Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
THE ALLIED FORCES
Merits and Defects Of the Different
Troops in China.
WHEREIN THE AMERICANS EXCsLLED
Japs to the Fore for Discipline and
Patriotism.
SOME SH ARP CIR II { Is N
Copyright. 1900. by o. X. Davis.)

Copyright. 1900. by o. X. DIvisD
Written for The E,ening Star ny Oscar King Davis
When it became certain that the various
powers would send troops to China to back
up the work of their saigrmen, many
American officers were eager to go, not
only rs participants in the prospective fight
ing but also as observers Of the actl ms
and equipment of the lighting men OF other
nations. 1t was the greatest opportunity TO
compare men and methods IN actual ser
vice that had occurred in generations.
Eight nations landed bluejackets or marines
or BOTH and the majority OF them pre-
pared to supplement these with strong
forces of regular land troops.
American soldiers are accustomed to fight
well. and the American people have come 10
the habit of thinking that no other soldiers
can face them successfully. There can he
no gainsaying that they are capable of be-
coming the finest soldiers the world can
produce In extraordinary daring and pluck
they cannot be eXcelled. In etilclency with
their weapons 1t is doubtful l. they are
equaled BY any force. Far beyond these
two fine qualities is their tremendous de-
termination, the Will and the nerve that
sometimes carry them through to results
seemingly superhumau.
In these three things the Americans lead
But in two others which are prime essen
taIs of good soldering they were COM
pglled to yield the palm in China to the
Japanese. These TWO are discipline and ma
triUtism. There is no doubt that the Amer
leans can take on discip..ne of the highest
order. They do II in the navy all the time
But many of the men III the army today
seem to think that they enlisted ony to
fight and il they do that we'll, little more
can be expected of them. 1t is also fact
that the real patriotism of the nation has
not been touched by the Spanish war and
the events subsequent to it.
Rather sharp Criticism
Many of the men and officers in the pres
ent army are there because of a restless
spirit which simply sought diversion in the
excitement and travel afforded by cam
paignmg in the Philippines. or because it
was betterment of condition financially.
There is too much talk in our army about
every man being a general if the emergency
arises Individuality Is good thing some
times. but it is too largely developed among
our troops. 1t cuitivates a too general and
urgent desire to know all about what is GO
ing on. and the why and wherefore of it
ali. 1t is this Intelligent individuality which
renders it so difficult to weld our men into
solid formation such as the japanese east
ly attain.
This was the striking demonstration
made by the performance Of the miGado's
troops in China. 1t Is not necessarily I'M
piled that the intelligence of the japanese
IL of a low order. but the individual Japan
csc has not yet come to attach the tmport-
ance to his individuality with which the
average American solaces himself Besides
the Jap Is patriotic in practical way and
not in theory, as most Americans are He
holds himself To be, in fact one of the com
ponent parts of the empire and he rec g
Mics the emperor merely as the nersonifi-
ca ton of the empire Whatever the en-
pre- demands from him he gives cheerfullv.
even If it is the sacrifice of his life It is