The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-01

army, which in spite of the excellent raw
material has much more III common with
the military forces Of the South American
republics than with those OF any great
power OF thH civilized world. The moment
one enters a club. a cafe or any other
place of public resort at Madrid Que hears
on every side discussions as to what this
or that general Is going TO do in the way
OF political coups, the latter being ac-
counted OF much more Importance than
any victory in the field. In fact, the for
eigner gathers the impression that the
Spanish army is mere political engine,
the generals. officers and soldiers OF which
consider it perfectly lawful to conspire
against and 10 overthrow the government
OF the day. Gen. Salamanca very faith
fully depicted the feelings OF the Spanish
army when he declared one day from his
place in the senate that "the army only
made pronunciamentos against the gov
ernments which resisted its inclination"
and that the army expressed the aspira-
tions Of public opinion citing as exam
Piles ''she glorious pronunciamentos of 1883,
1873 and lS,i''
The Army Lacks Discipline.
The non-commissioned officers and men
discuss the politics OF their chiefs the
suoaitern officers argue as TO the right or
wrong OF the commands which they re-
ceive before proceeding to execute them.
while the generals are most outspoken in
crIticlsing the conduct of the government
and of the crown. In fact. there is abso-
lutely no spirit of discipline either among
the officers or men, and the result is TO be
found in the otherwise unaccountable fall
ure OF an army close upon 100000 men and
nearly fifty generals to suppress the Cuban
instruction. which could readily have
been crushed al the beginning with Il small
disciplined force, but which has had Its
fqra,nneH IN nh
nomcnal degree by the lack OF discipline
OF the men and the incapacity Of the off,
GERS OF the Spanish army.
Properly officered. honestly paid ON the
regular pay day when his money is due.
equipped and cared for in iiIe same way
as the soldiers OF the United States. OF
Great Britain and of other European pow
ers, the Spanish soldier might prove
formidable antagonist, especially when he
is in the latter part of his three years
compulsory service. For he is even under
most unfavorahle conditions A. good fight
er. not afraid OF getting hurt nor hamper
ed by any scruples as 10 hurting others.
In fact. his one fault Is his tendency TO
savagery. attributable 10 the presence OF
Moorish blood in his veins, which leads
him TO mutilate the dead and the dying
much in the same manner as the Moors,
the Dervishes, most OF the Asatie races
and the American Indians are IN the habit
OF doing Win fuftr ices. IRIS lSs AfEef ait.
but another phase OF the characterization
of the Spanish soldiers since their officers.
being unable TO control them even In
times OF peace. are stu less able 10 re-
strain them when the din and excitement
of battle have aroused in their bosoms the
latent lust OF blood and slaughter
Not since the beginning OF the century
have Spanish troops had an opportunity Of
measuring swords against the trained
army Of any great power, and there Is
every reason TO believe that should that
onr1rtunity be afforded 20 them in the
next few weeks they viii. owing 10 Their
lack OF discipline TO the fanitiness Of their
eo,,iprnert. TO the sncapaeity and insub-
ordination OF the subalfern officers, and
10 the anxiety OF the generals 10 get the
hest rot Of the enemy. but OF their own
comrades and fsiiow-comrsandsrs. make
,he sayne den!orable showing as at the be-
ginning az the present century. when the
S,arfsF, forces were defeated in every en-
,~ounter with the French that they under
,ook sIngie-handed while their support
.,,ss atwavs regarded in the light Of
5rawhart rather than 81 an assistance by
,he,r English allies. The great Duke OF
xreiIfr,~tau in fact used 20 say that All
tia. a Standard was fit for was guerrilla
uarsa~e mat S. 20 SAY. for shooting 81 a
man from behind a tree. And there Is
,,ueh "a lead one 10 believe that what was
.-,,e ther Is Just as true today York
Tribune.