that within a week
latter their arrival in Picking over one-thrd OF
1.-The American force was in the hospital" At
the time of the largest sick list only IL g per cent
or only about onethird OF the number given by
complained Of the defects of the American Sig
nal Corps, whose 'improvised poles in a tree
less country" broke down, and said that the
Japanese, with telescope metal poles, kept tele-
graphic communications open. General Chaffee
answers that 1.-THE British and American tele-
graph line Jointly constructed and operated
was the only line brought forward with the
troops" Other errors Of Mr. Willard were TO
the effect that the Japanese had ice and
attended their wounded more promptly than
Others, and that the Americans were deficient In
the matter OF water supply when as a matter
OF fact all the troops depended on wells found
by the way; and General Chaffee SAYS there IS
not scintilla of truth I'm the statement that
'the Japanese drank only aerated water. pre-
pared regularly by the field filters or water
carts moving with the column to permit repIen-
fishing the canteens at any time without him
"dering the march scattering the troops"
General Chaffee specifies other misrepresenta-
lions of the conduct of our army, and concludes
with some remarks which ought to be widely
remembered. He says:
II correspondents have studied with care the
effect produced upon soldiers by exaggeration of
their hardships by comparison or otherwise or
the effect OF frequent reference TO their hard
SHIPS and privations they must have discovered
that the effect is positively injurious to the SOL
der, the service and the government
eofoiers DC not like sympathy; sympathy is for
~ofheh dho chiiuren. Soldiers are men, but they
GO IKE fair commentator when deserving of it.
ana especially when their forttude has been
s s, tested Commend our soldiers for man
iuiiy undergoing privations and they will read
ny respond again, but pirate OF their privations
oehciencies and heavy burdens and they soon
learn TO dread the hour that shall disturb their
ease the spirit becomes one of submission
rather than one cheerfully embracing the oppor-
tunlty 10 exhibit their endurance and their
stamina. ~
That is true and just. 1t is the worthless
camp followers who go about seeking sympathy
and trying TO move people with tales of their
hardships. The best soldiers know what the
duties Of a soldier are and are nraud 10 saea