New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-12
BRITISH PRAISE THE ARMY.
QUALITIES. BIT DO NOT LIKE
THE UNIFORMS
Correspondence Of Thu Associated Press,

Correspondence Of The Associated Press
London. June 4-Some interesting impressions
and criticisms OF the American soldier have sp-
peared this week from the pens Of English war
correspondents with the army Of invasion. The
opinions are. the whole. favorable ana the
correspondent of The Times" who was on
board the transport Gussie particularly
impressed with the workmanlike kit and bust
nesslike intelligence OF the American Regulars.
He saws
For fighting purposes then the United States
private has nothing TO keep clean excepting MS
rife and bayonet He carries contrivances
for polishing buttons. boots. or the dozens OF bits
OF accoutrement deemed essential to a good SOL
der In Europe In Spain. for instance. the pri-
vate. though he may have nothing in his haver-
sack. will, nevertheless. carry clumsy outfit OF
tools for making his uniform look imposing"
As to discipline the correspondent writes:
The firing discipline during the three times
have been under fire has been excellent. The
obedience OF the soldiers to their officers has
been prompt and intelligent as anything
have seen in Europe and "a to GOODNESS under
fire and accuracy Of aim. what ] have seen ~
most satisfactory The men evidently regard
their officers as soldiers Of equal courage and
superior technical knowledge.
ITO the Yankee private West Pointer means
what TO the soldier or PRUSSIA is conNey'u ny
noble rank In my intimate intercourse with
officers and men aboard this ship cannot recall
an instance Of officer addressing a private
otherwise than is usual when a gentleman issues
n order
HOW OFFICERS TREAT MEN
81 have never heard an officer n-com-
mssioned officer man. During the en-
gagement Of Cabanas the orders issued rs
hort time and he mon
about their work steadily as bluejackets on
a man. war"
THE Tines is very severe on the dress uni
form Of the American Army. which 1t declares.
was designed by the politicians and taiors Of
Washington. II says:
There are numberess points Of resemblance
between Tommy Atkins and the Yankee private.
and the Sandhurst man has no difficulty in un-
Outstanding the West Pointer. But to do this
we must go little beneath the surface and see
things not on the parade ground but in actual
For dress occasions the American uniform Is
far and away the ugliest and most useless or I'll
the uniforms know The helmets and cooked
hats are Of the pattern affected by theatrical
managers the decorations tawdry. the swords
absurd. the whole appearance indicative OF
taste unmilitary and inartistic.
The parade uniform has been designed by
lot Of unsoldierly politicians and tailors about
washington Their notion % military glory IL
confused with memories OF ST. Paricks Day
professions and Masonic installations. They
have made the patient United states Army n
victim Of their vulgar designs and to-day nj
every European army manTuvre one can pick
out the American military atiache by merely
pointing 10 the most unsolderly uniform In the
field on the battlefield. however. there are no
political iailors and the Washington dress reSu-
lations ru,hlessly dsregarded
THE CUBANs' LACK OF GRATITUDE.
Charles Hands. the correspondent OF the !
Daily Mall" writes thus from Tampa concerning !
the Cubans:
The odd thing about It is that the Americans
do not think very much % these Cubans per /
sonally Perhaps that If because when We come
to look at them are struck by the circu'n- !
stance that they very much Ike Spaniards
Here at the hotel In the evening, when the /
band begins to play and the broad -chcsied
frank faced, tovial giants OF American onic"rs
come-those who can be spared from their regi- .
mental duties-to lounge and smok" ana swap
"reminiscences with old comrades. there appear /
also number OF elegant little military men IN /
dandy brown canvas uniforms. They wear Gle /
CANT close hitting boots. and the hrims OF their /
hats are turned up with a dandy curl ana th"if r
thick black murtachcs ara twisted up ever 10 ,
cunningly. and their swarthy faces. "a th"y /
look around there Is a naughty. supercilouS' /
almost contemptuous expression
They are officers Of the Cuban insurgents ana /
officers OF the contingent Of Cuban volunteers
which the American Government mas nt'cd out Z
to accompany the expedition.
You would expect them to be filled with an !
enthusiasm OF gratitude toward the American |
soldiers who are here to redress their wrongs
But they do not show It