Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-13
NO SUCH FIGHTERS ELSEWHERE
"INITIiTIVE- ONE OF THEIR CHIEF
CHARACTERISTICS.
Seize Opportunities and Meet Emer-
Ecncies Without Waiting for Or
ders-FightinG About San
tiagO Is PeculiEr-Ene-
my Rarely In Sight.


Grandprey. military attache of the French
embassy has just returned from the Amer
ican headquarters near Santiago, where he
has been observing for his government the
progress of military operations. He paid
a glowing tribute to the ability OF our SOL
diers
Il have the most complete admiration for
your men," said Major De Grandprey to an
Associated Press reporter to-day. They
are a superb body, individually and as an
army. and L suppose not throughout the
world Is there such splendid lot Of tight
ing men, 1t is the fighting characteristic
OF the men which is most apparent They
are aggressive. eager for action, never
needing the voice of an officer to push them
forward.
Another marked characteristic Is the
self-reiiance OF each man: what you call
the character OF Initiative 1t is un-
known in European armies, where every
movement, and the move to meet each ac-
tion OF the enemy, awaits the Initiative OF
an officer. But with your men they fight
TO the front. meeting each emergency as 1t
arises. overcoming obstacles by their own
initiative. Such seif-reliant fighting men
make an exceptionally impetuous army. for
forward movement. The Spanish troops Go
not have this same characteristic. They
are more passive. more cautious. Besides
the impetuosity of such fighting material.
1t has the effect OF inspiring a morale
among the troops, making them feel that
SUCCESS is assured, and at the came time
carrying disorder and depression to the
ranks Of the enemy.
Ma ior De Grandprey says the fighting
about Santiago is something entirely differ
ent from the warfare Of European and 9TH
er armies Of modern times. The dense veg
citation and tangle OF tropical vines make 1t
impossible to observe the usual military
formation. As result, there Is little or no
effort to fight in solid formation. Every
man is fighting for himself, pushing for
ward 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 1t known
that "A fighting force is there. This makes
the shooting irregular, IT is seldom possi-
bic TO see one in the opposing forces and
get distinct aim at him.
The main result OF this Is to bring the
two fighting forces close together gradually
until they were fighting at close range. In
It is return TO the fighting Of 30 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 fight
ing, 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 given
period. IL has the effect. also. of allowing
time for each side TO gauge the strength
of its adversary, and in this way decisive
results are often achieved in long range
fighting before a general assault has oc-
CURED. But it is impossible, Major De
Crandprey points out, for the American
or Spanish troops to take this measure of
each other. 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 debarked in Cuba This has
come in for considerable criticism in this
country. but Major De Grandprey says that,
considering the brief time allowed for
cauipping the expedition. remarkable re-
suits were secured. European military ex-
peditions, such as those of England 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 16.
and the vast military preparation was 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 exceptionally good
showing. judged by the best military stan
dards. He says the foreign military OBJ
servers were more concerned with this mat
ter of embarking and disembarking troops.
supplies and animals than with the actual
military maneuvers. the moving of large
forces constitutes one of the most import
ant problems of military science.
Major De Grandprey will remain here for
about a week, and Will then return to San
uaso. if the place has not surrendered by
that time In case of a surrender he Will
proceed to Porto Rico. or such other points
as may become the center OF military on
crations. As to the probabilities of sur
render. and the political aspect of the sit
uation, Major De Grandppsy will express no
public opinion, as he feels that it would be
contrary 10 the pIoprleties of his pOSitiou