Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-05
AMERICANA SOLDIERS
THE BEST TREATED WARRIORS
IN THE WORLD.
An Intelligent Comparison in Army
Methods by q British
Private,

A British soldier. who formerly served in
the United States army, and who is jus:
back from two years of tthe most active
service at the front in South Africa, sends
us the following remarks on Mr.. Brodrick S
scheme for popularizfhg army service. Not
long ago, he says, Lord Wolseley stated in
the house Of lords that the American army
was the finest for it's size in the world, and
as one who mas served and seen active SER
vice In both armies this soldier bears out
his statement:
In the first place, the Americans offer suf-
ficient inducement for the good article to
come forward, whilst in Great Britain we
offer to pay an office boy with the hard
ships Of North Sea fisherman and expect
the very best to roll up. Many candidates
for the British army who are pronounced
as unfit at one recruiting depot go on to
others, and on third or fourth attempt
manage to pass more lax doctor For in
stance, men refused at Liverpool will go to
Preston Chester.
A Manned Recruit.
The unf1tness Of these men is at once ap-
parent, whenever a thorough inspection Is
made in order that drafts may be sent
abroad, but as the good article won't join
at the money We must take the best (some-
times WorsD we can get. A pioneer now
serving at the front in the Scots Guards
mas only two Vlgers on his right hand, and
yet passed the doctor. This fact speaks
for itself as to the inspection recruits a:
certain depots.
In the American army the candidate goes
before board Of three doctors and passes
very stiff examination. He must be in
extra good bodily health besides being A
perfect physical and mental specimen of
manhood. While the physical standard OF
tbs British Tommy is deteriorating, that
OF the United States soldier is getting more
and more perfect.
The American recruit must be twenty
one. and he must prove his age, If doubt
1ul. In this country boys of fifteen and six
teen join saying they are eighteen. They
are sent to India and Africa and then
everybody wonders at the inadeouacy of
our hospital accommodation. Not long ago
Lancashire paper had an obituary notice
as follows: AT Utrecht, Private John
:. dled OF wounds, age seventeen" Had
made, but "private!'
Too Much Pipeclay.
1 have met many ex-British soldiers in
the American army-they only take the
very oest)-and they all say they prefer the
American army because there Is less pipe
clay and button-burnishing kit inspection
ana FANCY work that leave the soldier no
time either to Soldier or to play" Men
nave to be smart and clean and respectful
and that is all.
once at Fort McHenry Baltimore, an
American officer made himself so obnoxious
to his men that they began to make nu-
merous applications for transfers to other
companies. The commanding officer of the
regiment, tumblng to where the grievance
lay. transferred the officer Some British
o1ncers want transformed
Tommy Likes Butler.
The American officers first duty is to see
that his company has got their rations, and
to hear any complaints. The British off,
GERS thoughts are apt to turn to the Off
GERS mess wagon, and this on active serv-
Ice. His companys welfare seldom trou-
bles him They daren't complain The
man who does SO can be had up for ''grum-
bling. for melting to mutiny' and for
conduct s,1 to the prejudice of good order and
discipline 1t is one Of. the things that
make General Butler beloved of Tommy
that he at least always shared the hard
ships, and, when he could, looked, after the
wants, Of his humblest followers Having
served two years in South Africa-at the
front. not at the base camps-I have seen
these things.