The times., 1898-02-20
THE SPANISH SOLDIERS.
The Opinion of Capt. Cason, VIII
Has Fought Them.

The characteristics of the Spanish sol
aier are well known to Capt. Frank w
| Cason. of Charleston. :. g. who served
! nearly two years In the ranks of the in
surgents- during the IN - war for Cuban
! independence. The captain was met al
/ the Metropolitan Hotel yesterday after
/ noon by Times reporter, who asked his
estimate of the Spaniard as a warrior.
In the first place" he replied, know
| ing the Spaniards as well as l do, j want
| to say with emphasis that in my opinion
| the sinking of the Maine in Havana har-
Dor was another piece of Spanish treach-
cry. They are, as a rule, most treaeher-
Gus.
During their present war with the Gu
bans they have accomplished many
things by treachery alone, from the kill
ing of Maceo and Aranguren TO the de-
struction of our fine battleship and the
ruthless slaughter of nearly 250 American
sailors.
During my participation in the ten
years war in Cuba / made a study Of
the Spanish soldiers, and il may be in
terestinG to Americans now in view Of
the possibility that We may have to cross
swords and measure lead with the Dons.
The average Spaniard in the army is a
dandy Not dude. such as we see on the
streets of Washington with his trousers
rolled up on a sunshinS day. but a dandy
in the sense peculiar TO Mexico and the
Spanish-speaking republics of South
America. He is fond of bright colors and
flashing metal decorations, and always
imagines he is a handsome fellow, al
though he may be as ugly as mud fence
struck by lightning.
Nothing would please a Spanish troop
er more than to be dressed in a gaudy
scarlet uniform, decked with metal de
signs, on review before the populace,
mounted on prancing charger. In a
word. he makes a most effective sunny
day. dress parade soldier He is a happy
fellow under happy circumstances, and is
fond of wine. woman. song, and Cigaret-
tes He also lacks energy and is at his
best while quartered in camp or garrison,
where he can recline in the sunshine. and
build air castles in the puff Of blue smoke
from his cigarette
Now. as 10 his capabilities as a fight
ing machine. 1 have heard men say the
Spanish soldiers have that dash peculiar
to the French. and are therefore at their
best in a charge. This is not So The
Spaniard is like the Mexican and Ameri-
can Indian in more ways than one. Like
the two latter, they are fond Of gaudy
tosgery- Like them also they fight best
from under cover. Weyler was well
aware of this when he built his trochas
and forts in the 'pacined provinces He
knew the soldiers of Spain under his com
mand could not be depended upon to
fight the Cubans in the open. That they
would waver and scatter like partridces
under musketry fire unless their bodies
were concealed behind earthworks forts
or trochas. The history of the present
war for Cuban independence as far as
il has been learned. tells how easy the
Spanish soldiers are routed by a charging
column OF Cuban patriots with their
flashing machetes.
The Spaniards are excellent soldiers
on paper or dress parade. but should we
have r2" aith their country you can rest
assured that they could never be brought
up to face the solid ranks Of our boss in
blue who fight ccolly in the open. dis
charge their weapons when necessary
with the regularity Of clock-work. stand
their ground like stone wall. or charge
with sweep that is almost irresistible
A war between the United States and
Spain would not he OF long duration, if
we could only find the Dons and get a
whack at them. Il is one OF their charac-
teristics also. TO call all Americans
towards and regard US with contempt. /
can best define the Spanish soldier in this;
respect by referring to him as "a barking
dog which does not bite
Capt. Cason concluded by saying tGat
more Spaniards would be killed III the
present Cuban war if they would Only
come out of their hiding places, show
themselves and give the patriot gunners
a chance The captain was wounded
slightly in the left leg, during the ten
years war and said the Spaniard who
shot him was perfectly concealed in d
pit before which a small earthwork mad
been thrown up
The hardest work Cuban sharpshooters
have is to get a bead on one of their
hole burrowing enemies, who are more
afraid of gunpowder and dynamite than
they are of Old Nick himself, said he in
cnncln sion.