The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-27
MEXICO.
a v,.,, "a o.usri POrhrIO Disz and His
Army.


Waue ODonnell, who Is rowing through Mexico
"a a special correspondent of the New York
Tribune, gives the following interesting ac-
oouut of a visit 10 General Por6rio Diaz ana |
his army ,,.. !
"Durina our stay in Tehuacan, for the p@.ssV |
Feu daya we have seen most OF What % known
as the Army OF the Orient, boz IN Geld and 10
quarters. The troops .re PRINCIPALS disposed
Of in the converts of the town. Exclusive OIL
the cavalrv. an arm of 1900 to 1900 strong, teed-
ing In pastures at some dlstan9e ilV W we ht
body, the army numbers DIVISION ol sOouS niI
1000 or hVe EviSsntIy Hy~i it is as poorly
equipped as it is well fed, though on parade
certain regiments are remarkably present.
able and impressive. The rations are poi
1o,,yTi of ali sorts, floating dish OF mixed vege-
table elements called pucbero, and perhaps an
mia pody1dd of some sort, and other things un-
with the torture of red pepper or chile, greatly
Telished, howeyer, by the Mexican soldiers.
Shoes are scarce, and sandals common, sho "
ing that the Mexicans, like other patriots, have
had 20 march barefoot to glory and to liberty.
Al the review held yesterday, in honor OF his
Exeellency, Mr.. Romero, the troops ap.
peared to decided advantage, evolving
the HO town. their small arms are of the
Enfield and Springfield patterns; and the
best OF their feld-pieees are the mule guns cap
fured from the Austr1ans. their other armament
being mainly too heavy for held, and especially
noun ain service. Grey and blue coats, yellow
eOauiets, white breast-straps, aud chAsseur caps
were their unItOrm-too much by half, since the
best and cheapest Ill form is next to none at
all. But the simplicity of the Mexican RANK and
file is fond of Colors-thOugh with no greater
weakness in this respect than some OF their
commanders. The Generals stad appeared In
gold embroidered jackets, gold-laced caps sill
Ver-laced red pantaloons-a style OF wear un-
kindly contrasting with the poverty of the pri-
Vate soldiers; but these precious equipments
were captured from the French. The Com
mander-in- Chief, in his simple suit OF grey,
was as modestly dressed as possible. His
infantry, 1 am told, receive 35 cents per day;
cavalry, 55, owning their hOrses-not SO bad
wages, considering the needs of the MeAt.
can Government As for the moral and
superhcialiy. They are dark-faced, and mostly
Indians, otficered by MexicaDs, so-caled. Regu-
lar features are very rare among them. AS a
Eule the faces indicate only physical inteli-
gence which is but another way of saying that
Mexico has few schools, and that her Indians
are ignorant. Their physique, however is OF
the toughest and most durable sort, we'll made
for mountain matches, tropic suns, muddy
roads. With education such men might become
all that could be desired IN soldiers; nor need
this education be military for the Warlike spirit
appears 10 be super abundant in Mexico. l am
not too far surprised az hearing General Diaz say
that he has marched some of his troops more
known at the North. You must measure this
fact by the sandalled feet OF the indians. They
are not only the greatest walkers, but the great.
est trotteIs in the wofld.
sometimes called the Grant OF Mexico. By the
accord of all parties, he is, undoubtedly, the
best and braVest soldier, one OF whom the
Liberal cause and teaching may we'll be proud
Yet, except in his simplicity OF manners aud IN
an absence OF official vanity and duplicity you
will have no notion of his character or person
by comparison with the American Chief. His
ability is especially active and executive. Iu
the North he might have made one OF the mOs
popular and brilliant corps commanders; bu
his countenance gives no instant Impression D
which :
public man in Mexico. This want OF feature
has been the objection made to him at ever,
step OF his career; so, too, perhaps, 1T has beer
with the subtle and patient President OF Mexico
but both men have won their due in spite o
appearances. His fine, nervous frame, excel
lent STATURE cropped head, keen eyes, thin nose
rather narrow lace, ana cOuntenance at al
angle, convey, If anything, the picture OF
soldier-one who pnrsues rather than retreats
BV all acknoW dgment he 10 man Wlthod
pretense and what he has won he has WoI
honestly and thoroughly. Some points of hi
biography will not be amss.
General Diaz is DOW thirty-s9ven years old
having been soldier for twelve years. He wa
a collegian with Romero, Benltes, and SOM
other well known MexIcans, IN the college a
0axaca, of which Benlto Juarez was President
He was at one time, therefore, pupil OF tn
Chief Magistrate OF Mexico, of whom ne isa per
sonaI friend. He has been project of one OF tn
Oaxaca districts, and for brief time deputy +
Congress, prior to becoming which he had bee
q lawyer. The crisis OF the recent war toun
him near OaXaca, whence with an interior fore
of men he took the city, having previously Wit
300 men defeated about five times mis- number
From this point proceeds the most brlllian
chapter in the career OF General Daz. Wit
the arms won at OaXaca, he marched with a.
augmented army through the valley in tn
direction of Puebla, where two years before h
had assisted against the French the brave Gene
rails Zaragoza and Lave, who were the res
heroes OF Puebla, and not General 0rtegs
Seated near Puebla, and for moment in douh
whether Its strong garrison would come out
attack him, he hesitated whether to attac
the garrison boldyUr march to meet force {
1000 or 5000 men, q number equal to b.
own which, under Marquee, were cOmin
to relieve the garrison His troops WeT
at this time in rags, and even with
train of artillery which joined him froI
Oaxaca, his armament did not exceed thirt
pieces against 150 of the enemy. It was atte
having deceived his enemy outside OF the wal
by ieint upon the city OF Mexico, that Dia
began his operations against Puebla, WlthoT
once retroeradng an inch. After twenty-on
DAYS of actions more or less severe, he ordere
a final assault, thirteen columns of troops a
tacking the same number of points in the per
meter of the enemy's ioTtlhcations The assau
was carried OF in the same direction as th'
from which Marshal Forey commenced h
operations-that is 10 say, the West, IL oen
next to impossible to capture the high an
steep stronghOlds guarding the front roads
namely, Foris GuadalOupe and Loreto, Di
succeeded in capturing the rear delenses OF II
town and there installed, cut che forts OIL fro
water and compelled their surrender. II was
daring and almost desperate action, tue mo
brilliant performed by any Mexican IN the Ia
war. With hls thinned forces, Daz could n
az once risk battle with the fresh troops
marquee, but his pursuit OF this feTocious lead
Wasl as elective as any pitched battle.
iorceu MN INTO Mexico with the loss OF al }