Evening star., 1894-04-04
ITALY'S ARMY.
A Ffne-LOOking Body of Men, Who
Are Good Soldiers.

f1ne-LOOktnE body of Men, Who
Are Good Soldiers.
From the Chicago Record
The standing army OF Italy Is a source of
pride to the nation. No finer-looking or bet
ter-dressed men can be found in Europe
than the officers In the italian army AS
In most of the other nations of Europe
being brave soldier boy" is not a matter
of choice with the Italian, but a matter of
compulsion.
When young man Is twenty years of age
he receives a notice to report himself at the
proper place for the purpose of drawing a
number. There are three classes of num-
bers; those drawing numbers of the first
class-say from one to one hundred, for the
purpose OF illustration-must serve three
years; of the second class. say from one
hundred to two hundred, eighteen months;
while those of the third class, or from two
hundred to three hundred, are exempt from
duty. An only son, the support of the fam
lily, comes under this latter class
Gentlemen's sons are always officers and
where there are two or three in one fam
lily, one must enter for life. The common
soldier Han work his way up to certain
point, but no further, unless he pass through
a military school, of which there are two
in 1taly-one in Modena and one at Pied
mont After passing through the military
school. he is eligible for any rank for which
MS attalnmentS and courage may beht him
The pay of the common soldier is ten centis-
simi 1.-TWO cents) day, with clothing and
rations. The latter consists Of black bread
and soup with pork or bacon in It, The
soldier considers himself in luck when he is
permitted to act as valet to an officer for
then he gets good things to eat" The pay
of an officer is five francs a day and up
ward, but ne must clothe himself
The soldiers drill and exercise a great
deal, and in marching they usually march
nye hours at stretch. In summer they
arse at O'Clock in the morning to drill.
The bersagliere are companies of soldiers
that are noted for their rapid walking tt ey
have peculiar step that enables them to
get over the ground in a much quicker time
than the ordinary man. They wear dis
tinguishing hat with their uniform: 1t is a
broad-brimmed black hat covered with cock 8
feathers. which hang dropping to the shoul-
der.
The alpini are noted for their courage and
endurance, and are usually chosen for dan
gerous excursions into mountainous dis
tricts. They wear the regulation hreeches
short cloak flung over the shoulders and a
hat with single cocks feather thrust
through the crown.
The carbinere are the most gaudily dress
ed of all the men in the kings army. They
are the ones most trusted with state secrets,
ana know at all times the kings wherea-
bouts.
In times of peace the life Of the soldier is
monotonous enough, with its marching and
drilling and drilling and marching. but once
Tor time the excitement is intense. Such
an excitement occurred some time ago in
Naples, a little later in Florence and now
IN Milan. The soldiers from Tuscany and
the outlying mountainous districts are rude
and uncultivated as the untutored savage,
and they are often made the butt of ridicule
by their companions. For the most part
they bear the taunts and jeers with sto.cal
Indifference, but once in while one little
less patient than the rest becomes enraged
and in fit of madness procures a weapon
and shoots right and left, regardless of
friend or foe. In Naples and Florence [ be-
lieve. several lives were sacrificed, but in
Milan IL Is not quite so serious, although an
officer will have to go through life with only
one arm as the result of the reckless shoot
ing of maddened soldier.
Absence from Italy does not free a man
from his military duties. 1 have in mind
q young man who went to America several
years ago. When he reached the age of
twenty he received notice from the Italian
government to come back and draw his
number; If he did not have money enough
the government would pay his way He
paid no attention to the summons when
he received further notice to the effect that
he was outlawed for thirty years, and even
should he return TO Italy at the expiration
of that time he would still have to serve
his time in the army.