Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-29
ADMIRAL CERvERA.
A THOROUGH MAN, SEAMAN, STATES
MAN AND EXPERT.

WAN FlNO GNFEn -
Brilliant History OF the Central Figure in
the wild Crisis-Wealthy and of Noble
Birth-Gave Up the Post of Minister of the
Navy for to Lead a Life Aboard ship.
Cervera, SPANS man of the hour,
has an interesting personality.
He is sprung of the proudest blood
in Spain and all the qualities of breed
ing, brains patriotism, courage, pride
and polish contribute to his active ca
reer.
Cervera's generous act in sending
out word of the safety of Hobson and
his comrades was thoroughly charac-
teristic of the brave and high toned
soldier that he is and although he he
of the enemy's forces and although be
periodically and earnestly believes in
all the iniquities of which his govern
ment has been guilty, he is fine type
of the courteous, cOnsiderate gentle
man to whose training a dozen Sener-
ationS of proud Spanish nobility have
contributed.
Cervera. the man of wealth, the
man of society. the man of martial
history. being veteran of two or
three wars ana having held the high
post of secretary of the Spanish navy
is not the accident of the hour. lie IS
emincntly the one man i'll the Spanish
navy for the post he was sent across
the Atlantic to iill
When he clevcrly avoided the scout
ing cruisers of our navy and slipped
into Santiago harbor it was neither
luck nor guesswork that guided him.
He knew where he was going. for ne
was moving over waters as familiar
to Tim as the waters of Hampton
Roads are to SchlcY. 1t is an inter
esting coincidence that he served in
Cuban waters i'm command of the gun
boat Santa Lucia throughout Il great
part Of the war of 1NH-7S and that
Rear Admiral MoutcrolH. his brother
officer. who was mt That time in com
maud of the Tornado is mt present
the port admiral of Havana. The
Tornado is the Warshiu which pur-
sued and took the Nirginius prisoner,
an event which nearly plunged the
United States into war with Spain
at that time.
Rear Admiral Ccrvcra WAS oorn
February Is. 1889. and consequently
Is - years of age. He looks much
younger being possessed of a fine
phySic and great energy.
Our Soldiers Praised.
Some interesting Impressions and
criticisms of the American soldier
have appeared from the pens Of Eng
fish war correspondents with the Ar
my of Invasion. Correspondent Of
the London Times says:
"For fighting purposes. then. the
United States private has nothing to
keep clean except his rifle and pay
onet. He carries no contrivanccS for
polishing buttons. boots or the dozens
of bits of accoutrement deemed as
sential to a good soldier in Europe.
In Spain. for instance, the private
though he may have nothing in his
haversaCk. will nevertheless. carry a
clumsy outfit of tools for making his
Uniform look imposing"
AS to discipline, the correspondent
writes:
The firing discipline during the
three times we haze been under FIRE,
l has been excellent; the obedience Of
soldiers to their officers has been as
prompt and intelligent as anything l
have seen in Europe and as to cool
ness under fire and accuracy of aim,
what l have seen is most satisfactory.
The men evidently regard their Off
.erS as soldiers of equal courage aud
superior technical knowledge. To the
Yankee private West Pointer means
what to the soldier of Prussia is con-
veyed by noble rank. In my intimate
intercourse with officers and men
aboard this ship l cannot recall an
Instance Of an officer addressing a
private otherwise than is usual when
gentleman issues an order. l have
Dever heard an officer or non-comm's.
B, stoned officer curse man. During
! the engagement of Cabanas orders
were issued as quietly as at any other
time and the men went about thciI
, work as steadily as blue jackets Oh q
name war
There are numnprlcSs points of re-
semhlancr between Tommy Atkins
D and The Yagtpc private. and the Sand
. hurst man ha. 10 difficulty in under.
standing tie W,S, Pointer. But tC
& 10 this we must 20 q little beneath
the surface and SEQ things not on the
- parade ground. hut In ucuual war
For dress occasion Tie American
= uniform is far and away the uglicst
u and most useless of all tho uniforms
know. The helmets and cooked hats
are of the pattern affected 10y theatri
eal managers, the decorations taWdry
# the swords absurd, the whole appear
ance indicative of taste uumilitary
and inartistic. The parade uniform
has been designed 10y lot of uhSoll
{ Iery politicians and tailois about
Washington. Their notion of mill
.ary glory is confused with memorie,
Of ST. Patrick'S Day professions an.