Evening star., 1896-04-04
A SURPRISE.

revolt. Gen. Campos, correctly enough, be-
came very much excited and he hurriedly
sent for the officers of the civil guard and
volunteers. Assembling them in the throne
room at the palace he informed them in
elevated tone that each officer would be
held personally responsible for the actions
Of his men. IF they rebel" said the old
commander. you, each of you will know
what Is in store" The officers needed not
to ponder over the matter. They knew.
There was no mutiny.
The young men Of these two branches of
the service are mostly from Spain. They
are generally poor and come to Cuba seek
ing employment. At home they are repub-
lcans and their principles become more pro-
nounced after reaching Cuba, for they find
that here, as well in their native land,
no place, even the most obsc cure, in the gov
ernment service is open to them. Having
the natural taste Of the Spaniard for mill
tary show and parade they join the local
volunteers being bound thereby to do city
and garrison duty only. Secretly they de-
spise the government they are supposed to
guard.
MutinOus Volunteers.
Gen. Campos at one time ordered that a
part Of the volunteers be sent into the
field. But he had presumed too much upon
their loyalty, for the soldiers assembled in
the plaza, protested to the lieutenants of
the captain general and finally ended the
discussion by throwing their arms and ac-
coutrements in a pile and going home
Their numbers saved them. Had 1t been
two or three or five hundred only who had
thus disobeyed, none would now be alive
to tell the story, but there was absolute
unison of action by the several thousand,
and there remained nothing for the au-
thorities to do but countermand the order.
Judging by the general actions of the
volunteers and in even greater measure
by my talks with individual members l
am prepared to believe that they are not
willing to lay down their lives for the Span
ish monarchy. There can be no question
raised as to their patriotism and love of
native land, but the majority of them have
hoped and still do hope for the downfall Of
the dynasty in Spain. They know that
should Cuba win her independence the
royal house at Madrid must go, and with
It's going would come the republic at home
for Or WHICH they so long have wished. ..,.,,
The Spanish regular army in Cuba is
quite different institution. 1t is perhaps
the most irregular regular army in the
world. 1t Is composed almost entirely of
young men between the ages of sixteen and
thirty. They are generally ignorant peasant
boys, who care great deal about but know
very little concerning where they are going
when they leave their native hillsides
steep hillsides from where they come, for
nine out of ten are bow-legged or are
shorter on one side than the other. In
heighth they would not average more than
five feet three inches. Despite the COM
pactness of their build they are very fair
runners.
Many of these poor fellows were drafted
into the service. When Spain was making
some four months ago she drafted in one
month 11.OOO recruits. OF this number
about 5000 paid the required 5000 and were
allowed to stay at home. The remaining
q mt hoy incp fhn dc
purchase their release, were sent across
the ocean as volunteers" to whip the re-
bellious Cubans.
A large number of the recruits never
saw guns in their lives before landing in
Cuba. They do not even have the salts
faction, if such it might be called, of parad-
irg in uniform before their weeping sisters
or sweethearts ere they leave old Spain.
perhaps never to return. In large num-
ber Of instances the recruits are hustled
aboard the big transport ships, crowded to-
gether in very insufficient quarters and
landed upon some of the keys along the
Cuban coast, there 10 undergo bathing
formula, obtain cheap uniform and be
put through semi-drill before being sent
into the interior.
s'Raw'' Recruits Indeed.
saw SOLDIERS land from Spanish ships
in the city Of Havana looking far worse
than the steerage passengers coming ashore
from the ocean liners at Bedloe's Island.
They were literally dumped from the ships,
and after being herded together we're
tramped to some place out of sight A few
hours afterward they would be taken
aboard coastwise transports or upon trains
to points east or west.
Their fiimsy uniforms are made Of ordi-
nary blue ticking, and a scull cap of the
same material covers a part of their heads.
On the contrary, their shoes are coarse and
heavy, but the government has thought in
some instances they should have weighed
considerably more.
But Spain's soldiers in Cuba are well
armed. Each man is little walking, bow
legged arsenal all by himself. He carries
good rife-the Mauser-a carbine, a
sword-bayonet and light machete In ad-
dition to this there are numerous big straps
and buckles, which, after time, the SOL
dier thinks are for the purpose Of keeping
body and soul together, for the poor SOL
dier is wretchedly fed. and In this particular
the rebel fighter is far better of. I have
witnessed, in Havana, Puerto Principe and
other places. Spanish soldiers begging from
house to house or from passers on the
streets. Many a night, also, especially in
the former city, have I noted government
troops sleeping upon the stone pavements
beneath covered archways and terraces
I feel for the Spanish soldier, and who
would not? Think of the unfortunate fell
lows who are dragged away from home and
dear ones, crowded upon dirty ship landed
in strange and distant country, loaded
down with arms and accoutrements, and
then actually cast adrift to forage for them
selves. There Is no exaggeration in this
The Spanish soldier Is q dog chained to a
heartless master. He IL told in glowing
words Of the ancient and sublime history
Of Spain. He e preached to concerning her
divine right, and how a place for him is
reserved In the celestial regions If he but
dies In her holy defense. The Cuban is pic