The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-22

SLo"Ab olo AADOu II army
To THE EDITOR OF TIKI suN-Sir: Your
quotation to-day OF English accusations Of
serious breakdowns in the transport and
commissary departments " at their recent mill
tary man9uvres on Salisbury Plain, causing
great suffering and widespread Generalization
among the troops, leads me to call your atten-
ton to the complaints OF Encouragement in
the British Army which are appearing con-
stantly in English papers.
I quote a few specimens Of such complain
ing from recent numbers OF the London Truth
in order that our people may see that both
camp and civilian accusations OF military in
efficiency are not confined to this country:
The number of petty barrack-room thefts is posi-
OF aS pFop aSRSiiG yiSr a { mtn G eSsS not q trt lsev Ike Sns = S s5tiSls
cap. II left Inguarded. win have the chin strap stolen.
Four regiments of the Welsh Border Volunteer
BRIGADE were encamped on the Conway, Marsh dur;
ing y; the hr Tt. fortnight tnItS OF August for their annual
many OF them actually bearing the Government
finished the tents. This disRraceful state Of things
Il ReS SaqRa to q FSnaiR: that 10 i Sayt6 IL n Is i RGoS saSaF e
for volunteers.
Every time We have . spell Of tropical weather
some military o~fhcers-hAppily only small minority
doses Of duty and fatigue in the way OF extra rGrades
and drills under q blazing hot sun make q useful dis
gubjecting the health OF men TO these unnecessary
risks. and i%nficting upon them what 10 often nothing
Less than q cruel form or torture.
The Northumberland Fusiliers. now stationed at
Portland, It 10 asserted. have found their life SO un-
place. while the dissatisfaction among the non-com.
missioned ofhcers has resulted in a number Of them
Sented. in short, Is practically In q state Of semi
mutiny.
Already I am receiving 9 number Of letters bear
ing on the question of the provision Of forage and
that the absence Of all comfort has driven his reGi-
msGt to Sp tas ye stSte OF s @p sSs c.1 Il e q & daily ally Occur oS. Y;
beer while mineral wAtera and tea are not to be
regiment to which he Belongs had no butter liter one ens' d ave
NO potatoes = second day. while bread could not DO
purchased at less than eightpence . two-pound loaf.
Last autumn Col. MarshGlI was appointed to the
command OF the Royal ARTILLERY, at Aldershot. and
he being at that time About the twentletS on the dhieI list
q colonelS r. A: and devoid OF any service dis,
Major-Generals and Colonies. who had been men
TONED IN SesPSteheEi OF promoted specially for
of other officers are sacrificed, merely to enrich the
friend of some exalted functionAry at headquarters.
Blunders of this kind can be so easily avoided
by y little care that It 10 only possible TO ascribe their
frequent occurrence to utter callouauesa upon the
part OF the authorities to any ones conyenienoe but
their own.
1t seems doubtful whether jobbery and personal
fAyoritism have ever been more rampant and undis-
glised than under the present regime At the War
Office.
Icould take a contract to keep you supplied
constantly with columns Of such complaints MS
these, extending to every branch OF the British
military service. and involving every depart
ment. They are ceaseless In every army. Ii
there In existence n club 30 perfect In its APP
pointments. service. catering and cookery that
1t does not contain members who are finding
fault continually with its management Re-
member that growing is q special character
istic OF the soldier. and 1t serves a good pur-
pose as q safety valve; but when newspapers In
time OF war report 1t seriously as OF prime
scientific Importance. every man accustomed TO
troops Is somewhat amused. ARMY.
NEW YORK. Sept. 81.