Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-11
THE ITALIAN ARMY.
A Well-Disciplined Military, Establishment
king Humbert'S Popularity With the

Apropos of the army, it may be worth
while observed that it is on a very re-
markable footing indeed, writes Milan
correspondent of the San Francisco
Chronicle. I believe I am revealing no
very confidential secret by stating that
it owes much of its proficiency to certain
eminent German officers, whose services
were some time ago privately taken ad-
vantage of and handsomely remunerated
by the italian authorities. As a 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 arrest and kept in close confine-
ment for week having been ten seconds
too late for the morning parade. Privates
are Often severely punished for forget
ting to salute officers on the streets; and
some of the unfortunate wights who hap
| pen to pass without seeing any of their
! hierarchial chiefs are piteousIy 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 20roupious, as the French call
them, twisting and turning their heads in
all directions, like so many Punch and
Judies, in the large Piazze del Duems of
this CITY, in search of some officer whom
they might salute, and trembling with
fear and apprehension least at times they
may be caught mapping. Hence the sly
and astute private who wants to enjoy his
stroll saunters into the by-lanes and al
legs, where he can smoke his cigar in
peace without straining his unfortunate
eyes for a glimpse of a captain or col
onel. The regular italian army numbers
some 100000 men. The favorite colors
in the batallions are orange and blue, re-
lieved with gray.
On the whole the soldiers here are far
better dressed than either the Belgians
and French. The latter, for instance,
look far from picturesque in their blue
tunics and red baggy pantaloons, and as
for the Belgians, [ consider them very
slOvenly and quite lost to any promptings
of self-respect in the way of personal ap-
pearance or apparel. The italian troops,
however, are rigidly clean and tasty in
their exterior, and in rank and file pro-
duce very pleasant effect on the eye.
During the hot summer months they are
compelled to put on white stuffs to pro-
tect them against the suns rays, and to
wear caps of the same color. A privates
pay is l soldo or cent per day; that of
a corporal is 2. Sub-lieutenants' lieuten-
ants, and captains are very poorly re-
munerated, 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 equi-
vocal or suspicious chances leads to a word
or pistol ARRAY, and it is only quite lately
that two generals belonging to the gar
rison in this city tough duel over some
very trifiing question that they happened
to be debating. l found in the men, as
well as in the officers, an almost chival-
rous regard for King Humbert. No mon
arch-not excepting Wilhelm of Germany
is so popular with his troops as the
present representative of the house of
Savoy. The reason for this prediction is
obvious to everybody who has followed
tho 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 at the head of
his troops. He had a passionate liking
for the army. He reioiced in it's lows
and sOrrowed in its sorrows. Besidss, he
never shrank from the brunt and danger
of battle. Where his troops were there
he was himself, encouraging them by
precept and example to be true to their
cOlOrs.
Victor Emmanuel, moreover, had none
of that dogmatic insolence or hauteur
which often goes near freezing the warm
feelings of subordinates. While he never
forgot the dignity of the rank he held,
and never countenauced any undue famil-
1arlty, he would chat as freely with the
humblest private as he would with the
cOmmandant. He examined many of the
personal grievances of the troops, and
where he found them worthy of attention
he invariably addressed them. Personal
ly, therefore, he did much to make the
army love and esteem him, but politically
he did more. He it was who freed Naples
from the shameless tyranny of King Bonn
ba, and who was one of the chief instru-
ments IN gathering all the Italian provin-
ces into the common food. at re liberia
TORE" as he was called, was the first king
of united Italy, the man by whose genious
the great union was effected between jarr-
ing tribes and factions, and in accord
ance with whose teachings LOmbardian
and Venetian, Roman and FIorentine
Piedmontese and Neapolitan alike were
drilled into the idea that they were all
sons of one motherland and heirs to the
greatness and glory that contributed at
one time to make the City OF the Seven
Hills the mistress of the then unknown
universe. And when Victor Emmanuel
passed away his son Humbert followed
scrupulousy IN the liberator's footsteps.
From his earliest childhood he was train
ed up to look on his father as a model
whose conduct he should initiate, and he
has succeeded so well in initiating it in
his dealings in with the army that there
is hardly a man in the rank and file who
would not offer up his life to save that of
the monarchy, if such holocaust were
necessary.
A priyate's pay is, as l said, l soldo or
cent per day, while the non-commission-
ed officer has not very much more. With
out financial assistance, therefore, from
their parents or relativet, these poor fell
lows would be very unfortunate indeed.
As tobacco is a government monopoly in
Shis country it is sold at one-fourth its
value TO the soldiers, and around each of
the large barracks the many-colored tents
where they can have iced sirups and other
harmless drinks for a few centImes