The Springdale news., 1898-07-15
URCONDUCT0 0F THE WAR.
Opinion of a French Military Alt tache Upon Our Management
 of the Campaign.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS BEYOND COMPARE.

The Fighting About Santiago Something
 Entirely Different from the Warfare of
 Modern Times Owing to the Natural
 Difficulties of the situation and Our
 Manner of Meeting Them.
 WASHINGTON, July 13.-Maj de Grandprey, military attache of the French embassy has just returned from the American headquarters near Santiago where he has been observing for his government the progress ot military operations. He paid glow ing tribute to the fighting ability ot our soldiers.
 A Superb Body. Individually and as an
 Army.
 Fl have the most complete admira- tion for your men, said Maj. De Grand prey to press reporter to-day. They are d superb body, individually and as an army, and l suppose not through out the world is there such splendid lot of fighting men. It IS the hghung characteristic of the men which IS most apparent They are aggressive, eager for action, never needing the voice of an officer to push them for ward
 Seif-Rcliance of Each Man
 Another marked characteristic is the self-reliance of each man; what we call the character of initiative. It IS all most unknown in European armies where every movement and the move to meet each action of the enemy
 .F R11+ with your men they fight to the front, meeting each emergency as 1t arises, overcoming obstacles by their own ini- tiative.
 An Exceptionally Impetuous Army.
 Such self-relant fighting mel make an exceptionally impetuous army for every unit contributes to the lrreslsti- ble onward movement. The Spanish troops do not have this same charac- teristic. They are more passive, more cautious. Besides the impetuosity of such fighting material, 1t has the effect of inspiring a morale among the troops, making them feel that success is assured, and at the same time car rying disorder and depression to the ranks of the enemy
 Something Entirely Unique In Modern
 Warfare.
 Maj. de Grandprey says the fighting about Santiago is something entirely different from the warfare of European and other armies of modern times. The dense vegetation and tangle of tropical vines makes it impossible to observe the usual military formations, As a result there is httle or no effcrt to fight in solid formation. Every man is fighting for himself, pushing forward through the shrubbery, vines and tall grass. It is impossible to see the enemy. There is no line of battle ahead against which the assault is directed. Only through the reports of picAets and from the crack of rifles here and there ahead is it known that fighting force is there This makes the shooting ir regular, as it is seldom possible to see one of the opposing soldiers and get distinct aim at him. The main result of this is to bring the two fighting forces together gradually until they are fighting at close range.
 Fighting at Close Quarters with Long
 Range Guns.
 In this respect, Maj. dc Grandprey points out, it is return to the fight ing of 200 years ago, when the short range of the arms then in use com pelIed fighting at close quarters. As is always the case at close-range fight ing, the casualties are far greater With the usual open field fight ing of European armies, the range is long, and, as a result, the casualties are not So great in a given period. l. has the effect, also, of allowing time for each side to gauge the strength of its adversary and in this way decisive results arc often achieved in long range lighting before general assault has occurrc ed. But it is impossible, Mai de Grand prey points out, tor the American or Spanish troops to take this measure of each other, as they see nothing of the general battle and meet only when brought into close quarters
 Only Praise Where Others Have Criticised.
 Maj de Grandprey also speaks highly
 
 ican troops and supplies were started on their expedition and debarked in Cuba. This has come in for consider able criticism in this country, but Maj. de Grandprey says that, consid- erlng the brief time allowed for equip ping the expedition, remarkable re- suits were secured European mili- tary expeditions, such as those of Eng | land or France to Africa or other points, he said, are planned six months ahead, which allows ample time for forming minute details.
 ! The first word of Cervera's entering Santiago harbor was on May 16 and \ the vast military preparation was we'll under way and the expedition started | early in the following month of June. l This and the insignificant loss of men and animals in landing was an excep. tionally good showing judged by the | best military standards.
 What Most Concerned the Foreign Ob- servers.
 \ He says the foreign military observ. CTS were more concerned with this matter of embarking and disembarlz- ing troops, supplies and animals than with the actual military maneuvers as the moving of large forces consti tutes one of the most important of military science.
 Maj de Grandprey will remain here for about about week and will then return to Santiago if the place has not surrendered by that time. In case O surrender he will proceed to Porte Rico or such other points as may be come the center of military operations The St. Louis to Have More Guns. PHILADELPHIA, July 13.-The auxil iary cruiser St. Louis, which is now al Portsmouth, N. H., is expected to ar rive here in a few days Some neces sary alterations are to be made to tn, St. Louis and quite number of gun are to be put in position on her decks
 Esterhazy and His Mistress Arrested.
 PARIS, July 13.-Maj. Comte Ferdi nand Walsh Esterhazy, the alleged