Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-09-06

march back; | undoubtedly said a
number of things concerning such
orders, and officers who had no more
sense than to issue them, that would
not look well in print. | am respon-
sible for my men. 1t was not per-
sonal with me, as l had no roll or
equipment to carry.
But if you want to know how the
men felt, just get up some morning
at 4:30, go without breakfast, and at
5:45 a. M, with your feet blistered
and bruised, place a belt loaded with
ammunition around your waist, hang
to it a shovel, a haversack full of
junk, a canteen and a bayonet, with,
the whole thing bobbing out and
back against your body at every step,
and with your roll weighing about 12
pounds and your gun weighing nine
pounds on your shoulder Ga shoulder
that is sore and. bruised) start out on
a pebbly road and go three miles,
then get off the road into the brush,
over logs, and through fences, and go
another four miles, then ford
stream, and double time for four
miles G. e., beat it on the rum and
measure, and see how you feel at
$50 when the battle is over, espec-
tally when you have been informeds
that your duties We're to end with the
end of the battle. wouldn't you say
a few things in a sort of unofficial
manner?
"And wouldn't it make you feel
good when you heard that the Col
onel in charge of the whole army
asked your Colonel how far the men
could go, and he, without investgat-
ing the condition of the same, told |
the regular army man that his men
could go as far as the regular army. |
And all this so as to make a good |
appearance before the regular army |
For the sake of appearances, the raw
militia men must do and perform
almost super-human things. Some
system to this.
Protection Only Excuse.
IF 1 did any wrong (and / do not
believe that l did l did it in the
protection of my men, and believe
would have had but very little re-
'pect for myself had l not stood by
hem. At Salem, l took the whole
iOA MY COIIlJdIy my
'elf, and said that the men were in
10 way to blame. l am glad to see
hat they are not to be discharged.
Whatever may happen in this matter,
is certain that a great amount of
rood has been accomplished by this
What matters it
whether a few officers, more or less.
re sacrificed, if good results from it,
The history of the whole world
las been that good has only been
accomplished by the sacrifice of men.
you will see that in the future these {
naneuvers will be conducted along
ifferent lines; they will be camps of
Instruction and not of athletic Prov
SIS; the commissary department will
ee that food due the men on Thurs
ay will reach them on Thursday.
instead of on Saturday night one .
leneral of the army, at least, will
hink twice hereafter before he issues
n unreasonable order, and before n
e proceeds to go before the enlisted
1en and make fool of himself.
Let the good work go on. The !
rmy is not perfect, and it needs
haking up now and then The peo-
now full well the time and labor I {
ave given to the National Guard at
great sacrifice to myself and to my
usiness. and they know that 1 would }
o nothing to place myself In wrong
have nothing to hide; nothing to
e ashamed Of My men are stand
lg behind me Loyalty. Efforts to
lrn them against me are futile. Ia
ave their confidence and their re-
pect; what more could any COM
officer, or erstwhile COM
landing officer. ask?
Il doubt very much whether I
hall take any steps to contest the
rder of dismissal. shall abide my
me, and rest peacefully in the fond :
elief that every dog has his day."
olitics are a funny thing. and il is !
lst barely possible that the present =
olitical combine will not always be :
power. I certainly hope not
WALTER L. TOOZE. Jr." :