The Washington herald., 1907-03-01
BACHELOR A FIGHTER
Wars Show Him More OAR
ing Than Benedict.
EXPERIENCE IN PHILIPPINES
Death Record After Charge Dis
closes That Married Men Were the
More CautiOus-In RuSsO-Japane
Conflict Married Soldiers Prove
Drawer Than the Single Men.

In America the unmarried man. both
during times Of peace and when war is
raging as well is considered the best for
the service Of the United States army
During a debate in the House Of Com
mons In London recently. Maj. Seeley
who commanded a company of yeomanry
in the South African war, said that It was
the general experience there that married
soldiers were more courageous than the
unmarried ones. War correspondents and
officers Of the army declare that the. re-
verse is true Of the American soldier.
In times Of peace officers OF the regular
army in this country make special effort
to keep the percentage of married men in
the service as small as possible. This is
done, it is explained, for various reasons.
In the first place, married enlisted man
does not draw a salary that makes it pos
sible for him TO keep wife as she should
be kept And. in addition. the enlisted
man naturally wants to spend as much
time as possible with his family This
takes him away from the barracks at fire.
quent intervals and is against the wishes
Of the officers.
Lesson OF RussO-Japanese War.
Marriage among the officers is encour-
aged. and has been for years. The de-
sire for single men in Uncle Sans great
army. however, IS not due 10 the consid-
Grafton that they make better fighters.
The percentage Of married men is kept
down for the convenience Of the service,
so the officers of the War Department
explain.
The claim is made that in the Russo
japanese war the marn.d men Of both
sides made the best records, showing
more courage and greater abili y during
the numerous engagements. officers who
take this view Of the situation believe
that in these instances the married men
fought more bravely for several reasons.
First they thought Of their family
home, and went into the gagements
fully determined 10 win. longing for the
declaration Of peace and looking forward
10 the return 10 wife and children.
Men who Witnessed and took part in
the war between the United States and
Spain take another view Of the matter
In fact. it is said that the single men
made the best soldiers, fought more des-
perately. while the married men made
poor sh0wings.
what Standardization War showed
When war is oB, as was illustrated
during the Spanish-American conflict, no
discrimination is made in existing men
for the volunteer service Married men
enlisted as readily as single men. Con
sequently. the percentage Of married men
who took part in the volunteer service
was considerably larger than among the
regulars
Officers at the War Department say
shat the question whether married nlcn
make better lighters than the single ones
has never been considered tic any great
extent IL has been a rule for years
however, that the married man should
not be encouraged for enlistment when
this country is at peace with the world
). y Sheridan. d war correspondent and
Ia weil-knOWr newspaper man. who has
been all over the world. and who IS now
in Washington, saws single men are un-
doubleday the more courageous on the
field OF battle. MI Sheridan Witnessed
all the more important engagements in
the Philippines, and at the time the ques-
ton was discussed by war correspond
eEts and officers OF the army. il was
decided beyond question that the unmar-
ued men made the best showing Mr.
Sheridan was formerly located here as
correspondent of a Western paper. His
home is row In San Francisco.
War Correspondents Observation.
Il saw many engagements during my
service as correspondent in the Philip
pines and the unmarried man was un-
doubtedly better fighter than his
brother. q benedict" Mr. Sheridan said
yesterday to a Washington Herald re-
porter. This fact was demonstrated
frequently during the thickest Of battles.
While the single man would go ahead,
apparently without fear and with only
one object in view, we noticed that the
married man. while he was not coward,
unquestionably was not as courageous az
the other He was more careful
The thought of home, we often
thought, made him fear death more than