Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-05-21
Ex-soLDIER TAKES EXCEPTION.

Mr.. EDITOR Permit me to reply to
your statement in recent issue en-
titled, .'As Others See Us"
The writer has served three years in
the regular army of the United States
and | find much to criticize in said
article.
In the first place our army is far
from being overfed or in furnishing
highly seasoned food. Desertions
have and do occur because the recruit
cannot stand the kind and amount of
his rations, and when caught has
given that as his only reason.
This is an honest consideration
/ do not agree with you. admit that
the American is fed better than the
English soldier, but why is Gen.
Powell such excellent authority ?
How many English soldiers did it take
to conquer the Beers? How many
were killed to kill one BoerP Com
pare the two wars-their recent cam
paign in which Gen. Powell figures so
prominently, and our war with Spain.
Although to a thoughtful person the
embalmed beef scandal and starva-
ton at Montauk Point are still fresh
in our minds, comparing American
campaigns, when have American
soldiers been stuffed with plum pud-
dlngs, etc, in garrison and then lost
nerve in action because deprived OF
their four-course dinnerse
We don't need to 90 for advice TO n
country we have twice whipped and
trimmed fairly well, too. How they
feed their army is nothing to go by.
Speaking from sad memories, | say.
feed your men if you want good, con-
tented soldiers If the mans system
is fed with good, wholesome, nourish-
ing food, when a hard knock comes
he can stand it much better than he
can il he has walked post with his
stomach gnawing. This is also a tenn
peTance idea. How many times l
have seen a soldier fill up on beer at
the canteen because OF rising from the
mess table hungry and nothing else 10
fill up on.
How about Mr.. Powell's English
fighters, do they drink? Or is drunk
enness as prevalent in the English
army as in the American?
The hardy little Jap" has nothing
to do with it. When and where has
he gone to an entirely different and
unhealthy climate to carry on warfare
similar to the American going to Cuba
and the Philippines Besides, rice is
his national diet. and he is of a differ
ent race.
For goodness sake don't try to cut
down our army ration. ! honestly
don't see how it could be done-that
is. if the soldier is to eat anything at
all. RTE
1t matters little to the ordinary
American what any English lord with
an eye-glass thinks Of rs. When did
an Englishman admit that ANYTHING
American was quite right? All they
are good for is to marry Off our silly,
rich girls to.
Improve our rations and cooking
system and it will be safe to trust Yam
6ee soldiers in any ordinary scrap.
"If the American soldier comes to
/ grief il will be on account of his belly,
not on account of his pluck Quite
right, sir. Just keep his belly full and
one ex-soldier will guarantee that the
pluck will be there all right.
In conclusion would say that am
not a deserter, nor was | grumbler,
nor am / a foreigner. abusing the
American army mess table. | am sim
ply Vermont native of the fast dis
appearing Yankee type and not a
scholar, as you can see by this letter,
but laboring man who works for day
wages and Is ready to again leave
these green hills that he loves so well,
/ if he is needed.
HAROLD V. ALLEN. Bethel, Vt.