The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-29

Nevertheless, there ara exceptions.
havo often observed the contrast in the
country when the columns were moving.
A considerate commander would have
his men alert and active, fill of spirit
and determination. In spite OF their rags
they would look like soldiers. Where the
officers were negligent and indifferent
the battalions would show it too. Untor-
tunately, most of the officers belong 10
the latter class. have heard them praise
tbs patience and endurance Of their men
to the skies. but it was the praise that
might be given to g troop of dumb ami
mails. That a commanding officer had
any duty beyond ordering such beasts OF
burden about seemed never to enter their
heads.
or the different branches of the service,
the cavalry is the better equipped and
better provided In some parts of the
island the infantry is literally starving
army in rags Artillery, as such, is hard
ly known. The infantry is formed into
artillery as occasion requires. The men
who are shut up in the forts everywhere
have to learn to be artillerymen. I have
seen more field pieces brought into Ha-
vana during the last week than l sup
posed were available for the whole war.
Most of them were small and of ancient
pattern. Since the insurgents learned
how to use the dynamite gun and Calixto
Garcia began bombarding the towns held
by the Spaniards in Santiago, the troops
have learned more concerning the use OF
artillery than they knew before. They
had to.slearn for their own defense But
whether as cavalrymen, infantrymen or
artillerymen, the Spanish soldiers are the
same patient animals.
MUTINIES RARE.
In spite of the neglect of their govern
ment, the long arrears of pay and the
abuses to which they are subject. mutt
MES have been rare. Where a company
has gone over to the insurgents 1t has
usually been one of the local volunteers
or guerrillas, and not the regular troops.
1t may be while yet before the privates
fully comprehend their new power. be-
cause the officers will be slow in teach
ing it to them. However, the officers
must have the support of the rank and
file to sustain themselves. and the knowl-
edge will gradually spread among the
ranks. Then the army, asa mass, may
become a tremendous factor. The sol
diers have no faint Of disloyalty in them.
They are fighting "para la patra' for
the country They do not know what
autonomy means. Their lot has been the
same under Sagasta that it was under
Canovas Former changes of Ministry
have meant nothing to them. 1t would
be hard to make them believe that their
part in putting somebody else in Sagas-
tia place would be treason to Spain.
The officers as class are fully con-
scio is of their power. 1t is true that with
| them the army is professional calling
yet in Spain the military profession has
always been mixed up with political
affairs. Their esprit de corps is hardly
as high as in most armies. Many of the
young officers, who come out from the
military school are Of good type, but
their training does not appear to have
| been broad and thorough preparation
for military life. They would hardly
rank with the graduates of ST. Cyr or
| West Point Few of the noble and his
toric families of Spain are without repre-
sentation in the army in Cuba today. 1t
| is possibly as exaggeration to say that
| the officers as class have wanted to pro-
long the war Indefinitely. 1t is literal
| truth that few of them have looked for
ward to an early and complete restoration
of peace The double pay which they re-
ceive is an inducement not too put the
army on peace footing to soon.
The chance for winning some of the
numerous decorations and the pensions
which go with them is a temptation
The opportunity for gain in the commits
sary department is recognized preroga-
| tive. Not to take advantage of 1t would
| be to permit the unwarranted assumption
that the Spanish military system is on a
basis different from the Spanish official
system. The younger officers do not think
of these things The older ones, many of
whom have served in the Philippines, do
think Of them. and are not concerned if
a change in the Ministry at Madrid
should prolong the term of the insurrec-
| ton.
INDEPENDENT GENERALS.