The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-26
ENGLISH VETERAN lives WITH YANkS,
SAYS THEY FIGHT and DON'T BOAST
From the London Spectator,

have had the good fortune to spend
| ment In closest touch with the OFF,
GERS and men of two divisions; / have
| crossed the Atlantic in a convoy OF
| American troops, and / nave fought by
the side Of American soldiers In Flan-
| ders.
Englishmen have grown accustomed
to foreign soldiers now-French, Bel
gian, Italian, and ther est-and they do
not seem SO TRANCE as they once ala.
| But all these approximate to the Euro
| pean military model, with which u
own army has much in common. Our
| colonial soldiers, too, though different,
are so rather in degree than In kind.
for they have been schooled by instruc.
tors formed in the mold OF the British
army. The Americans, on the other
hand, despite certain similaritfes TO U
own men, are something entirely new
and need explanation.
On the face of things the most OBJ
vious difference between them and our
selves Is in the outward and visible
evidences of discipline. To the casuai
observer the Americans Il am speak
/ ing Of the average In both armles) arc
not so well turned out as our men,
they are not so smart In movement or
so steady in standing, nor have they
to all appearances the same respect
| for rank and authority; In other Words'
they lack discipline.
This is q Judgment which ] nave
often heard passed upon the Amerlcan
soldier; II is a criticism which ! myseit
have made In the past. With WIDER
experience and fuller understanding. OF
| the American soldier / think now tnat
IL is hardly just. Discipline, after all,
II not an absolute quality; ~ difiers
In various countries, and doubtless the
German m~ilitarist considers u SOL
diers i'll disciplined. Discipline is o1iy
A e to the end Of military effi-
Naturally in q country which makes
a fetish of independence the system -
different from that OF one where au.
thority Is much respected ana serves
q high ideal. American discipiln1 ~
more elastic than ours In the
stances of everyday soldiering;. but, y
contracts under strain. It Is Ioundeo
not 80 much on respect for autnority
as on a sense Of responsibility which
the feeling of equality ~engenders.
there is most liberty in Britain, most
equality in America, and most frater-
nity in France. The American equality,
however, produces not anarchy put CO.
operation; and discipline. as Mill SAID,
Is the perfection Of cooperation
The Americans Of course are by tenn.
permanent markedly individualistic. bu
spread over a large number OF men TINS
unaIitv seems to produce teamwork
rather than the reverse. Nor Is TINS 80
paradoxical as 1t would appear, FOR IN
dividuals can fit into their places and
make q good combination.
Tn n large unit composed of special
lists II Is likely that most OF the talents
and profciencies required In h army
will be to hand No matter what one
demands Of an American unit, from
nthography to bridge building Il choose
- n.rnnlAa frnnN N nuvn nv
perience), 1t a be done within the
unit. Their bodies Of specialists round
themselves with remarkable ease into
symmetrical and self supporting or
ganizations. And while an Individual
LIST, the American soldier Is extremely
adaptable.
ingenuity an Asset.
We pride ourselves upon u powers
of improvisation, but In this respect
the American soldier is fully our
match both In ingenuity and applica-
ton. Arising out of this individualism
also is another advantage OF the great
est ~Yalue-that, as a Canadian officer
remarked to me, Americans will never
lack for O leader in an emergency. On
the other hand, in the presence OF q
duly appointed and qualified cominan-
der they are as capable of loyal CO.
operation and exact obedience as any
professional soldier.
II there is one particular branch OF
military service which Is most congo
NAL to the American genius. 1t Is avia-
ton. The Americans are at once a ma
ton Of individuals. Of sportsmen, and
of automobilists. / have said enough
of the first quality; and as for the 9TH
err two. all their young men play games,
and all can drive, and most understand,
q motor car. The value to their avia-
Aion inherent In these accomplishments
will be apparent to all.
mn .4loo. -. "a ~.,,nk hn Sc
membered, has not yet sorlcd itself IA
In that respect it's condition resembles
ours in 1915. At present one of its or
binary infantry regiments could prob
ably construct a trench system as
well as an engineer regiment; a ma
chine gun company will have as good
mechanics as a motor train; q trench
mortar battery will possess craftsmen
equal to those Of an intelligence Sec
ton. The process of sitting human
material takes time, and the American
army cannot reach its state Of highest
efficiency until its men are assigned
to their correct places. Meanwhile
these specialists. SO many OF them col.
iege trained. are extremely useful wher.
ever they are.
The colore6 soldiers occup q posi-.
ton apart from h rest, but l do no
think hat they appreciably lower the
general standard. In the camps, at any
rate, they are obedient. cheerful. wei
disciplined. and obviously fond Of sol
diering: but undoubtedly they are sub
ject to fits of mob emotion. Given lead
ers who car hold them, they should d.
well in action, and there is no reason
why they should not have right lead
ers.
have said nothing Of the courage
moral or physical. Of the American sol
diers. their dash In the attack or theil
obstinacy In the defense. These quail
ties are assumed in them by all Eng
ltshmen who know them; and that Il
the highest compliment that we coult
pay them. They come Of @ people, IL
the words Of their own poet, "virile
combative. stubborn. hard" Let vi
then lose n illusion which some ma,
have had to the effect that the Ameri
can Of today Is not. naturally q fghtini
man. And at the same time we mus
put away In respect to their soldier
another illusion concerning the Amer.
lean lack Of modesty. The first though
OF Americans in military discussion Il
to pay tribute to the original allies who
having laid the foundations OF victory
are still raising the greater part OF III
edi1cs; their great ambition. they viii
tell you. rs to match the militar.
achievements OF Britain and France. ;
H. W. 7.