Evening star., 1898-09-13
CURIOUS SPANISH COMMENT.
S'cn Rcpatriatcd From santiago Tell
of American Soldiers.
From tn. Nev York Herald. Today.

From tn. NeN York Herald Today
MADRID. TuesGay.-The Spanish sol
dies. with their accompaniment of disease.
extf lSti,-.. misery and destitution. are just
now arr.vtu4, from Cuba. and it will be in
t-r-stiuy To- Americans to hear what the
r-patr.It.d soldiers from Santiago have to
say aDou- tne United States forces.
VIVA is considered To De Il fair repre-
scutt;Iun IF their Impressions and opinions
upon tF" subject is today summarized in an
article wHrch IS published in ali the Spanish
newspapers it is aS follows:
Merry al TIE American soldiers appear
to be over twenty-five years Of age and
are ye-y- robust in appearance.
Tn IrSUi,C army nights very well, and
has an eNc-Iieut fighting spirit
--Arn-ug the baJtaiior~ there Is mucn ri
Vdlry. td- men advancing with chests bare,
striving which snail plant the colUrs fun
tHest forward
Tt soldiers are Of three colors-black,
brown ami white.
Generally Jh- soldier carries with him
MS provisions and flask full of vinegar.
the Ltrter Is preServative against the aGuc
The armament of the soldier is good. He
CARRIE - rife similar 10 the MauSer. only
charged with seven cartridges III place of
five, II .h- - me calibcr and in a case of
white metal = sword bayonet like that OF
IN, MJn~-T. but shorter.
'fne hattallons are very full. and the
number at companies To each superior TO
ours
-Tl~y said. IN speaking to our Spanish
officers. that they lid not mind having
heavy losses - there was an OVerst bun
dane ui population iE their country.
Their r"Eular IlInentItion consisted of
coffee in the morning, Two other meals and
iced drIuk--icc VI ich they brought in large
cars to the camps-aud Il JwO-pound loaf Of
bread.
In thei~ camps they had their bands.
which played until . in the morning and
until - at night.
Thy seatinels in the camps conducted
thrmScly.~ with The most extreme care and
vigilance. not allowing themselves any dis
fractions nor smoking. but when, on the
OtIrr ttld, tuyy WrT. on the march. they
snI"k.t and chattcd and sat while they
placed their guns uu against a wall.
In" soldiers Were not allowed TO enter.
the slru" places as the officers For ey-
ampla, In thr boulevard of Santiago where.
a hdJJaii"n Etd been posted, sentincls were
placed al tho doors Of tine cafes and the
soldiers could only obtain refreshments by
permission
To avoid scardaIs and scenes, the Amer
lean generals had decreed that the drinking
establishments should l,- closed so that the
soldiers should not drink alcohol.
Among tn volunteers, as is known We.
som "i the repr' 'sentativ"s OF the highest
families Iu the United States and some mil
"Ther. were some medical volunteers
VINO. t"-' thor with :hc Red Cross Society
werg az Santiago at the disposition of fhe
ladies Hui young ladies, elegantly dressed
and who were davOtin. themselves 20 Ihe
cares ~ nursing the wounded and sick
from highest to .OWeSt
RelisIrn being free. there were entire
battilinuS of Roman Catholics and ON sun
DAYS thy went to mass at Santiago
The doyt"rs were exceedingly well paid
receiving as much 500 per month But
Ia this there * eXtECcratiUn.
The gene rails convey their orders in the
slmpl, 81 possible manner. and they are
obeyed with mathematical rdpidltv
The sanitary train is excellent and for
the transport of the repatriated (Spaniards)
from the hospitals outside the walls M.
Americans gave all their ambulance COACH
es. which arc very well equipped and drawn
by SIX mules. with automatic brake and
driven BY one man.
The regular army always fights in the
NdhSuard In marching they go whistline,
or singing.
From the moment they reached Santi-
ago they never missed a moment in nrac
Their infantry - very Veil ,pstrrc,a,
and one of their bJJtalions distinguished
user by the extreme raDidity with which
II dug and formed trenches
Their activity is so great that they have
not occupied place more than half an
hour before they have il fortified OF cav
airy there is little. TIE mounts are moor -
IL must be remembered that the above
are not expert opinions, but a number OF
Impressions taken from many mouths and
from the soldiers as they arrived