The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-02-06

ing it's way through the
- tropic jungle and up the
iah.2 Gll heights toward where lay
Ry$gs59l the Spanish riiemen de-
IFNR tending Santiago de Cuba.
N<L% At what since came TO
be known as Bloody
Bend In the path OF the American
advance there was a break In the
foliage. Directly In the line OF the
Spanish fire 1t lay And SO thick was
the jungle that the advancing troops
had 10 cross this open space.
Unframed In warfare. many un-
trained even in what is now regarded
as primary principles OF combat. brave
but untaught and unprepared as
Americans ever have been In the
earlier stages OF their wars, the new
enlisted men from New York and
Michigan and Oklahoma and Arizona
and all the union met here the su-
preme test
Scores fell before the enemy's fire.
What was needed most vas intelligent
II.
woefully few. The sacrifice OF life
went on. for lack OF knowledge to
cope with an Unexpected military sit
uation.
There came on the scene First
Lieut. Albert l.. Mills, First United
States cavalry. holding rank as cap
tain and assistant adjutant general or
volunteers. and attached to the stan
of General Shafter. Four years at
West Point and 10 years as a subal-
tern officer of cavalry serving in the
far westward. studious. working
years-united with natural capacity
and fitness, had made him a cool, re-
sourceful. skillful, trained military
leader. He knew the business OF war.
Al once he began to bring order out
of chaos. He showed the men how
to take cover He directed a return
fire The advance, temporarily check
ed. was resumed.
Then Spanish bullet crashed
through his head. 1t tore away one
eye aud temporarily blinded the other
But he refused to leave the spot where
he was so urgently needed. Sight
less, bloody bandage wound about
his brow, he remained and continued
his work OF directing the troops a
they came along.
The scene has been perpetuated In
picture and In written description. i
stands out as one OF the most vivi(
and splendid incidents OF the war o
1898.
For distinguished gallantry I'm &c
ton near Santiago de Cuba. July ]
1898. in encouraging those near hin
by his bravery and GOODNESS after be
ing shot through the head and entire
ly without sight" That Is the nota
ton on the record In the war depart
ment I'm explanation OF the award o
the congressional medal of honor T.
this officer.
Was he any more brave than score
and hundreds OF others who partic
pated In the operations at Santiago
Probably not, but he, better than s
many others. knew how to do the 10
which the American forces had sc
out 10 accomplish on that day.
was his knowledge. his military skill
quite as much as his GOODNESS and nj
disregard us own sufferings. tina
brought; stinction.
The aent az Washington
these Ii fresh I'm its mind. col
cluded ne man who had don
what ' lad done at Bloody Ben
was Ill ,rt OF man needed to trai
future army officers. So. advancin
him 10 the rank OF colonel. the va
department in the autumn OF 1S9
when his one remaining eye ha
healed, sent him to West Point ;
superintendent OF the finest milital
academy in the world. There he r
manned for eight years.
In 1904 he was advanced to IL
grade OF brigadier general. Now. aft
two years OF departmental commar
in the Philippines and three years
like duty In the department OF Il
gulf. general Mills Is back at his o
occupation OF supervising the trainil
of young Americans In the busine
OF war
But II is In a larger field Inste;
Of directing the intensive training
several hundred prospective officers
the regular army he is In charge
the federal activities that assist {
National Guards OF the various stat
in attaining military proficiency. 4
proximately 10000 National Guar
men are the material with which
il working. IL is a larger force III
the regular army.
Something ingrained I'm the fiber
English-speakirg peoples makes tn
opposed 10 .he maintenance of lar
standing sssnies. They ever have p
ferred ts. put their dependence in
citizen soldiery But modern cor
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