Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-12-20
The English and tie American Army
Sycta--

Archibald Forles, En~lanHs war cor
respondent, has been inspired hv the
lack OF sarrisons IN the United States
and the displaN o! TIE military head
quarters mt Washington. 10 write an ar
iicle for the North .Anierican Rcrte" on
The United States Army" which is
more COMPARISON OF the metiOiS OF
American and English army discipline
and Of life taan any'hiag else HE
'wn nations. he fakes it. are alone in
holding to the idea Of q profess onal
n con.radistnctiun to a national array,
aud in combining their armies to defen-
sive and police wnrk. as against acres
SION or reprisa's directed against an
enelnr: bu, here all similarity ceases
Mr.. Forbes finds tie widest difference
in the treatment Of English aud Anoer-
can sol!ier-oilcnderS. in that the Eng
iish punitive system is harsh and de-
Grading, while the American military
prison is a paradise compared with tie
ordinary quarters OF the American gar
ri>on out West. The EnTlish soldier
who olienls is condemned to oeten,a-
tiouslv useless labor, his head is cropped,
ne is hammered by n complicated code,
the slightest transgrcs.lon of whose
slightest rule adds In lis punishment,
an,i nn GOOD conduct ever awaits 10 the
mitigation Of hls punishment. The
American. on the contrary, IS treated
not as Il criminal, but as being suffering
under temporary crazn IS, Is well fed.
allowed a larse measure Of personal
freedom, is pat TO the learning of some
useful trade. and nj the end of his SEN
tence is supplied with money aud cloth
ing and returned ut punic expense to
The place OF his enlistment. Two other
points of comparison are the pay of Ire
two forces ana The cliauccs Of promotion
from ticrItikS. where t1fe 1s,fts-,s -,>s.s.
vate has nouiuai sitting tsas'. :ae-
coniraned by Il r;,iion of thrce-tourtns
of a pound of meat and one pouni of
bread. he finds that his American
brother receives from Sl3 to SIC 4
month from the first To the fifth wears
! % service, together with the "saartiiug'
daily ration of II oancrs of pork or
bacon. II pounds Of beef. IS ounces Of
soft breati, pound of hard bre ID. / /
pounds Of meal. besides ample quaint.
| ties of peas. rice. coffee. sugar, candles
! and other neeessaries OF Ii e, aided to
| which is a government allotment OF land
| ut the expiration of his service. On, OF
| the 1872 officers OF the American cavalry
| service, | Is are graduates from TIE lie,
| ranking as high "a Lien'enant-Co,ouei,
! a prospect not to be counted anon. the
| possibilities Of tie En@!lsn common sol
| der. E,lt the great difference which
| Mr.. Forbes fluids in the two armies lie.
in the principles which govern enlist
ment. promotion and retirement and
here the Eng!i,hman takes the opportn
| nifty TO slap the Engiish for the com.
| p.accncy with which they rub thrir
| hands over bv-gane achievements ana
thrill Eat paltry success achieved b,
| her scientifically armed troops over 8
gang Of jngal-bcarin@ or asse,-ai throw
ing savarrs.' The American principle
he SAYS, Is that the army shall be con
Quoted as business by business meth
oi>; and the English idea is that IL,
army shall he made matter of SHOW
| and parade expressed Ivy military bua
CONNIE. While in Engtnud Il soldier il
rewarded for doing his plain duty by
Victoria cross to b:anc. tie poverty o
his p:Ly. aud 4 commander who las los
his battle is never d!sgraced. bur offer
rewarded, the American soidier has n,
ri.tterinn "nouor' before his eyes. b,
ON the contrary, rs in the cases of man,
CHEERS of the Union army after til
war. is relocated to Positions inferior L
those we'll hned by him in active service
But this business principle Mr.. Forte
holds to be lar preferable to that inspi;
inr the British service. in tn. 1 il has r.
suited in bette. pay tor the soldier. III
sur.ng him surplus at tae end Of hi
en- isinen,. if frugal. and "a coInior;ab.
ret.remen; pension for the commissions
officer untAought ri in Eng.and. Nj
Forbes. like Il good En1.isnman, al
stains from drawing any conclusion
from his observations preiudiciai to III
Lng.ish. but quietly renaras: "Diiie
eat nations, different treatment that
ali the length | care to 20"