The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-23
rs VIEWED BY Al EXPERT
GAIT. L0SG. o. TME BngTIsH A.
M. CRTTICIsEs THE MILITARY.

-
~ Fighters Alphabetically
Clething snd Easipnent-Besi
FED Soldiers in the World.
! Special Dispatch To the Post-rnteiiigencsr.
WASHINGTON. June E.--The Journal
OF The TaltsG Service Institution or
india contains an elaborate report on
the administration of the United States
army I'm the Philippines BY Capt. q 8.
Long. assistant ad,utant general Of the
British army. who is permanently sta
! TONED at Hongkeng. but has been spend
ing the greater part of the winter and
spring Win out troops IL and around Ma
Mia. While Capt Long points out sev-
eral serious defects In our military sys-
tern-and his criticisms should be care
aepsrsmsn. r1 ennc,aaions are s IN the
highest degree complimentary, and his
/ verdict should be gratifying TO every
/ American.
No Bester soldiers Anywhere.
THE American army before Manila" he
says. with the exception Of a small por-
ton. was entirely composed of volun-
teers. and. In spite of defective admins
trati.e STATS and departments. INSULT
Gent equipment and officers who pos
ssssed little II any more military training
than the privates. these troops displayed
combined with an Individual wiliinrness
10 perform their duty. that ma be RI
vailed, but could not be surpassed. They
might be APPLY described" says Capt.
Long. .'as = great military psradox--a
bod~ OF meu OF magnificent physique.
possessing perfect discipline. and yet
without any discipline at ALI.
Capt. Long pays a noble tribute 10 the
patience. the endurance. tue cheersuness
and the bravery of our soldiers. and de-
efares that the most careful Inquiries
fall 10 elicit any report or any complaint
Of any act OF pillage or assault committed
by an American soldier"
Victims of Iaexpertence.
Capt Long eriticises the clothing and
excuses Il on the ground that We were nes-
essAriy compelled to utilize anything that
could be obtained. because of the short
tine that was allowed for preparation dur
masters" he says. worked with the ut
most energy" but utterly failed TO DO wha,
snouid have been done. mot from want Of
ability or seal. bat from lack Of knowledge
and experience" This British critic thinks
our government does great Injustice TO its
soldiers by making them victims OF the
'aexpersenee OF men who are given san
commissions In the army for political rea-
sons. and crfsicses the appointing power,
rather than the men
sAeaaa Cooperate with the Navy.
He thinks our inspector generals de-
partment r. a failure. He cannot under
stand why our navy and army do not work
together. and II Is beyond his comprehen-
sion that the transportation Of our troops
by sea should be left to the auartermas-
ter's department Of the army. instead OF
being insrusisd TO experienced naval Off
GERS. The landing OF the troops and
stores he says. cannot he too adversely
criticised. and he declares that the eh-
ssnce OF naval experts To direct and tne
assistance OF the navy In landing would
have certainly led 10 disaster II the enc
my had been intelligent and enterprsInk
~ "a Rr.iA
or the troops. inspired by a magnificent
spirit" the whole army would have been
asmo,a,izsd. our stores and launches
would have fallen into the hands of the
enemy. and tho artillery would have been
The troops suffered greatly in land
Ing. he says. and valuable stpres were
| lost. The whole OF The ammuni,ion for
sne Asfor battery was Inst insthe surf.
and this battery wEs rendered PRACTICALLY
partment'-that is. the quartermaster's
asparsmeni-was an excellent example
out important duties
Criticism and Praise.
The engineer department IS also criti-
ctsed with equal severity as composed Of
UNFRAMED and unqualified officers" and
had IL been necessary to storm the city.
owing TO the inefiieieney OF this branch.
the loss Of life would have been enormous
he says. IS well trained and appears sf 10
De most efficient" and ne has nothing
, 1as praise He for the eommissary depart
are the best fed troops in the world"
and differs entirely with Gen. Miles and
MS faction In declaring tina, the food is
wholesome. ample. "of excellent quality
tion.r
An entirely new departure OF unquali-
he'd success. he says, SIS the refriseratiug
steamships loaded with frozen beef and
mutton" Rut he declares that a great
defect which Would he disastrous in any
| extended operation ia the inability OF the
commfssary Officers 60 control the trans
! pertation Of their supplies He cannot un-
derstand why the government OF the
United states retains an obsolete system
/ ard allows the division Of responsibilities
| that exists In our army, and says that we
| have already demonstrated IL 10 be a fail
] ure. The subsistence department, fur
/ possibly want" ne says. but IL had no
/ means Of taking II to them and II they
/ had not helped themselves and carried
{ Their own supplies they would have gone
without food entirely"
! Ordnance Department Very Poor
| Capt Long does not think much Of our
| ordnance department. and does not under
| stand why the army and navy should he
supplied With arms Of different pattern ard
esiiber IL. thinks Il would he fatal to The
military success of the country In a pro-
! longed war 10 have the army aud navy
I work independent Of each other in ord
nance matters
He sseass in thv hghest communication
/ - the medical department. and praises
thc camp hospitals The health Of the
( troops was sxtraord nary" he says and
THE subject ~ constant remark II the
spirit az the troops was excellent. II WAS
! even surpassed hy that 81 the medical
branch. who IN spite ~ Inadequate and
defective transport facilities and MANY
I other difficulties always hai their hos
pitfalls as e1ruDsete aud efficient as human
! Ingenuity could make them"
/ 0TTTrR WORK nv TuE p0T Irp