The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-03-21

De Known as blOOuy
Bend" In the path of the American
advance there was break in the
foliage. Directly in the line of the
Spanish fire it lay. And SO thick was
the jungle that the advancing troops
had to cross this open space.
Unframed in warfare, many I'M
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 oil the union met here the su-
preme test.
Scores fell before the enemy's fire.
What was needed most was intelligent
leadership, and skilled leaders were
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 OF
volunteers. and attached to the staff
of General Shafter. Four years at
West Point and 10 years as subal-
tern officer of cavalry serving in the
far westward, studious, working
years-united with natural capacity
and fitness, had made him cool, re-
soarceful, skillful. trained military
leader. He knew the business of war.
At 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 a Spanish bullet crashed
through his head It tore away one
eye and temporarily blinded the other.
But he refused to leave the spot where
he was SO urgently needed. Sight
his brow, he remained and continued
his work of directing the troops as
they came along.
The scene has been perpetuated in
picture and In written description. 1t
stands out as one Of the most vivid
and splendid incidents Of the war of
1898.
For distinguished gallantry in &C
ton near Santiago de Cuba, July l.
1898, in encouraging those near him
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 in explanation Of the award OF
the congressional medal Of honor to
this officer.
Was he any more brave than scores
and hundreds Of others who partici-
pated In the operations at Santiago?
Probably not, but he. better than 80
many others, knew how to do the Job
which the American forces had set
out to accomplish on that day. It
was his knowledge. his military skill.
quite a. much as his GOODNESS and hts
disregard Of his own sufterings. that
him distinction. 4
The government at Washington,
these lessons fresh in its mind. con-
cluded that the man who had done
what Mills had done at Bloody Bend
was the sort Of man needed to train |
future army o6icerA So. advancing
him to the rank Of colonel, the war
department In the autumn Of 1898, |
when his one remaining eye had |
healed. sent him to West Point as |
superintendent Of tho finest military
academy in the world. There he re-
NAMED for eight years.
In 1904 he was advanced to the |!
grade Of brigadier general. Now. after
two years Of departmental command
In the Philippines and three years OF
like duty In the department OF the
gulf. general Mills Is back 1t his old
occupation Of supervising the training
Of young Americans in the business
" war.
But It 10 In = larger field Instead
q directing the Intensive training Of
several hundred prospective officers Of
the regular army he is in charge Of
Inc federal activities that assist the
National Guards Of the various states
= attaining military proficiency. Ap-
ufoximately 10000 National Guards
men arc the material with which he
< working. 1t 10 larger force than
he regular army.
Something insramed in the fiber Of
EDslish-speaking peoples makes them
opposed to the maintenance Of large
'ta sding armies. They ever have pre-
'er I'd to put their dependence In 4
soldiefy. But modern condi-