New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-13
IuEPICA'S FIGHTING MEN.
GLOWING TRIBUTE PAID TO THEM III Al"
FRENCH MILITARY ATTAcHE.

GLOWING TRIBUTE PAlb " AA'
FRENCH MILITARY ATTACHE
Westminster July 12-Major De Grandprey
.,r,,.u, o,,achs OF the French Embassy. mas
tls, returned from the American heao'oa' '.'
near Santiago. where he has been opser''"s ~
80. cov.r,mert the progress Of military opera
,ions. He paid a glowing tribute 10 '"' "e
ing ability OF American soldiers.
81 have the most complete admiration io'
vour men" said Mater De Grandprey 'o-u"'
They are a superb body, individually anu 30
al, army. and ! suppose not Throughout '''
world is there such splendid LOT OK "s"'"e
men. II is the fighting characteristic VI '"0
men which is most apparent. They are ase
siyc eager for action, never needing 'he w
Of an officer to push them tor"aru
marked characteristic Is the seH-re""
osch mar-what We call the character Vi ~
alive 1t Is almost unknown IN
armies where every movement anu '"e ~
TO meet each action Of the enemy """"'
initiative Of an officer. But with your "'e' ''@.
Cob, IN the front meeting each emergency as
IL arises. overcoming obstacles by 'he" Wv"
Initiative Such self-reliant hghtihg '"c" ''
an exceptionally impetuous army lof e'@'' w."
contributes in the Irresistible oh"a'o "o'
won't The Spanish troops do not have thi'
came characteristic. They are more PasS"e
800 cort,ous Besides the irnpetuosity OF such
nc,,,rc material II has the effect OF inspiring
morale among the troops. making them tee'
,,o, Success Is assured and at the same time
oorr,,,,o diaorder and depression to the ranks
OF the enemy"
EVERY MAN FIGHTING FOR HIMSELF.
Major De Grandprey says the fighting ABOUT
Santiago is something entirely different from
The warfare OF European and other armies Oh
modern times The dense vegetation and tansle
OF tropical vines make it impossible 10 ooser'e
the usual military formations. As result
there IL little or no effort to gh. In solid forma-
ton. Every man is fighting for himself push
ing forward through the shrubbery. vines and
tall grass II Is impossible to see the enemy.
There is no line of battle ahead against when
the assault is directed. Only through the re-
ports OF pickets and from the crack OF rihes
here and Their, ahead. is II known that ngnting
force is there. This makes the shooting irregu-
lar as It is seldom possible to see one or the
opposing soldiers to get distinct aim al hlf''
The main result of this Is to bring the TWO
fighting forces close together gradually until
they are fighting at short range. In this respect
Major De Grandprey points out, IL is return
to the fighting OF two hundred years ago. when
the short range of the arms then In use COM
PEELED fighting at close quarters. AS Is always
the case at close range fighting. the CASUALTIES
are far greater With the usual open field fight
ing Of European armies the range Is long and
as a result the casualties are not 80 great In
given period 1t has the effect also. OF allowing
time for each side to gauge the strength OF It's
adversary, and in this way decisive results are
often achieved In long-range fighting before
general assault has occurred. But 1t Is impossi-
ble Major De Grandprey points out. for the
American or Spanish troops to take this meas
ure of each other as they nothing Of the
general battle, and meet only when brought
into close quarters
MANAGEMENT OF THE EXPEDITIONS.
Major De Grandprey also speaks highly Of
the efficiency with which the American troops
and supplies were started on the expedition
and debarked In Cuba This has come In for
considerable criticism in this country. hut Ma
jor De Grandprey says that considering the
brief time allowed for equipping the exped-
ton. remarkable results were secured Euro
pean military expeditions. such as those OF
England 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 Admiral Ger
vera's entering Santiago Harbor was on May
16. and the vast military preparation was well
under way and the expedition started early In
the following month Of June. This. and the
Insignificant loss Of men and animals landing.
Major De Grandprey says. were an exceptional
ly good showing judged by the best military
standards. He says the foreign military OBJ
servers were more concerned with this matter
Of embarking and disernbarkag troops. supplies
and anina.s than with the actual military ma
nTuvres. as the moving Of large forces constl-
tutes one Of the most important problems OF
military science.
Major De Grandprey will remain here for a
week. and will then return TO Santiago. IL the
place has not surrendered by that time. In case
of a surrender. he will proceed to Porto Rico. or
such other points may become the centre Of
military operations. AS to the probabilities OF
surrender and the political aspect Of the situa-
tiop Major De Grandprey will express opn-
io as he feels that ii would be contrary to the
propretes Of his position