The National tribune., 1900-10-25


BRITISH INDIAN (SIKH SOLDIER.
munity the world has ever seen, Japan!
army is the admiration of every Officer
and every civilian, regardless of national
ity.
OF all the soldiers on the great marcel
TO Pekins the Japanese stood the heat
and the depriEations far better than any
other. The American and British soldiers
were strewn adj along the route, exhaust.
ed from the heat.
Ihe Japanese soldier needs only n bit OF
rice for subsistence He will wade
through the mdd in his white Uniform. We,
somehow he soon appears with the soiled
clothes as neat and clean as can be. They
! wear white caps With a yellow band two
inches wide around them. The Japanese
soldier never complains. He is satisfied
with his food and his treatment. Poor
fellow, he gets only three yen (S1.5O) n
month. He receives personally only one
third of that salary, the balance going TO
his family. The japanese soldier never
fails to salute, whether he is on duty or
not, the officer of an army He even sa-
lutes civilians after the military fashion.
and be does it gracefully. The discipline
Of the japanese approaches perfection
more nearly than any other army in
China.
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS CowARDLY AND BRU-
TAI.
The Russian soldier has all the appear
ance of the brute, and he is a brute. He
has committed outrages against HELPLESS
Chinese women; has made helpless coolies
pay money or be shot; has shot them down
for sport, and then split his sides with
laughter at the performance. He is ig-
norant and cowardiy. or the soldiers Of
all the great Powers the Russian is the
least manly and the least soldierly.
At the siege Of Tientsin the Russians
We're the first to talk about retreating
when the fire from the Chinese was the
hottest, regardless of what it meant for
the other allies. The British came to their
support and saved them from disgrace
full breakdown.
The very unfavorable appearance put
mp by the rank and file of the Russian
army is a disappointment. Their uniforms
and caps were white once, but now are
the color the filth is where you happep
to see them.
We naturally look upon Russia as one
Of the greatest military powers whose |
chief pride is in her strength at arms. Her |
soldiers are the poorest fed and the poor
est paid in China. There is wider gulf |
officer and private in her army |
than in any other probably. The officers
are well paid and 1--we on the best. They
have no thought and no care for the well
fare of the men. Is it any wonder, then,
hat they are lacking in soldierly quail
lies?
The officers have a surfeit of politeness,
If pomp and of ceremony. The music of
heir army bands is delightful.
FRENCH EXCITABLE AND UNCERTAIN.
You would not expect the French SOL
iiers to be sloyenly and careless looking,
,ut they are; their uniform here is made
# blue ducking for Summer wear. They
wear sort Of turban hat. Their ap-
when compared with the Ger
nan or the British is against them.
At drill theyIshow much better than
he Russians, and they ARE better fed and
lothed. But the American soldier would
Iowl louder than ever if he were COM
elled to get down tobthe level of French
rmy rations. .IC Hi1
The French soldier is excitable and un-
ertain in action. He is destructive for
sake. The French officers
i've well and fraternixe with the Rus
ians. Every Russian officer speaks |
french and nehrly every French officer l
peaks Russian.
GREAT ENDURANCE, OF GERMANS.
The German army is comprised of SOL ,
iers, every man of them, as nearly as ,
an be. In parade they show to wonder
nl advantage. They are called awkward ,
nd crude by some officers. This may
ook so at times as they march along in {
eavy boots with hard step, but in reality
hey are one of the best-disciplined con
ngents here.
Their power of endurance is great. as !
as been shown in their long marches I
rom the coast, a regiment at a time. c
hey have stood the heat better than the c
.mericans, the British, the Russians or
ne French.
The German soldiers have substantial C
BOD, snd may be said to be well clothed
hey are well behaved and orderly. II
CREATE FAVORABLE IMPRESS b
SION.
The Italians have had only a few ma I
ines here until recently, but now their y
'rces are arriving every week. They are | 9