Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-19
HOLLANDS MILITIA.

letter in the New York Tribune. The
national defcnses are in dlsorganized
condition, and the Dutch would be I'M
able to offer much resistance to any in
vasion. Reform is the cry on every
hand, and universal CONSUMPTION
is advocated on all sides; but
no ono seems to feel disposed to carry
the matter through. AS things now are
no Dutchman need serve in tho regular
army if he can pay for substitute.
The consequence is that the rich are OPP
posed to the universal CONSUMPTION, be-
cause they do not want to servo, and tho
poor are against it because they would
no longer receive the large sums which
their children earn by serving as sub
stitutcs. Every man, however, between
the age of twenty-five and forty is forced
to belong to the militia. or schuttery, as
it is designated in Holland. The latter
numbers about two per cent. of the en-
trio population. But 1t is quite harm
less, and partakes to a certain extent of
tho nature of the opera comique.
Nothing can be more amusing than to
watch the schuttcrs on their way to drill
late in tho afternoon of summer and
autumn days. They can scarcely be
described as presenting martial APP
pearance in their blue and red uniforms,
with their shakocs perched ral1ishly on
one side of their head, the chin strap
barely reaching down to the nose, q
cigar or pipe in the mouth, and an
Notwithstanding old musket carried
over the shoulder, butt end upward.
In winter when it rains or SHOWS the
monthly drill at Rotterdam, Amster-
dam and other important cities, usually
takes place under cover in tho bourse
after tho business OF the day is over.
Tho drill sergeants, however, dislike
this; for it doubles their work, since
the schutters devote far moro attention
to tho figures of the afternoon stock
quotations, still chailtcd upon the
board, than to the figures Of drill.
The officers of the militia regiments
are exceedingly gorgeous creatures,
with their long, clanl1ing sabers, their
plumed hats and their profusion of gold
lace. Their knowledge Of things mill
tary IS but one degree superior to that
Of the men under their command, for
they have been forced to drill for two
hours week during period of six
weeks with q regular iine rcgi-
ment. Under ordinary circumstances
they manage to fulfill their duty
after q fashion, but during the
annual manouvers they are SUBJ
jected to great trials. A schutter Cap
tain will he standing in front of his
company, when corporal acting as
orderly approaches with the following
message: The enemy IS close at hand
The Colonel sends you his very best
compliments and wishes tn know if you
would oblige him by leading your men
to attack. All at once the latent pa
triotism and military ardor of the Cap
tain blaze forth. He draws his sword,
am. calling on his soldiers to follow
him, PUSHES to meet the imaginary on
envy. Suddenly his advance is checked
by shallow ditch filled with muddy
water. This causes his ficrccncss to
abate, for he would not for all the world
soil his uniform. He pauscs for a few
seconds. All at once n happy thought
strikes him. Giro by vollcysr' he cries
to his men. Immediately tile ramrods
arc heard to rattle in all tho enormous
barrels OF the old muskets, and min
ute later the hammers fall with q
clicking noise Of old metal. For the
militia-men arc not only forbidden the
use of Eunpowdcr, but are oven denied
percussion caps. In tho middle of all
this the Adjutant of tho regiment, who
is invariably an officer of the regular
army, dashes up on horseback and ex.
claims in frantic tones to the Captain:
Good heavens! man, don't you know
that In case of vollcy firing the officers
must not stand right in front of the muz
zlcs of their mems gun3?"
Nowi9o disconnected, the Captain
pulls his handbook Of military regula
tions out Of his pocket and, after care.
fully glancing over several pages, re-
plies in nonchalant manner: "Well
don't see any thing about it in here
Tho face Of the adjutant becomes
scarlet, he gulps down two or thrco big
oaths and finally calculates: Here
give me tho book See thcrc 1t /.
page forty-cight." And then, with {
look of despair and shrug of his shout
doris, he dashcs off to some othcr euuall,