The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-27
BATTLE OF LITTLE
Big HORN DESCRIBED
in LUNCHEON TALK
Major Frank L. Anders Praises
General George A. Gus
ter Highly

The Battle of the Little Big Horn
Is one Of the highlights in the open
Ing up Of the frontier to a new civil
ization and a milestone In the i'm
provement OF the condition Of the
Indian, Major F.. l.. Anders told the
Bismarck Kiwanis club Wednesday in
an address concentrating the 57th
anniversary Of the famous battle.
Major Anders outlined events lead
ing up to and through the Battle OF
the Little Big Horn, praising Gen.
eral George A. Custer.
AS far as Is known, he said, every
officer and man that went into the
fight was killed.
THAT every officer and man did
their duty and fulfilled the highest
standards of the American soldier is
beyond any question:" he said.
THE losses In this battle, actual
and measured by percentages, in
dictate that it stands second to none
when measured by the highest stan
dards of the art Of war, civilized OF
uncivilized. A comparison with some
other actions will make this more
clear"
Was Well Organized
He termed the Battle Of the Little
Big Horn as a well organized fight
In both its strategy and tactics
"The trouble was that the numbe,
OF the Indians, their arms and thei,
morale was either not known or I'm.
derestimated," he added. "They had
won two previous battles in success.
sion which fact must not be for
gotten"
T" AS far as can be determined, Majo1
Anders said COS men crossed the
divide at noon, June Is. OF this
number there were 265 officers and
men killed or 43 per cent. The total
loss was 265 killed and So wounded
or a loss of SO per cent. Sixteen of
% officers, or SIS per cent, were killed
There were many acts of desperate
bravery shown on that field,' he said
More medals of honor were awarded
for this single action than have been
awarded in any other engagement by
the United States Army.
There has been much criticism Of
this campaign, its strategy. tactics
and results. Most Of these criticisms
come from the uniformed or those
without sufficient military training
upon which to form correct opinion
as to what might be expected from
such operations under such conditions.
MANY Of these come after the event
has happened. It Is vastly different
matter to look backward when one
cannot only consider the known, but
also the conditions that were un-
known and covering the entire event,
as compared with the situation when
so many conditions are not only I'M
known but cannot. by any means be-
even guessed at. II one guesses cor
rectly he is probably successful and
becomes hero and a genius. On the
other hand If he fails there is nothing
but calumny to be heaped upon him."
Urges Support Of Team
D. e. Shipley, a guest at the clubs
luncheon, urged members to support
baseball team.
AS a special feature, Private j. L.
Higgs, Fort Lincoln bugler, played
'eveille and taps.
Among guests were Waldo L. Ellick-
son, Russell Reid. Joseph Byrne,
Charles Liessman, Emerson o. LESS
nan, Frank Anders, Jr., ]. E. Davis.
w. A. Falconer, Jacob Horner. George
?. Will, Major G. A. Hayden of Sioux
Falls, s. D., who is here for Fort Lin
;oln's G. M. T. c., Colonel G. w. Har-
is. Fort Lincoln's commandant and
Colonel A. B. WEIGH of Mandan.