The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-12
SOME COMMENTS
BY ENGLISHMEN.
What Their War Correspondents
Think of American Soldiers.
THEIR DISCIPLINE IS SUPERB.
Their Goodness Under Fire and Accu-
racy of Aim Most Satisfactory-The
Officers Address the Men
as Gentlemen.

I LONDON. June 11.-Some interesting
Impressions and criticisms of the Amer
lean soldier have appeared this week
from the pens of English war correspon-
dents with the army of invasion. The
opinions are, on the whole. favorable,
the correspondent Of the Times, who was
on board the transport Gussie, seems
particularly impressed with the work
man-like kit" and business-llke intelli-
gence of the American regulars. AS TO
discipline, the correspondent writes:
1.-The firing discipline during the three
times they have been under fire has been
excellent. The obedience Of the soldiers
TO their officers has been as prompt and
intelligent as anything | have seen in
Europe, and as to GOODNESS under fire and
accuracy Of aim, what 1 have seen Is
most satisfactory.
THE WEST POINTER. !.
The men evidently regard their officers
as soldiers of equal courage and superior
technical knowledge To the Yankee pri-
Yates. West Pointer means what to tho
soldier OF Prussia is conveyed by noble
rank. In my intimate intercourse with
not recall an instance OF an officer adj
dressing a private otherwise than is
usual when gentleman issues an order.
I have never heard an officer or non-com-
missloned officer curse a man. During
the engagement OF Cabanas the orders
we're issued as quietly as at any other
time. and the men went about their work
as steadily as blue jackets on d man-of-
war"
DON'T LIKE THE UNIFORM.
The Times Is very severe on the dress
uniform OF the American army. which,
IL declares, was designed by the polti-
clans and tailors OF Washington. II
SAYS: For dress occasions the American
uniform Is far and away the ugliest and
most useless OF all the uniforms | know.
The helmets and cooked hats are OF the
pattern affected by theatrical managers,
the decorations tawney. the swords alb
surd, the whole appearance indicative OF
a taste unmilitarJ and inartistic on
the battlefield. however there are no
political tailors and the Washington
dress regulations are ruthlessly disre-
garded."
Mr.. Charles Hands. the correspondent
OF the Daily Mail. writes from Tampa
concerning the Cubans: The odd thing
about IL is that the Americans do not
think very much or theSe CuDanS per-
sonally. Perhaps that is because when
we come 10 look at them we are struck
by the circumstances that they are very
much Ike Standards
SHOW NO GRATITUDE
Here at the hotel In the evening, when
the band begins to play and the broad
| chested, frankfaced. joyial giants OF
American officers come. who can be
spared from the regimental duties 10
lounge and smoke and swap reminis-
cences. we see dandy little men I'm brown
canvass uniforms. They Wear elegant
loose-fitting boots. and the brims Of their
hats are turned up with sucn dandy
curl, and their moustaches are twisted
I'D so cunningly on the swar-hy face
as they look around there is a. naughty,
almost contemptuous. expression. These
are officers of the Cuban insurgents and
officers OF the contingent Of Cuban vol
unteers. which the American Government
| has fitted out 10 accompany the expedi'
| ton.
You would expect them to be filled
| with an enthusiasm OF gratitude towards
| the American soldiers who are here to re-
dress their wrongs. but they do not
| show IT,"