The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-14

Copyright by Associated fress)
London. June l2.-Some interesting
impressions and criticisms OF the
American soldier have appeared this
week from the pens Of English war
correspondents with the army Of In
vasion. The OPINIONS are, on IN"
whole. favorable and the correspondent
Of The Times who vas on board the
transport Gussie, seems particularly
impressed with the workmanlikc kit
and business-like intelligence OF the
American regulars. AS to discipline.
the correspondent writes: The hring
discipline during the three times We
have been under fire has been excel
lent. the obedience Of the soldiers 10
their officers has been as prompt and
intelligent as anything ! have seen in
Europe. n as to GOODNESS under fire
and accuracy or ain what ] have seen
is most satisfactory. The men evil
IDENTITY regard their officers as soldiers
Of equal courage and superior techni-
cal knowledge. To the yankee private
West Pointer means wha to the SOL
der Of Prussia is conveyed by noble
rank. In my intimate intercours"
with the officers and men ABOARD his
shin I cannot recall an instance OF an
officer addressing a private Otherwise
than is usual when a gentleman IS
sues an order. / have never heard an
officer or non-commissioned ofhcer
curse a man. During the engagement
of Cabanas the orders were issued as
quietly as at any other time. and the
men went about their work as steadily
as blue Jackets IN a man-of-war.'
The Times is very severe on the dress
uniform of the American army which
iticians and tailors Of Washington.
It says: For dress occasions the Amer
lean uniform is far and away tn"
ugliest and most useless Of all the uni
forms / know. The helmets and cock
ed hats are OF the pattern affected by
theatrical managers, the decorations
tawdry, the swords absurd. the whole
appearance indicative Of a taste un-
military and inartistic. On the battle
field. however, there are no political
tailors, and the Washington dress reg
uIations are ruthlessly disregarded.'
Mr.. Charles Hands, the correspon-
dent of The Daily Mail, writes from
Tampa concerning the Cubans The
odd thing about il Is that the Afneri-
cans do not think veng much OF these
uba personally. Perhaps that is
because when we come TO look at them
we are struck by the circumstance
that they are very much like Span
iards. Here at the hotel in the even
ing when the band begins 20 play and
the broad-chested. frank-faced. jovial
giants Of the American officers come
those who can be spared from their
regimental ties-to lounge and smoke
and swap reminences with old COM
rades long parted. there appear also
a number Of elegant little military
| men in dandy brown canvas uniforms.
They wear elegant. close-fitting boots.
n the brims Of their hats are turned
up with such a dandy curl, and their
thick black mustaches are twisted up
ever SO ~cunnigly and the swarthy
faces, as they look round, there is q
| naughty, almost contemptous express
| sion. They are officers OF the Cuban
| insurgents and officers Of the conttn-
| gent Of Cuban volunteers. which the
| American government has fitted to
| accompany the expedition. You would
| expect them to be filled with an en-
| thusiasm OF gratitude towards the
| American soldiers who are here TO re-
dress their wrongs, but they do not
show IT," Z