The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-04
THE AMERICAN
SOLDIER HAS GRIT
A European Military Attache Tells of
Their Qualities.
THEIR ASTONISHING BRAVERY.
They Pressed on the Enemy and Never
Faltcred or stopped. Even Under
DeadIiest Fire. Until They Cap
turcd their Objective Point.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. Aug. Capt.
Webster. the military attache TO the le-
cation OF Sweden and Norway at WASH
ington. who with other attaches OF Tor
oign legations. viewed the movements OF
the Spanish, American and Cuban armies
az Santiago has arrived in this city to
accompany General Fred u. Grant when
the troops embark for Porto Rico Thurs
day. Capt. Webster came here from
Tampa. Fla, having just been released
from quarantine. The other attaches did
not accompany him.
10 The Times correspondent who saw
him al Hotel Warwick, where General
Grant Is stopping. Captain Webster gave
his views on the three days fighting
around Santiago De cuba. II was aston
ished at the bravery of the Americans.
he began. The volley firing OF the Span
ish army was most deadly, but the Amer
leans never faltered They pressed on 10
their objective point and never stopped
till they captured It.
A MAGNANIMOUs ENEMY.
During the lighting / occupied good
point from which % watch the progress
Of the battles and was courteously treat
ed by both the American and Spanish
officers. What pleased me was the mag
unanimous manner I'm which the United
States Hospital Corps treated the wound
ed Spaniards that were found lying or
the battlefield. They were picked up and
placed In the ambulance wagons and car
red to the rear. where they received the
very best medical attention.
Surgeons on the battlefield would stop
rfart.
soldier 10 stop the flow Of blood tin the
ambulance wagon arrived. The hospital
service in the American army is worthy
Of the highest commentator. 1t was re-
ported that American soldiers cut the
throats Of wounded Spanards. but that -
not true. I was told though, by Ameri-
can officers that the Cubans kill wounded
Spaniards with their matchet,es. but this
barbarous practice was stopped by the
officers and men Of the United States
army"
FINE FIGHTERS.
Questioned regarding the conduct OF the
American soldiers when under heavy fire.
Captain Webster replied: THE regulars,
OF course are the best soldiers. They are
trained miitiamen. but the conduct Of
the volunteers is highly praiseworthy. es-
peclally as regards the Rough Riders and
the Seventy-frst New York Regiment.
The Rough Riders fought we'll ana their
charging was excellent 1 saw the Sew
enty-hrst New York Regiment go up one
side OF the San Juan Hill under a raking
fire. and 70 was a beautiful charge. The
Second Massachusetts Regiment OF Vol
unteers also did good service. still there
IS a difference between the volunteer and
regular soldier. General Skaters cam
paign was carried on under trying condi-
tions. His men had TO cut their way
through fungles and the commander de-
serves great credit for what he did
CONTRASTING THE ARMIES.
In contrasting the two armies Captain
Webster said:
THE spanards had but 5000 men who
were able TO bear arms. while General
Skaters forces numbered nearly 1900.
However. the Spanards occupied the van
tage ground They were behind trenches
while the Americans We're IN the open
and at all times exposed 90 the fire of
the Spanlards. The attacking army al
ways has the disadvantage and sustains
the heavier losses. After the surrender
a Spanish colonel told me that the losses
on his side I'm the three days fighting
aggregated between six and seven hun
dred men-including the killed and
wounded General Skaters report shows
the losses on his side 20 have been over
1900 The heavy loss on the American
side Is due TO two cause.-the fact that
1t was the attacking army and because
vOlley firing OF the Spanards was steady
and deadly. At times the lines We're very
close. only a few hundred yards. That
was when the Americans were driving
the Spaniards from the trenches.
THE BEST EVIDENCE.
1.-THE best evidence that General Shat
ter won a victory at Santiago is that
General Toral surrendered 70 him II
the spanlards had had sufficient sup
plies they might have prolonged the
tight for a week or more. but Santiago
would have eventually fallen into Cen
eral Skaters hands. Then, too. the cpl
demic OF yellow fever now raging would
have been beneficial TO General Toral
The Spanish soldiers made a brave stand
and they held out TO the last. They We're
equipped with the best rifles known 10
the military world-the Mauser General
Skaters siege guns did efficient service.
but the old smooth-bore pieces used by
the Spaniards We're antiquated.'
THE CUBANS.
Captain Webster was not impressed
with the soldierly bearing OF the Cubans.
The Cubans could not be seen" he said,
when an engagement opened They
know nothing about scientific warfare.
The men are not trained. and tight as an
organized mob"
In the military attaches opinion the
Cubans rendered the American army
very little service except as guides.
Captain Webster Il trained soldier
and has represented mis- government In
several campaigns. He viewtd the bat
ties between the Greeks and the Turks.
He IS going to Porto Rico. though he be-
tfe,.ae +ba prosnarfs for early peace are