Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-15
rs,lp xcnnepee 3o39gnal.
GLOWING TRIBUTE
Given American Troops by
NV, sreoch Military Attache.
1,ooo, Have Spirit Of Initiative
- :, ,el;pg il European Armies. 81
......,,on Makes Il impossible to OBJ
-, Usual military Formations.

Washing oh,
Granprey military attache Oh the
rronch embassy, has just returned
,rom the American headquarters near
cant;aro. where he has been observ-
,is government the progress of
,;,;,,rv operations. He paid glow
,,;hute 70 the fighting abilities of
our soldiers.
81 have the most complete adhhira-
.,. for vour men, said Major de
Cranprcy. They are a superb pooy'
individually and as an army, ana
oso not throughout the world is
,,ere such a splendid lot of fighting
men.
SIT is the fighting characteristic of
tho men which is most apparent.
They are aggressive, eager for action,
never needing the voice Of an officer
10 push them forward.
Another marked characteristic is the
self reliance of each man, what We
cau the character of Initiative 1t is
almost unknown in European 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
if arises. overcoming obstacles by their
own initiative Such self reliant fight
ing men make an exceptionally i'm
petuous army, for every unit contri-
hutes in the irresistible onward move
ment.
THE Spanish troops do not have
this same characteristic. They are
more passive. more cautious. Besides
the impetuosity of such fighting ma
terial. il has the effect of inspiring a
morale among the troops, making
them feel that success is assured.
and at the same time carrying dis
order and depression to the ranks of
the enemy
Major de Granprey says the lighting
about Santiago is something entirely
different from the warfare Of European
;, and other armies Of modern times
The dense vegetation and tangle oi
tropical vines make it impossible L
observe the usual military formations
As a result there is little or no effor
to fight in solid formation. Every mar
is fighting for himself, pushing forwar.
through the shrubbery, vines and ia;
grass 1t is impossible to see the en-
envy.
There is no line Of battle ahea,
against which the assault is directed
Only through the reports of pickets al.
from the crack Of rifles here and there
is it known that a fighting force i.
there This makes the shooting irregu
lar As it is seldom possible to see on,
of the opposing soldiers to get a dis
tinet aim at him. The main result o
this is to bring the two fighting force
close together gradually. until they ar
fighting at short range
In this respect, Major de Granpre,
points out. it is a return to the fightin;
OF 200 years ago. when the short rang
Of the arms then in use compellct
hghtinS at close quarters AS is al
ways the case at close range fighting
the casualties are far greater.
With the usual open field fighting o
European armies, the ranges is long
ana as result the casualties are m
s" great in given period.
1t has the effect. also, Of allowin
time for each side to gauge tn
strength Of it sadversary. and in thi
way decisive results are often achieve
IN long range lighting before a genera
assault has occurred.
but it is impossible, Major de Gran
prey points ont, for the American .
spanish troops to take this measure d
eaeh other, as they see nothing of tn
general battle and meet only whe
brought into close quarters.