The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-13
GREAT FIGHTERS.
French Military Attache Loud in
His Praise of the American Army.

Washington, July 13.-Major De
Grandprey, military attache of the
French embassy has just returned from
the American headquarters near San
tiagO, where he has been observing for
his government the progress of military
operations. He paid a glowing tribute
to the abaility of our soldiers
Il have the most complete admiration
for your men" said Major DE Grand
prey to an Associated Press reporter to-
day They are superb body. indl-
vidually and as an army, and sup
pose not throughout the world is there
such a splendid lot of fighting men. 1t
is the fighting character of the men
which is most apparent. They are ag-
gressive, eager for action, never need
ing the voice of an officer to push them
forward. Another marked characteris-
tic is the self reliance Of each man,
what I call the character of 'initiae
tive" It is almost unknown in Eur
Opean armies, where every movement
and the move to meet each action Of
the enemy, awaits the initiative of an
officer, but with your men they fight
to the front, meeting each emergency
as it arises, overcoming obstacles by
their initiative
'Such self reliant fighting men make
an exceptionally impetuOus army, for
every unit contributes to the irTesisti-
BILE forward movement. The Spanish
troops do not have this same charaC-
teristic. They are more passive, more
cautious Besides the impetuOuSity of
of inspiring a morale among the troops,
making them feel that success is assur-
ed and at the same time carrying dis
order and depression to the ranks of
the enemy"
Major De Grandprey says the fighting
about Santiago is something entirely
different from the warfare of European
and other armies of modern times. The
dense vegetation, tangle of tropical
vines, makes it impossible to observe
the usual military formations. AS a re-
in solid formation. Every man is fight
ing for himself. pushing forward
through the shrubbery, vines and tall
grass. 1t is impossible to see the enc
my. 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 it known that a fighting
force is there. This makes the shoot
ing Irregular as it is seldom possible
to see one in the opposing force and
get a distinct aim at him The main
result of this is to bring the two fight
ing forces close together gradually,
until they are fighting at close range
In this respect Major De Grandprey
points out that it is a return to the
fighting of 200 years ago. when the short
range of arms then in use compelled
fighting at close quarters. AS is always
the case at close range fighting, the cas-
ualties 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. 1t has the effect, also. of al
lowing 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 occurred. But 1t is impOS
sible, Major De Grandprey points out
for the American or the Spanish troops
to take this measure of each other as
they see nothing of the general battle
and meet only when brought into close
quarters.
Major Grandprey also speaks highly
of the efficiency with which the Amer
lean troops and supplies were started
on their expedition and debarked in
Cuba. This has come in for cOnsidera-
Bile criticism in this country, but Major
Grandprey says that considering the
brief time allowed for equipping the ex-
petition, remarkable results were Sc
cured. European military expeditions,
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 entering the
Santiago harbOr was on May 18th. and
the vast military preparation was we'll
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 excep-
tfonally good showing, judged by the
best military standards. He says the
foreign military observers were more
concerned with this matter of embark
ing and disembarking troops, supplies,
and animals than with the actual mill
tary maneuvers, as the moving of large
forces constitutes one of the most i'm
pOrtant problems of military science.
Major De Grandprey will remain here
for about a week and will then return
to Santiago. if the place has not sur
rendered 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 operations. As to the
probabilities of surrender. and the po-