Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-25
OUR Army As SEEN
BY 4 FOREIGNER.

suitable for fighting frontier lhcians'
but useless for practical warfare. Inc
force in the Philippines TO-DAY IS ope"
Ito no such charge. Though small nu-
merically. it is of excellent quaiity:
land so far from lacking any species ca
leouipmcnt It Is almost open to the
laccusation of over elaboration in his
RESPECT. The nation has spent us
money lavishly with the object OF sc
touring the highest possible degree ..
deficiency; so lavishiy. indeed that IL
seems doubtful whether II could AFFORD
Ito continue the Same system. were IL
Ito increase it's present army OF Sky
Thousand men to five times tina. NM
her. The American soldier Is betf.r
lDaid. better fed, and letter clad than
1.-The men of any European army. Moth
ling that could possibly conduce to MS
|, orfo~t is left urdcne. In every little
station in the Philippines elephants
are maintained for his benefit. cold
storage ships keep him plentifully sup
piled with fresh provisions. Ore ting
lonIy does he lack-a canteen. He has
a regimental store, in which he can
tpurchasc everything he needs at cost
price, duty free. everything that is. ex-
lcept ,iuuOr. Formerly, he could get
the latter rs well; but the crarks and
Ifacdists, who seem to have almost as
lbalcful an influence as the trusts in
American politics, raised their voices
against the sale of liquor to the SOL
dier, with the result that today the un-
fortunate "enlisted man" in the Philip
pines has to go to tie vile nativ, grog-
~ l..;,,
However, the physical and moral dc :
generation which the so-called reform
has produced is so apparent that, be-
fore long the canteen will, probably,
be re-established. Exception might be
taken to the American army ration as
being too rich and heavy for a tropi-
cal climate. There is toe much beef
and bacon, too many beans, at least
from a british standpoint. The Ameri-
lcanS are so new 10 tropical conditions
that they have yet to learn that a diet
which may he almost ideal in their
own country can become equally dc adj
| ly in the neighb"rhood of the eqrotnr.
| AS one sees him in the Philippines.
the Am -rican soldier produces n IA
vorably impression. He is, certainly.
rather slcuchins, compared TO the
British Tommy. but, for that his u.li-
form is largely to blame. Outside his
barracks he is orderly and we'll be-
haved. thou sh there is a Ger ain slack
mess Of discipline, sighting of the
etiquette observed in other armies,
which seems chiefly due to the fact
| that the private always remembers he
lis IN American citizen, and that only
Il temporary difference in rank some
| thing confined entirely to the service,
separates lin from his officer. Mhcth-
er this spirit is good for the army is 4
doubtful question. Tie position of the
nom commissioned Off, or also strikes
the I:ririsher as curious. Except when
ACTUALLY on duty, the -commis-
| stoned officer is or n level with the
prIvatos. III lives with Them, sleeps
with them. and associates with them
on terms of equality. His authority
seems to amount to very lit lie at any
time, and his whole position is another
example OF the diffit ulties attending an
attempt 10 run an army on democratic
I'nes.
The commissioned officer stands for
| all that is best in the American public
service. With tie exception of the ma
4
party politics the curse of American
life. His position is assured. until he
4 reaches the retiring age. Siyty-four.
which is the same for all ranks. In 4
| country where tie ma jority of the Of
| ficialS are iobbcrS il is plea
change to get into the society of tt @
military officer who. generally speak
| ing is both keen soldier and gentle
| man. and transformations, kindly and
hospltabie. As PrOr oti N goes entire
| ~ by seniority, except in rare in
stances, the American officer can keep
| entirely apart from the dirty business
| of politics: but ut the same time. il
must be admitted that the cc't1inty Of
| gradual advancement. ;ili! the knowl-
edge that bTilliart services AMI spe cial
qualifications will bring no material
reward. tend to take 4 good deal OF
the dash and ambition out of Il man.
| On the other hand. it is argued that
wtra promotion to be made by selec-
ton, the army would simply become
he plaything OF corrupt politicians,
WHO would fird in il a convenient way
| Of rewarding sons for Party services
rendered by the fathers. The lack OF
an officers mess, the total absence of
iarTthing which could correctly be
termed reSimental life, strikes n Brit
Usher as strange; but after all it is the
| inevitable result of the system that
transfers man from one regiment t.
another rs vacancies occur. In tie
same way the short service of the PR
Yates. three years in all, tells against
the production of any real esprit de
corps, for though re-enlistments are
very frequent. the soldier usually
seems to prefer 20 serve his lew tenn
in some orIer regiment