The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS
PRIVATES IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY FARE THE BEST.
In England and the Continent They
Are IN derpaid, Underfed and Badly
Clothed i'm Comparison.
Detroit Free Press.

and every great nation anXiouSly scanning
its military equipment the life of soldier
possesses, this time, peculiar and per-
sOnal interest TO all people. The great ar
mics of the United States, England. Ger
many and France are on paper merely mil
itary bodies moved about at the will of
commanding generals, but these armies are
composed of units. Each unit Is an indi-
vidual who thinks for himself. suffers or
enjoys to the limit of human capacity, and
who has strong ties binding him to one or
more persons in the noncombatant force
of the nation. These units come and go from
civil life. Their impressions are spread
broadcast and they enthuse or prejudice
the people as a whole, according to personal
experiences. This is more particularly true
of armies where the service is voluntary,
as in the case of England and the United
States, and in these countries public criti-
cism of government institutions is not a
crime, in fact. it is rather encouraged.
The rank and file of an army is its
strength. The forced draft does not produce
soldiers with high ideals. The volunteer,
rule, is inspired by something more than
the desire to feed at public expense. He is
citizen, patriot, willing defender of his
country's policy. One way in which this is
recognized is in the treatment of its soldiers
by various nations. The private in the
American army has at times been short of
fOod without shelter and without hospitals,
but such occasions have arisen from lack of
system or intelligence not from lack of in
tentiOn or desire TO furnish the best. The
American soldier gets double the pay Of any
other soldier in the world; He is as well or
better fed, we'll clothed and carefully
equipped. His life, in times of stress, Is no
holiday. but, as compared to the life of
private soldiers in foreign armies, he is a
highly favored Individual
AN UNFORTUNATE CHANGE.
1t was not long ago that lieutenant in
the American army resigned his commits
sion under stress and desiring to hide him.
self enlisted in the British army under an
assumed name as a private. After serving
three months in one of the crack English
regiments stationed at one of the most de-
sirable posts in England he wrote to
friend in the United States: THE life Of
a private in the American army is heaven
compares Sit 10 the nell eTdured by private
a good soldier. one of the best drill mas
ters in his regiment and n had come into
his American commission from the ranks,
so his opinion was worth noting With all
that the life of the British private is still
far preferable TO that of the private in
the German, French, Austrian, Russian or
Italian armies. The English soldier is paid
"a cents a day and this IS princely sum
compared to what the soldiers get on the
total cost of keeping these armies, for
while the United States formerly paid SOL
10000 TO support an army of $500 men,
England paid but ffty-two million 10 sup
port over 100000 Germany paid still less
in proportion and Russia the smallest per
capita of all.
\ prominent American army officer who
has been abroad recently has said that
England has reached the limit of her mill
the pay of soldiers would have to be in
creased or enforced military service would
have 70 be made This point was passed
are many significant things which tend to
ee9rroborate the prophecy as to England.
time OF war, for all men willingly go to the
relief Of their flag when its ascendency is
threatened. The peace basis is the only
in the guarding of its possessions against
possible and not active foes.
IN BRITAIN'S ARMY.
Iii addition TO smaller pay the English
soldier does not get such good care as does
the American soldier. This is shown in
most interesting way in a new book called
The Queens Service, or the Real Tommy
Atkins by Horace Wyndham who served
several years as private in the English
army The book is a simple recital of
Wyndham's career from the time he en-
listed to his discharge There are no at
tempts at literary flights nor does he spend
much time III moraIizing. The impression
army is drawn from very difficult class
OF men so far good citizenship is con-
soldiers and make good fighters. The author
also complains of the small pay, scanty
food, poor shelter and inadequate clothing
furnished, and as compared with these
things found in the American army his
complaints seem justifiable.
1t takes war to test an army no mat
ter how perfect Ii may appear in time of
peace, and England's army has been main
ly one Of occupation. The old saying that
fighting in twelve years of service is we'll
Illustrated with the English army, for COM
Paratively few of its men or junior officers
England's armed supremacy
The Dreyfus case has attracted wide at
tention this year TO the French army, and
it's officers staff and lire, have been Sc
yerely criticised. In his book Trooper
3S9, Lionel Decle tells a story of the life
wildly the details Of poor pay. wretched
clothes and food, unequal punishment, IA
vT;rTitlSnl' and sums up the condition of the
military arm OF France as follows:
IN THE FRENCH ARMY.
Yet how does the case really stand? Are
these armed multitudes as formidable as
mere arithmetic. would have US think?
France, for instance, prides herself upon be-
ing able TO put in the field millions OF
trained men. What does this boast amount
TO! Upon the outbreak of war, in these
days Of rapid mobilization, much-perhaps
all-woud depend upon the troops first in
the field. And these troops upon whose he
havior IN The brunt of sudden battle the
salVatloA or their country might depend.
would be-not q body of well-trained Tight
ing men, leavened with veterans and RELY
ing upon their leaders with glad confidence
but a crowd OF half-taught lads. lacking
in thews as well training and led-or
driven-to battle by officers whom either
they have never seen until the day of con-
hict. or whom they know-and hate
AS Tor the reserves, suffice il 10 say that
officers of the active armv refuse to regard
them seriously, ana consider them merely i'm
the light OF civilians playing at soldering
The officers of the reserves (for the most
part promoted privates) have received no
military education worthy of the name. The
nonconimissioned officers and men consider
me month they have 10 serve every Other
year hateful episode. Awkward in their
unacoustomed uniforms. they do not even
'ook like soldiers, and ii would take months
or training To convert them into such once
more In point OF efficiency they are, of
course, Tar Inferior TO cur volunteers.
But behind these stands yet another
line or defense'-the territorial army and
Its reServe-an army composed of mon who
were drilled. There is something pathetic
as we'll as absurd in picturing these middle
aged citizens in time of clad in anti
quated uniforms, handling unaccuston1ed
weapons. and painfully If conscientionsly
struggling 10 acquire a knowledge of new
regulations and modern drill. To sum all
up il may be true that Providence is still
on the side of the big battalions. but chiefly
We think, when these battalions are Well
differed. well trained and animated with
all the virtues OF the soldiers"
ha Arra FVnf1f