The National tribune., 1888-11-29
ENGLISH VS.. AMERICAN.
Some Points of Difference in the Pay, Clothing,
Meals. etc. of soldiers.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE The English
soldier is paid daily, q Pay Sergeant being with
each company, and a Paymaster, with rank of
Captain at each post and belonging to each
separate command. When the British Parlia-
ment votes pay for the army the amount pro.
vides for all allowances. A small amount from
the soldiers pay is deducted daily for his ra-
tons, arms, equipments, clothing. etc; and if
a glass or door be broken, or spoon lost, and no
one of the from 10 to IS members of the mess
acknowledge the fault, all are assessed for bar
rack damages. Consequently when the sol
dier's term has expired his outfit" etc, is all
paid for, and if he dies the Government loses
nothing.
The English soldier eats and sleeps in one
apartment, the Room Orderly" for the day
taking the "mess-l1ids to the cook house and
returning with the days rations. This occurs
at noon, and if one saves anything for supper
or breakfast next morning he has it, otherwise
not.
The American soldier has school, billiard,
bath, reading and other rooms open for him at
all barracks. He sits at a table three times
daily, waited upon by his comrades detailed for
the day, and fed in manner that would sur
prise one not knowing the facts.
The following clipping was cut from the
Edinhurg Review last year:
When Lord Cardwell announced that the soldier
would in future obtain clear shilling there was
strongest Indignation when il was found that what
WAS really meant WAS tliat the soldier was to be
only partially clothed aud fed, and that from the
shilling all DEFICIENCIES had TO be made up The
feeling that they had been deceived has since
been ranking in soldiers breasts; most of all, re-
cruits when they find that the clear shilling only
means clear siX-pence, consider that they have
been swindlcd. The argument that the soldiers
serving at the date of Lord CardwelFs announce
ment, and those who have since enlisted, deceived
themselves, and could easily, on looking into the
matter, have ascertained what they really were to
receive, is foolish. In dealing with the illiterae
class, from which we draw most of our recruits,
there should be ambiguity about the terms,
no possibility of misunderstanding, for the
lower orders naturally suspicious, and
soldiers are proverbay sensitive about their pay.
Besides, we have, as practical men, 10 deal not
with that which ought 10 be, but with that which
ls. Under the existing s!stem soldier IL provided
by the State with uniform and riding-boOts, re-
newed periodically, but he IS often required to pay
out of his own pocket for new pair of trousers,
froc or forage cap while IT Is evident That MS TWO
pairs of boots annually are not sufficient the cost
of additional boots and repairs to those which he
possesses is betrayed by the man himself. He also,
on enlistment is furnished with free kit of nee
essaTies, comprising undereothing knife, fork and
spoon, brushes, backing. braces, razor, towels,
soap, etc. This kit he has to keep up at his own
expense. It is plain from the above that the sol
der is not clothed by the State The result of this
arrangement is constantly recurring stoppages,
which often leave the soldier with only III day
pocket money, cause great irritation and discon-
tent, and are fruitful causes for deserion Neither
is he fed by the State, for all he obtains IN the
shape of rations Is one pound bread ana three
quarter pound meat daily The balance, in the
shape of groceries, vegetables, milk, ETC., is de-
frayed out of the messing fund, for which Id a
day is stopped from his pay. In addition he is
charged with washing at I'D day, haircutting
Id month, and barrack damages, for which he
is lucky if he gets off with Id month. II he be-
longs to the library the subscription is Sd month.
We indOrse Sir Frederick Roberts's recommended
ton that whatever sum Is called pay should be
free Of stoppages, so that the soldier may know
exactly how he stands, and the Captain and Color
Sergeant be relieved Of much clerical work and
tme-consuming accounts. AS the most careful
infantry soldiers, under fairly favorable circum-
stances, clear I'd day, it would be desirable 10
fix his pay at that sum, and for the State to defray
and waste
H. a. FERSALD, Mason City, III.