McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-06
The italian Soldier.


London Daily News.
The Italian soldier, as rule, is short
and spare built, and his general ap-
pearance conveys the impression OF
not over robust physique. But.see him
marching, and il soon becomes appar-
emit that he possesses more stamina
than one would give him credit for
How unrnurmuringly he trudges for
hours at atime along dusty road I'M
der a hot sun with his heavy knapsack
on his back and his rifle slung across
his shoulder. And our surprise is IN
creased when we find what meagre ra-
tons he has to sus.ain him under all his
toll. -. ss.s-
His chief meal consists of soup made
with lard, meat and macaroni or some
other kind of paste. His mess is pre-
pared in large caldrons, round which at
a given signal the men gather, each
with q tin can, into which is poured .
not very abundant supply of soup and
an almost invisible lump of meat. In
setting out on long march the soldier
drinks the soup and keeps the meat to
eat on the road. Besides this he gets
coffee without milk in the morning and
about two pounds of bread TO last him
throughout tho day. A tumbler Of
wine is served out to him on an average
every third or fourth day in the year.
If his food is Spartan in its. simplici-
ty his dress is equally exempted from
the charge of luxury. A loose coat of
coarse grayish blue cloth covers the in
fantry soldier from neck to knee. His
trousers are of the same material, but
when marching the latter arc exchang-
cd for canvas trousers, and when work.
ing in camp canvas tunic is dOnned
instead If the coat. His headgear is
kept, very like that in use in the
French army.
The uniform of the Bersaglieri il
more expressed in fancy"
This arm consists of picked men; in
deed, only strong fellows could march at
the rapid pace they are trained to. 9th
erwise their drill is much the same as
that of the ordinary infantry regiments.
They wear black tunlc with red fac
ings, and black, broad-brimmed hat,
with bunch of green feathers stuck at
one side. They are armed like the in
fantry, with Wetterly rifles. The cav
airy and artillery are comparatively
weaker arms than the infantry. The
former poorly mounted, and the guns
and train of the latter are below par.
The cavalry are divided into heavy
cavalry or dragons, lancers and light
cavalry. The dragons are easily dis
.inguished by their helmets. Both they
and the lanoers are armed with lance
and (W:tterly) musket. The light cav
airy, or Cavalleg Teri, have revolvers
instead OF lances. Singularly enough,
he cavalry have their swords and mus
sets fastened to the saddles, SO that if
they are defenseless. have
already remarked that the physique of
he men is better than outward appear
snoes would denote.
AS regards their general disposition,
may remark that they are docile,
'bedient to their superiors, well be-
,aved, cheerful and laborious. In times
II danger and disaster, Us during the
'holera OF 1867, the foundations OF last
7ea-, and on the occasion OF the recent
ct Ischie, they work with
IN ardor and self-devotion which is
recognized by their fellow
;itizens.
They lack, however, the smartness
10Th in dress and drill, aud the martial
gearing of English or German soldiers.
The former and less important de-
Iclency is the natural outcome of
taiy's endeavors to maintain larger
rmy than she can afford properly to
quip: The inferiority of the drill il
oubtless chiefly due to the shortness OF
he time of service (thirty months) an
ne scarcity of sergeants in the army.