The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-23
BEST IN THE WORLD
SO SAYS COL. QUINTON OF UNCLE
.72 SANS SOLDIER
ROYS
COMPARED WITH THE OTHERS
Interesting Descriptions of Soldiers
of Allied Forces Before Pekin
None Equal Americans
in Battle.

certain features of the American
soldiers uniform created some talk and
comment among the officers and soldiers
of other nations at the time the allied
forces were before China. Col. Quinton
spoke of this some time ago at the Loyal
Legion banquet at the Ryan, and last
night he gave a representative of the
be some interesting facts along this
line.
while the American soldier" said Col
Quinton may not present a very neat
appearance as far as clothes are con-
cerned, he is at least always clean under
meath the clothes, and that is a great
deal more than can be said of the troops
of other countries who have gaudier uni
forms While we were with the allied
troops at Pekin came across a Russian
soldier who had picked up a Bible some
where, and who was trying to sell it.
He came OF me with it and wanted S4
in American money for it. 1 began to
negotiate with him for it when L be-
came aware of rather peculiar and of
fensive odor. looked around to see
where it came from and discovered that
it was the Russian. 1 closed the bargain
with him as quickly as possible and of
fered him. 81 for it. He shook his head
and motioned for him to be off, but he
held out a grimy hand. and l gave him
the money might as well have had it
for 81, but 1 did not propose to see a
dirty Russian running around with an
American Bible
The Russian officer is rather an over
bearing chap at the best. as the follow
ing incident will show. A certain Rus
sian officer attempted to drive his drosky
directly through a. battalion of nv regi-
ment. He at first ordered the driver to
do it, but the latter refused, so he took
the lines himself and started upon his
drive. He did go far, however, as our
men just reversed their guns and be-
labored him. When they got through
with him he had several broken ribs and
decided to abandon his ride in that direc-
ton at least. OF course he was drunk but
that Is a way they have in the Russian
army. Tie lieutenant kicks the sergeant
the latter kicks the private, and the lieu
tenants superior officers kick each other
according to rank, but the poor private
OF course, gets all the kicks in the end.
IMMACULATE ON OUTSIDE.
The German soldier makes very neat
appearance on the outside. He is well
drilled and disciplined an his clothes and
equipment are both always spotless. He
presents very fine picture, and looks
exactly like the Autographs you see of
nm, but the effect of this outer neatness
is somewhat marred when. you know that
DSQQ6Q
IN faHow, and that these rags are put
on about once month, and during that
: time they are never taken Off
ne only French troops that were
there during the fighting were the dis
culinary troops, or convicts who have
been sentenced to military duty. In
France they seem to think that any sort
OF fellow is good enough to be a SOL
der, and I might add that is true to a.
extent IL ~
French officer is always a gentleman and
1t is pleasure to meet and converse
with him
THE English troops that were there
We're mostly Sheizs and East Indians
known as the Royal Bengals The latter
are very fierce and picturesque looking
soldiers In the approach we were sent
to support the Sheiks, but we went right
through their lines. but some of them
came right along up with u.s. The Eng.
hsh officers were very much astonished
at the campaign hat of the American
soldier! l don't see how they wear IT.
they would exclaim, and when [ would
reply that didn't see how the East In
dian managed to get about with a bundle
OF cloth bound round his head they would
reply, ooh. he is used to it, and would
tell them that the American soldier was
fast becoming used to the campaign hat
1t is one of the best hats that L know Of
1t is light and it is cheap. 1t protects his
face and he can sit on it for a seat if
the ground is damp without harming it
amy. He can fold it up and he can use
it in a number of ways that would utter
ly destroy the usefulness of the ugly
cork helmets
The Japanese troops were the nattiest
and best appearing troops among the al
lied forces, but on the whole the Amer
lean soldier is today better dressed and
better fed, and is cleaner all around than
any solier in the world. Whenever we
came to a stream the first thing the men
did was to take a bath, and even now. in
barracks, bath twice a. week is a part
of the discipline just as much as the
regular drills are
When it comes to fighting the Amer
lean soldier stands out, and did stand
out in that campaign; as q king among
men. He is the best all around soldier
that is turned out by any country. He
thinks for himself. knows enough TO keep
himself clean, and in good health, and
is amply able to take care OF himself at
all times, and to give a particularly good
account of himself in fight.
AT first they did not understand GER
tain methods of fighting that we used.
but they soon came to see that we knew
what we were about. The American
regular soldier must be seen among
troops of other nations to be fully appre-
ciated.