Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-01-18
A SOLDIER OF TODAY.
COMPARISON BETWEEN MILlTARvuEE
AT HOME AND ABROAD.

The Soldier of Germany, France. ENGLAND
and America-Solne Sharp Contrasts-A
Usual, Our Own Country Leads-Rela
tions Privates and Ohacers.
Especial Correspondence
CHICAGO, bit has been said tina,
che life OF the modern soldier has lost its
romance, and that evon wal has been de.
prlved of its attractive features in these
prosalc n cold matter of fact days. Gen.
orally speaking, this may be true of the
regular barrack routine and the wars be.
tween civilized nations. Different. how.
ever, is it with the life of the average
American soldier who passes most of his
existence in far distant posts. INHERENT
1t also is with the E%nglishman who serves
In India or the Frenchman who enters the
marines and finally with the sailor sol.
diers of any nation.
h American Soldier.
OF all the soldiers in the world the
American has superior advantages. It is
only due to the mystery that enshrines his
existence, the deep rooted prejudice of a
democratic people against soldering as q
profession and the lack of knowledge that
foreigners ave of the real position of the
American soldier hat the recruiting offices
OF this country are not overrun with
young men from all parts of the world
anxious to enlist.
There are very likely, however, only few
people III the United States who, reading
the newspapers, have not once in awhile
come across an article referring to cruel
Ties committed by officers and noncommis-
Stoned officers against soldiers in the Ger
man army. Great as that army may be
considered by many, the three or four
years the men have to serve in it are q
space OF time in which each day forms a
INK IN a chain of continued hardship.
Inc daily service extends to from 10 to l2
nours, II as with regard to the food suf-
nee IL to say that no American soldier
would touch 1t. Not that it is unwhole-
some, DuG 1T is so coarse that only those
VINO nave been used to the toughest kind
OF life are able to conform to it, The
bread is as black as coal and indisestible,
the soups meager, the coffee mere chicory
water, and 81 roast forms the main luxury
of a holiday.
For pay the German soldier receives only
q Jew cents n day, and with these he has to
buy brushes, shoe backing and other
small articles necessary for the cleaning of
garments and arms. The relations be-
tween mon and officers, if such a thing ex-
lists at all, are the same as those between
9 fairly just dcspot and his subject. As
Tor the overbcaring arrogance and harsh
ness with which noncommissioned officers
treat their men, it will be remembered
chat they have often given cause for dis
cussion in the German parliament. While
1 admit that such treatment is capable of
establishing an iron discipline, Unjust not
be forgotten that it also causes both bit
terness and contempt in the hearts of the
men.
Tho French Soldier.
I'D France, which day by day is beconl-
Ing a democratic country, the common
soldier is treated better. The army regu-
latlons, of course, arc enforced, but without
unnecessary severity, and while the food
Is OF superior quality the pay is rs made
quate as in Germany. No doubt a higher
pay would be given, but what, European
country can afford to pay soldiers proper
tionately as long as standing armies of the
present size are maintained?
The greatest advantage perhaps which
the French soldier enjoys among his Euro
pean comrades is that, apart from his
claret, the government supplies him with
tobacco. The hours of duty Are not too
long, since all unnecessary sentries have
been suppressed under the republic. Tho
relations between the men and the officers
are about the same as in this country
that is to say, while transgrcssions of au
thority from the part Of noncom1nissioncd
officers are severely punished officers gen.
orally enjoy not only tho esteem but often
the devotion and affection Of their men. /
In England the soldier receives about the
treatment at the hands of his officer
as in Germany, with the exception, per-
haps, in the colonies, where men and off
GERS are thrown closer together. The Eng