The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-13
PRAISED THE TROOPS.
The Soldiers a superb Lot Individually
and as an Army.

and as an Army.
Washington, July 12.-Major 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 % mil
itary operations. He paid a glowing
tribute to the ability of our soldiers.
Il have the most complete admiration
for your men," said Major De Grand
prey to an associated press representa-
tive to-day. They are a superb body
individually and as an army, and i sup
pose not throughout the world is there
such splendid lot of fighting men. 1t
is the fighting characteristic of the men
which is most apparent They are ag-
gressive. eager for action, never need
ing the voice of an officer to push them
forward.
Another marked characteristic is the
self reliance of each man, what I call
the character of initiative 1t is al
most unknown in European armies
where every movement, and the move
to meet each action of the enemy waits
the initiative of an officer. But with
your men they fight to the front, meet
ing each emergency as it arises. over
coming obstacles by their own initia-
tive. Such self reliance fighting makes
an exceptionally impetuous army, for
every unit contributes to the irresisti-
BILE forward movement. The Spanish
troops do not have this same character
istic. They are more passive, more
cautious. Besides the impetuosity of
such fighting material. it has the effect
of inspiring a morale among the troops
making them feel that success is as
sured. and at the same time carrying
disorder and depression to the ranks of
the enemy"
Major 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 the tangle of trop-
ical vines makes II impossible to OBJ
serve the usual military formations. AS
a result, there is little or no effort to
fight in solid formation. Every man
is fighting for himself, pushing forward
through the shrubbery, vines and tall
grass. 1t is impossible to see the enemy.
There is no line of battle ahead against
which the assault is directed. Only
through the reports of pickets and from
the crack of rifles here and there ahead
is it known that a fighting force Is
there. This makes the shooting irreg-
ular as ii is seldom possible to see
the opposing force. The main result
of this is to bring the two fighting
forces close together gradually until
they are fighting at close range. In
out that IL is a return to the fighting OF
200 years ago when the short range OF
the arms then in use compelled fighting
at close quarters.
AS is always the case at close range
fighting, the casualties are far greater.
With the usual open field fighting of
European armies. the range is long,
and as a result the casualties are not
so great in a period. 1t has the effect
also of allowing time for each side to
gauge the strength OF it's adversary.
and in this way decisive results are
often achieved in long range fighting
before a general assault has occurred.
But II is impossible. Major De Grand
prey points out. for 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.
Major De Grandprey also speaks
highly of the efficiency with which the
American troops and supplies were
started on their expedition and de-
barked in Cuba. This has come in for
considerable criticism In this country.
but Major De Grandprey says that.
considering the brief time allowed for
equipping the expedition, remarkable
results were secured European mill
tary expeditions such as those Of Eng
land or France to Africa or other
points. he says, are planned six months
ahead. which allows ample time for
working out the most minute details.
The first word of Cervera's entering
Santiago harbor was on May Is. and
the vast military preparations were well
under way and the expedition started
early in the following month of June.
This and the insignificant loss of men
and animals in landing was an excep-
tionally good showing. Judged by the
best military standards. He says the
foreign military observers were more
concerned with this matter OF embark
ing and disembarking troops. supplies
and animals than with the actual Iniii-
tary maneuyers. as the moving of