Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

Philippine people themselves 1t was wise
or just to go. To hurry matters, to go
faster than we are now going, would en-
tan tan, calamity on the people of the IS.
the American people has indicated it,
icy Of holding the Philippines, The trI-
umph of our laws and principles, has
come sooner than we had any right to
expect Too much. praise cannot be
in the, Philippines, both in warfare and
from an administrative standpoint IN
the crea e @ 20 he eV
authorizes for the way in which they
have planted the seeds of self-sovern-
ment in the ground thus made ready for
durance, the high solderlv efficiency.
and and. the general klnd-hea rtedness :. and
ingly manifested. There now remain only
| some 1910 troops in the islands. All told.
over lco,e.o have been sent there OF
Stances Of wro ans nsh amons them
They warred under fearful difficulties OF
climate and surroundings; and under the
they continually receive from their foes,
occasional instances of cruel retaliation
occurred Every effort. has been made
these efforts su have been Completely sue
cessful. Every effort has also been made
to. detect and punish the wrongdoers
misdeeds, it remains true that. few, in
deed have been the instances. in which
war has been waged by civilized 7aa IL power r0
forces where there has been SO Iittie
wrongdoing by the victors as in the PhLl-
pnna of dc nn tine 9ssf na and
neficent work which has been done is
well-nigh incalculable.
Taking the work of the army and the
civil authorities together, it may be ques-
toned whether anywhere else in modern
times the world has seen better exam
pie of real constructive statesmanship
than our people have given in the, Phil
ippine islands. High praise should also
be given those Filipinos in the aggre,,
the new conditions and joined with cur
representatives to work with hearty
good will for the welfare Of the Islands.
Army Mnneuvers.
The army has been reduced TO the mini
the size of the nation, and most certainly
should be kept al the highest point OF ETH
cheney. Thesserior officers are given scant
chance uEGer ordinary conditions TO eXer-
else commands commensurate with their
rank, urGer circumstances which would
fit them to do their duty in time Of ae r,1,,
in bodies OF some little size has been be
gun and should be steadily continued.
Without such maneuvers il is folly to eS-
pect that in the event Of hostillties with any
serious foe even small army corps'could be
handled to advantage. Both our Officers
hearty pride in them No better mat eria
can be found But they must be thorough
ly trained, both as individuals and in the
mass. The craftsmanship of the mer
must receive special attention. In. the cir
cumstances OF modern warfare the man
must act far more on his OWE inGlVidua
responsibility than ever before, and tbs
: high Individual efficiency of the unit is q
the utmost importance. Formerly this unit
was the regiment: 1t is now not the regi-
ment, not even the troop or company, II
is the individual soldier Every effort must
! be mace to develop every. workmanliEa nc
soldierly quality i'll both the officer arc
the enlisted man.
$ l urgently call your attention to the neet
of passing bill provid ing for a genera
staff and for the reorganization OF the sup
ply departments on the lines OF the bill
| When the young officers enter the army
from West Po.rt they probably stare
above their compeers in any other military
service Every effort should be made, by
! training, by reward of merit, by scrutiny
into their careers and capacity. to keer
them of the same high relative excellenc.
throughout their careers.
The National Guard.
The measure providing for the reorgani
: cation of the militia system anG for secur
| ing tie highest efficiency In the nationa
4 guard which has alreadypassed the house
should receive prompt attention ard &C
ton. 1t is of great Importance that the re
lation Of the national guard to the militi;
4 and volunteer forces of the United State
!, should be defined. and that in place of GU
: iicient system should be ADOPTED
e Provision should be made to enable tn,
8 secretary, of war to keep cavalry, ant
artillery horses, worn-ou in long perform
j trifie when sold; and rather than turn then
out TO the misery awaiting them when thu
Y disposed OF: it would be better to emplo
n them at Eight work around the posts, ant
death 'e'Ss = pu' 'i'ei pan