Arizona republican., 1898-06-24
THE AMERICAN REGULAR"
Interesting Observations Upon Our
 Soldiers by a Foreigner.

From the London Times, June g. From a correspondent Board the Unit7d States Transport Gussie. On the tr-p CT this ship to Cuba no officer or man has ever worn a tunic excepting at guard mounting inspection. The fifty men who went ashore near Cabanas on May F and pitched into some 300 Spaniards left their coats behind and fought in their blue flannel shirts. Of the officers some wore a sword, some did not, though all carried a revolver. No orders were is sued on the subject-it was left to indl- vidual taste I have experienced hotter days at German maneuverS than on the coast of Cuba during the days we hap pened to be there, yet I have never mo- ticed any disposition in the army of Will liam II to relay the severity of service even temporarily. My German friends sincerely believe that the black stock and the hot tunic are what has made Prussia a strong nation
 In the way of clothing the American private carries complete change of un- derdraWers, undershirt. socks, laced boots and uniform trousers. My partic- ular private was carrying a double allow ance of socks, handkerchiefs and under wear. He had a toothbrush and comb. That is the heavy marching order knap- sack For light marching, which is the usual manner, the man begins by spread ing on the ground his half tent which is about the size of a travelling rug On this he spreads his blanket, rolls it up tightly into long narrow sausage, hay ing first distributed along it's length a pair of socks, a change of underwear and the two sticks of his one tent pole Then he brings the ends of this canvas roll together, not closely, as in the Ger man army, but more like the ends of horseshoe held by a rope which at the same time stops the ends of the roll tightly. When this horseshoe is slung over the mans shoulder it does not press uncomfortably upon his chest. al 0frr1, most convenient manner for marching
 The packing of the mans things is strictly according to regulation, except ing only the single pocket in his knap- sack, where he may carry what he chooses, as he chooses His light cam vas haversack is much like the English one, and his round, rather flat water hask is covered with canvas. It is made of t1n, and the one I inspected was rusty inside It would be better if of al,1no5n' um. In the haversack is a panriltin With h1nged handle that may be usad as saucepan. Over this fits a tin plafe ana when the two are covering each 1thef the handle of the panniken fits oyer afrangehlent, but should be of alumin- Eln instead of metal liable to rust The most valuable part of this haver- sack IS Dig tin cup that can be used Tor great variety of purposes, including cooking coffee. It is hung loose at the strap Of the haversack. Of course. each man has a knife, fork and spoon. each in a leather case.
 The cartridge belt contains 100 rounds which are distributed all the way around the waist, there being a double row of them The belt is remarkably light, be- ing woven all in one operation. It is of cotten and another material which pre- vents shrinking or loosening. The belts have stood admirably the test put upon them for the last six days, when it has rained every day, on top of the ordinary heavy moisture usual at sea in the trop- ics- The test is the more interesting from their having been previously in . very dry country. Officers and men alike unite in praise of this cartridge belt. The particular private whom was inspecting said he now carried 100 as easily as he formerly carried fifty. This belt rests loosely on the hips, without any straps over the shoulders. It is eminently business like in appearance The hat is the gray felt of South Africa, Australia and every other part of the world where comfort and cost are con- suited. No boots are b1acked on expedi- tions of this kind. The men who form in line for guard duty have their tunics well brushed, but that may be due to ex- traneous assistance.
 For fighting purposes, then, the United States private has nothing to keep clean excepting his rife and bayonet. He car ries contrivances for polishing but tons, boots, or the dozens of bits of ac- confinement deemed essential to a good soldier in Europe. In Spain, for instance,