St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-12-11
THE ITALIAN ARMY.
A Fine Body of Four Hundred and Fits
Thousand Well-Drilied Men.


! Thousand Well-Drilied Men.
Apropos of the army, it may be worth
while observing that it is ON a remark
ably good footing indeed. | believe |
am revealing no very confidential secret
by stating that it owes much of its pro-
ticiency to certain eminent German Off
GERS, whose services were some time go
privately taken advantage of and hand
| somely remunerated by the Italian
authorities. AS result of such valuable
assistance, | might point to the fact that
the most rigid discipline is now exacted
IN every military barracks in the land.
A young Lieutenant Of my acquaintance
was only the other day put under arr est
and kept in close confinement for u
week for having been ten seconds too
late for the morning parade. Privatcs
are often severely punished for forget
ting to salute officers on the streets; and
some of the unfortunate wights who
happen to pass without seeing any of
their hierarchical chiefs are pitilessly
sent to vegetate on bread and water for
several days in order that they may be
taught to keep their eyes open in taking
their daily promenades. | have often
seen little beardless pr0upiOus. as the
French call them, twisting and turning
their heads in all directions, like so many
Punch and Judes, in the large Piazze
del Dumos Of this city, in search of some
officer whom they might salute, and
trembling with fear and apprehension
lest at times they may be caught nap
ping. Hence the sly and astute private
who wants to enjoy his stroll saunters
into the by-lanes and alleys, where he
can smoke his cigar in peace without
straining his unfortunate eyes for q
glimpse of a Captain or s Colonel. The
regular Italian army numbers some
400, 900 men. The favorite colors in the
battalicns are orange and blue, relieved
with gray,
On the whole. the soldiers here are
far better dressed than either the Bel
gans or French. The latter, for in
stance, look far from picturesque in
their bite tunics and red baggy panta-
looms; and as for the Beeians, | con-
slider them very sloyenlg and quite lost
to any prompting Of self-respect in the
way OF personal appearance and APP
parcl The Italian troops. however, are
rlg1dly clean and tasty in their exterior,
and in rank aud file produce very
pleasing effect on the eye. During the
hot summer months they are compelled
to pu on white stutfs to protect them
against the suns rays, and to wear caps
of the same color. A priyate's pay is
one scldo or cent per day; that of cor
pOral Is two. Sub-LIeutenants, Leu
tenants and Captains are very poorly
remuneratcd, and consequently can not
''amuse' themselves to the same extent
as officers of the same grade in other
countries. Italian officers are even
more ticklish than officers usually are
on the point of honor. The exchange
of equivocal or suspicious glances leads
to sword or pistol ARRAY, and it is
only quite lately that two Generals be-
longing to the garrison in this city
fought duel over some tritling ques-
ton that they happened to be debating.
I found in the men, as we'll as in their
officers, an almost chivalrous regard
for King Humbert. No monarch-not
even excepting Wilhelm of Germany
IS so popular with his troops as the
present representative of the House of |
savoy. The reason for this prediction
8 obvious to everybody who has fol- |
owed the fate and fortunes of Italy for /
the last thirty or forty years. Victor
Emmanuel. Humbert's father, was
never more at home than when he was
1t the head of his troops. He had a
passionate liking for the army. He re-
DICED in its joys and sorrowed in its sor-
ows. Besides, he was physically brave
md daring, and never shrank from the
'runt and danger of battle. Where his
roops were there he was himself, en-
ouraging them by precept and exam
lie to be true to their colors. Cor. San
Francisco Chronicle.