The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-08
ONLY THE ENGLISH BECAME BROTH
ERLY WHILE AT SANTIAGO.
Traits of the Different Representa-
tives who Were Taking Notes on
Army and Navy Movements.
James o'DonneI Bennett. in Chicago Jour.

advance of our men,"
1t might seem that this English captain
who spoke so enthusiastically of 'our boys
had either become a naturalized citizen of
these United States over night, or that Eng
land had sent us her troops. and that it was
to them the naval officer paid tribute.
But nothing like that had happened, and
what Captain Paget said was merely indi-
cative of the spirit prevailing among Eng
lishmen at the seat of war-and among
those in the good old island itself as truly
believe
You who stayed at home land very SEN
sibly so) doubtless read great deal about
the Anglo-American alliance. for and
against Echoes of that controversy reached
us, but we didn't bother about the argu-
ments, for we knew that alliance was NOR
ally speaking, already fact.
The English of the West indies and the
English who were with the troops felt as
deep concern for the success of the Amer
lean arms as we did. The news of any set
back made them blue and tidings of vic
tory or gossip about some individual deed of
heroism cheered them up nightly.
We used to tell them this fraternal spirit
of theirs was just another evidence of the
national weakness for claiming part, lot
and kinship in any good thing that was y
ing around. Upon which they would de-
nounce us as the ungratefuI children of
doting if sometimes erring parent.
A great deal more than ever will be writ
ten could be said on the subject, England
share in the Spanish-American war" But
| don't suppose the plump little volume will
be written, for it was the kind Of history
that the presiding genius of that branch of
literature regards as shady and unofficial.
but which men consider highly commenda-
ble 1t is told in camps and in wardrooms
when visits are exchanged and the general
or the admiral opens a bottle of wine. Men
hear it and chortle gleefully but don't men
tiOn the matter in their reports to depart
mental authorities.
POINTERS FROM A NEUTRAL.
There were rare stories, too, about how
men on American dispatch boats went into
the ports of certain neutral power and
bought stores and supplies for American
ships Of war and how they got caught in
the act and how fearful Spanish consuls,
who had seen bales of goods marked Bat
tie ship Iowa." came to the representatives
of that certain friendly power and made ac-
cusations and demanded that these breaches
of international law be stopped. Then the
representatives would be very obsequiouS
and remorseful to the consuls, but to the
men who had bought the munitions they
would whisper: You are civilians and nom
ccmbatants, so when you buy things have
them marked for delivery to yourselves only
mot to any friends you may have on bat
tie ships"
All this was most wrong and irregular,
stronger than any that Parliament and
Congress can ever make That impromptu
and unofficial alliance had it's inception not
in treaties, but in the primitive, .homely
proposition that blood is thicker than
water, and in the hearts of men who knew
that after all they were brethren. despite
many differences and an ancient bitterness.
Last summer they tried to tell US this be-
cause their affections went out to us in
their time of jubilee but not all of US would
listen. / tried to write of the English spirit
toward Americans | found it manifesting
itself in the jubilee summer, and most beau
TRULY was / basted in certain quarters for
the attempt, notably by that prosperous and
turbulent patriot, John Finerty, who wrote
burning words in his paper about one who
really wasn't worth his eminent attention,
and who was only an obscure and unofficial
bearer of friendly greeting. Lest mine enc
my should think me once more counting his
wrath, let me assure him that no Chicagoa
civilian or soldier, is more highly regarded
in our regular army than he, and / heard
hundred cordial inquiries for his health and
wishes for his continued happiness
However. those who would not see the
prospect of an Anglo-American alliance last
summer. when 1t was writ so large upon the
wall, welcome it no more cheerfully now
that it has become practically an accom-
plished though unofficial fact.
The Irish with the army were quite heart
broken They couldn't get a handful to lis
ten to the sorrows of the Emerald isle, and
their abuse of England received the loud
and Haunting guffaw Yet with amazement !
observe that some correspondents of Irish
blood are among the bitterest critics of
the Cubans. You would think they might
feel great sympathy and patience with
a people whose hard history has points of
similarity to their own.
The English military attaches were the
Sir Oracles of the campaign. as in less
degree were the military observers sent by
all foreign nations. A mere captain in the
service of country where is ever inn
minent or where the memory of it is freSher
than it was with us, until the present out
break was looked up to by American Off
GERS who wore the stars of brigadiers, but
hn hn6 M sfor for h frfx tI1Frn
years, and his opinion on strategy and tao
tics was greatly esteemed.
Only the English attaches, Captain Paget,
of the royal navy and CAPTAIN Lee, of the
royal artillery, were frankly pro-American
in their sympathies.
THE SILENT GERMANS.
The Germans were silent fellows. who
were forever taking copious notes and then
locking them up in tin dispatch boxes
marked German Embassy. Washington
The Swedes were ponderously dignif1ed
and stolid, but watched things with mar
row eye for, as it was whispered, the Swed-
ish army is to be reorganized and enlarged.
The Russians seemed Indifferent to the
progress of events, but 1t was observed they
wh' eded vast amount of information out
of anybody who would falkland the talk,
all neatly docketed was locked up in other
tin boxes marked Russian Embassay, Lon
don" Once a correspondent looked upon
LnOSe boxes with the unnOly llRnt OF greco
in his eye and he said: "Oh, if l could only
get into 'enl, my boy. lovely sensational
stories about the present state and efficien-
cy of the land and sea forces of the United
States of America. In two months young
Mr.. Czarinski will know more about our
military and naval resources than your
large Uncle Shafter does at the present
moment
Which is probably true thing.
The Japanese attaches were cheerful little
exquisites, laboriously polite and very nom
committal also inquisitive. They We're
good deal more interested in ships than they
were in land movements
The Sultans lonely representative was
naughty and exclusive person., whose mill
tary rank was that of general and whose
station at court was that of a favorite
paSha. He wore gorgeous uniforms and a
red feZ. Coming up on the Seneca, he al
ways waited till the rest of us had finished
with our heavy American food and then
he would sit down with his secretary-inter-
prefer to a much Misunderstanding meal of
sardines, bread, cheese and vegetables. The
Armour product he scorned.
He was fascinating thing to gaze upon,
was this FTench-speakng pasha- with his
If he once became convinced you honestly
wanted TO learn the truth about Turkey-or
his understanding of the truth-he would
talk most entertainingly, and by his instrUc-
ton convinced you there were more than
two, often as many as four, sides to one
question.
Like the Turk the, Russian had an attend
ant to whom he talked choppily in his ma
tive tongue, turning the next instant to
speak French with another attache-it was
the language common to all of them-or to
fire a question in English at an American
His Russian servant used to disport himself
with bulldog, into the mouth of which
u lie ha haFaA araH ~