The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-22

y
Il asked him whether he did nor think
that the abolition of the purchasing Of
commissions, which is already percepti-
bic in the higher commands. had a bene-
fcent effect upon the capacity Of the Of
fcer CORDS.
Don't believe It, was his reply. The
capacity might have been a better one
if the system OF influence were a little
less pronounced: but. In most cases. ap-
pointments to the higher positions in the
army are not the result OF merit but OF
family connection. Our young officers en-
ter the army without the slightest con
cepticn of the service. Perhaps they are
at once ordered into the field. and there
they are brave. it is true, but they scarce
" know what TO do with themselves and
they certainly do not know what TO do
with their subordinates.
AN insight into English maneuver con-
ditions has made the same impression up
on me The officers OF all grades are
careless in their personal attitude. The
orders are their execution. as have re
pestedly observed. The gentlemen do not
pay the slightest consideration 10 the top
ographical position OF the maneuvering
ground and one may we'll transplant him
self upon such a ground. with its perfect
~ aligned infantry. which heroically dis
dams every support and always fires vol
leys, into the days of the battle OF Wat
erloo a battle which IS perhaps the only
one studied by English officers II they
want to acquire tactical wisdom
"A well-known English military author.
for instance, states In a work on the
English army how hateful the study OF
the history OF war Is TO the English Of
ficer The English officers are opposed
to what in our case would be called shop
talk But inssmuch as they can learn
but iittle from their wars against the
Afridis and the Soudanese: as the drin
upon the parade ground affords no OPP
portunity for the accumulation Of tao
tical wisdom; as. Furthermore. the officer
is eager to strip himself OF every mill
tary vestige as soon "a he has left the
hated drill ground. and at best studies
the antiquated battles OF English history.
il is not at all surprising that even in the
maneuver he plays role which Is Ques-
tionable for a military eye. II is even
so that the gentlemen play at soldier.
They are gentlemen who. by Their at
titude and their lack Of interest during
the progress OF maneuver and hy their
conduct when not in service. evince only
too plainly that they donned the uniform
simply because IL is fashionable for sons
of good family. IL Is a fact that they
treat a disagreeable intruder into the Of
ficer corps. who is looked upon as not ar
istocrstic. so badly that in most eases
he can do nothing else than throw up his
commission
Certainly the English officer has one
trait which will have its value in war.
the fondness for sport in every form,
which In England Is pursued in a man
ner that must develop the body ana form
determination. This trait serves to en-
hance the courage Of the English officer.
and brave he IS beyond doubt, this gen
tleman in uniform An English officer
told me once that he would consider It
beneath his dignity to ineel or lie down
under the fire of the enemy. because In
his opinion this would be sign Of fear.
THE loss OF officers in the last cam
paigns against the Beers and the Artists
even the defeats IN the last Transvasl
campaign. were the result Of this certain
" laudable but also. If not supported by
military knowledge positively dangerous
courage
The English expect much OF their cav
airy in the impend-ng Bocr campaign. and
7 do not hesitate 10 assert. after ali J
have seen Of an English army. that the
cavalry Is the only branch Of the service
which IS abreast Of modern accomplish
ments even ahead OF the cavalry % some
Of the continental armies. The officer
corps OF the English cavalry. too. makes
favorable impression I do not mean
10 say that the cavalry officer shows more
tactical knowledge than his comrsde AZ
badly because the horse gives the caval-
~ smattering Of sport
Patrols OF infantry seem 70 be as nm
known 10 the present English army
leaders OF. more correctly speaKIsg
seem 70 them just a. unlmp9rtant today
as 10 the unfortunate Cooley iu the Tran
svaal war. Cavalry patrols on The other
hand. are plentlfuly used iu ths man
euvers, and act exceedingly vel in the
field. even n they are commanded by Of
fcers. and this means much ln England
where in military respects. the non-cem-
mIssioned officer 3 almost invariably
preferred for detached duty
1T can be taken Tor Kranted-it having
been shown that the English officer a.
today does not differ much from the enc
of lssi-that the losses az the English a.
hcer in the impending campaign vii ~
great. and that there viii be defeats IN
less superior force or the English side
equaiizes the mistakes lu the leaaershiD
and insufficient utilization 81 the FIELD. The
English artillery officer no doubt vii sust
as he does IA maueuveT place he bal
terry a. the top % tha ridge Instead ~
placing X as far back a. possible aud
thus the rifles n che Boers VII base ne
chance 20 pick oT men and nfHcers with
thai precision sor which the Dutch fght-
ers are Justly famous
The English infantry oficsr wiil fart
as during raanaever expose his whole
nggre a. = target ana vii have his men
FIRE volleys. just as he ancestors a. Wa
erloo ordered their men - DO He dass
not know otherwsss re knows fuli well
thai 90 other armies much weight is
placed Bpon sSi-rnish FIRE huf he 6oea no'
know thas this fire IS more effective be-
causs & admits - better aiming Bar Be
knows that the English army has sisays
fired voIisys and that fhcss vosleya had
great effect azslnst Zulas 4na Deretsh-
-. and for this reason he wHf certain
ly not ssviate from he Oh. eatasfsshFs
venerable methods q ar3aE
or course theirs are renera's sae 9TH
sr hlgh officers who recognize ths fsrfts
~ Enzifsh tsetics fsu BsH Trees fte
oruasau6er-ln-chisf sei~ets5 ~ fhe
Irznsvaal. 81 T~6vsrr gaEar. kngws well
;haf ssdereat tseilc is required - have
success aEalnst TIE Beers He SAD sffrr
an inspection 81 sl5ershst. q tAs troops
ordered n fas Traasraaf- fLs naf stfrk