The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-06
The Troops OF England, France, nnd Russia
COmuaret.

Compared.
From the London Times, Oct. Is.
Although we have now been fer more than six
months at war, is only within the last few weeks
that we have found any opportunity of testing the
actual military capacities Of the enemy of ascer
tanning the value Of those improvements lately in
troduced into our own service. Both these points,
however, involve question: Of much importance
We ourselves are entering into European WA after
an interval Of forty years and our adversaries re-
extraordinary credit boti for military aptitude and
martial prowess. It 10 true that the Russian sol
diers were occasionally spoken Of with disparage-
mert as half starved and sprtless serfs whose phy
81 al weakness must necessarily disqualify them for
vigorous action, and even high military authority
among ourselves described them as men TO whom o
British soldier would be disposed to present bread
rather than the bsyonet.n Bat, on the whole, the
contrary opinion obtained tie greatest currency and
ciency. Even il tie individual soldier was some.
what stupid, It was said that his logged obstnacy
and blind courage rendered him formidable, while
the general Organization Of the army was described
merts were perfect, the cavalry exceeded In strength
and quality that OF any other nation, the artillery
Was admirable, and the whole system constantly
revised in every particular according 70 the latest
out denying that VIC may yet have something more
to learn Of our enemy proweas we think two or
three conclusions can be safely drawn from the
events of the past month.
The Russian soldier il certainly neither weak nor
famished. Our correspondent reported, app Nently
with some little surprise, that the men taken left
upon the field Of battle were almost uniformly strong
and muscular, in the prime Of youthful ife Well fed
any such physical incspacity as was, perhaps, cx-
pected. Possibly the food described as forming
their daily rations might sce Indifferent to those
who lived upon sound beef and pork, but 1t was
clearly nutritious enough to keep the consumer in
good working order. The equipment OF the men
was good, serviceabe, and devised vita proper
appreciation Of soldiers real wants. Every man has
his warm trouse 6, worn inside pair Of strong well
made boots, while his outer clothing consisted Of q
long, loose great Goat, which might, We should
think, prove rather cumbersome In any rapid evo-
lutions, but which cleady left easy room tor the
play OF the musoles Most Of tae arms taken were
mapship Of the guns in particular excited general
admiration. In one respect the m ,st desirable ar.
rargtHeIt had been adopted The Uniform OF the
officers was scarcely dstr guishablc nom that OF the
tisoIdipesy risk. Altogether, the individual Rus
sian soldier proved 10 be racr above the stand ard
at which ho had been rated.
In respect, however, OF the Organization, manage
mtnt and efficiency OF the army Il large, tho con-
clusions suggested are Of q different kind. We look
in vain for any peculiar excellence in thosa depart
ments which bad been 50 mu n praised. TIE artil.
lery, indeed was well served, but, as It had been
pal ed in position beforehand the range had been
carefully taken and the gunners had little to do
but to load arc fire, no great credit can be assumed
for the result nor can su h conduct be compared "a
that Of our own atilIerymeu under circumstances Of
far more arduous kind. The ine(icicncy Of theil
cavalry appeared nest remarkable. Although they
ounumbele cd us greatly In this arm, thy turnct the
advantage to little or no purpose, nor did their nu
merous sQuadrcrs venture upon t.ial Of strength
even with our han dfu Of troopers. We do not read
indeed, Of q single sabre wound being inflicted
throughout the day. The only horsemen spoken OF
respectfully are the Cosacks Who, Ia their agi ity
intelligence, irregular costume ard Individual sek
reliance, seem ike mounted Yankees. As to thu
staff OF the army, or the ability displayed in com
msnd or mapGuvripg, VIC can only observe thai
every proceeding Of tho Russians appears Ike {
! blurder.
On the other hand, we may truly say that all th'
reforms recently introduced into the British service
have proved to BIO improvements indeed. Ga
soldiers igft none the worse, and behave mono til
wore for having been treated with greater con
sheraton. The dis ,ipline Of the army was nevel
better, although corporal punishment has bees al
most abolished, and It is plain enough that mel
who have bcsp encouraged 70 attend schoolmasters
and treated Like rcasor able beings, can marcf
egsinst battery With just as much fesressness o.
,boee trained under the more bfussizing system o
past Gays. With regard to our pe1 aseAFms, W