Natchitoches populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1898-1899, 1898-09-23
THE REAL SPANISH SOLDIER,
Although Poorly Fed and Clothed
They Make Good Fighters,


They Make Good Fighters.
The Spanish soldier, as described by
those who have seen him in his den,
Is a small, lissom, almost puny being,
and presents a picture the reverse of
lnspiriting. AS he slouches along on
the march, unkempt, unshorp and tat
terdemalion, the sight of him In the
ranks would break the heart of an En-
| glish or German martinet-than whom
there is no greater stickler for form
and appearance on the face Of this
earth, or at least the writer has never
seen q greater, But to come back to
our Spaniard-huge hempen sandals
encase his often sockleSs feet, his trou-
sers are frayed and threadbare, his i'll.
fitting tunic hangs limp and loose for
want of buttons here and there, and
his cap, If he boasts one, Is flung care
lessly on the back of his head. Huge
wooden gloves of a bright green hue,
and sadly in need Of darning, endeayor
to conceal the scanty length of the tu-
mic sleeves, but two or three inches of
a brown, sinewy arm insist on peening
forth at the least exertion. His rife Is
carried anyhow-sometimes at the
trail, sometimes at the slope, and often
slung behind his back, but always In
different position to that of his neigh
Dor IN the ranks. The order is in
variably a struggle, and the formation
Is more easily guessed at than identi-
ned by one accustomed to the sharp,
quick movements and straight serried
ranks OF more disciplined troops.
Yet, withal, the Spanish soldier Is a
good fighter, when brought to bay, as
many a bloody field has attested. In
guerrilla warfare his fame is pre-emi-
nent, and amidst the greatest priya-
lions he bears his hard lot cheerfully
and uncomplainingly. Notwithstand-
Ing his shutting gait, he seems never
to tire on the march, and In brief is In
many respects worthy and danger
GUS foe. On the field of Igualada, one
OF the fiercest fights of the late Carlist
war, q loyal regiment that had no
choice between humiliation and sur
render, unhesltatingly chose the for
mer and allowed itself to be merciless-
~ butchered, though not without rem
dering a good account Of the enemy,
whose victory was purchased at an
enormous sacrifice.
In the matter Of food the Peninsular
soldier Is easily satisfied and no great
charge on the commissariat. Two
meals day suffice him, and those are
scanty enough. In some smart" corps
coffee and soup are allowed early in
the morning, but the average soldier
feeds only at a. m. and again at s
}. m.
one and half pounds Of bread, and !
black at that, is the entire ration al.
owed per day by the government. ANY
additional luxuries (save the markD |
must be purchased out Of his own
pocket at the regimental canteen.
which Is kept by civilian, though the
'rices are kept within reasonable
pounds by a regimental committee.
me private eats little or no meat, es-
'ecially when on active service. and
this is attributed the wonderful re.
operative power of Spanish soldiers.
heir wounds healing extremely easily
nd rapidly On the march our Don ia
atisfied with O. chunk of dry black
read, little oil, and a Glove or two of
arlic, the whole washed down by a
lodest allowance Of water Truly a
ghting ration that the American SOL
Ter would find 1t hard to stomach. No
Ionder the typical Spaniard is lean
nd evil smelling and unwholesome
'Oking!