The evening times., 1898-09-13
CRITICISING OUR TROOPS.
Spanish Ideas of the Fighting
Material of America.
SUMMARY OF MANY VIEWS
Spirit of the Regulars Who, Always
In the Vanguard, Go Gaiiy Whist
ling Into Battle-Robustness of
the Soldiers-Music in Camp all
Day Long

Madrid, Sept. l3.-The Spanish soldiers,
with their accompaniment of disease, ex
haustion, misery and destitution, are just
now arriving from Cuba, and il will be
interesting to Americans to hear what tn,
repatriated soldiers from Santiago have
TO say about the United States forces.
"hat Is considered 10 be fair repre-
sentation of their impressions. and opin-
ions upon the subject is summarized, in
| an article which is published in all the
spanish newspapers. 1t is as follows:
Nearly all the American soldiers ap-
pear to be over twenty-five years of age
and are very robust in appza aace
The regular army fights very we'll and
has an excellent fighting spirit. 4,
Among the battalions there is much
rivalry. the men advancing with chests
pare, striving which shall plant the coIors
furthest forward
The soldiers are of three colors-bIacL
brown and white.
I'm campaign the uniform of the gen
erals, chiefs and officers is the same As
tnat OF the troops, distinguished only by
the stripes worn at the shoulders
camp uniform is dark, with a flannel
shirt similar to that of our sailors and a
tunic of impermeable cloth
c Of fy,,-
permeable cloth
In the felt hat the majority of then,
carry to the left toothbrush and in the
front small shield on which are en-
proldered crossed carbines and the num-
Der of the battalion.
Generally the soldier carries with him
his provisions and a flask of vinegar tho
iatter as preservative against the ague
How They Are Armed
The armament of The soldier is good
de carries rifle similar TO the Mauser.
only charged with seven cartridges in
place of five, of the same caliber, and in
a case of white metal a sword hayonet
like that of the Mauser, but shorter.
The battalions are very full. and the
number of companies to each superior to
ours.
They said, in speaking to our CSpan-
ish) officers, that they did not mind hay-
ing heavy losses, as there was an over
abundance Of population in their country.
Their regular alimen alton consisted
OF coffee in the morning; two other meals
and iced drinks-ice which they brough.
IN large cars 10 the camps-and a two
pound loaf of bread
In their camps they had their bands
which played until 9 in the morning and
until at night
The seniinels in the camps conducted
themselves with the most extreme care
and vigilance, not allowing themselves
any distractions nor smoking; but when
on the other hand, they were on the
march, they smoked and chatted nd SAT
"hlle they placed their guns up against
| walk .ur-TS
The soldiers were not allowed TO enter
the same places as the officers. For ex
ample, in the boulevard OF Santiago.
where battalion had been posted, SEN
tinels were placed at the doors of the
! cafes, and the soldiers could only OBJ
tain refreshments by permission.
TO avoid scandals and scenes. the
American generals had decreed that the
drinking establishments should be closed
| SO that the soldiers should not drink al
cohol. -s.-lf
Views About Surgeons.
Among the volunteers. as is known
We're some of the representatives OF the
| highest families in the United States and
| some milionaires .rsrt7 r.
There were some medical volunteers
| who, together with the Red Cross So
| ciety, were at Santiago at the disposition
of the Spanish soldiers. There we1a also
some ladies, and young ladies, elegantly
] dressed, and who were devotine them
selves TO the cares of nursing the wound
| ed and sick, from highest TO lowest.
| Religion being free, there were entire
| battaiions of Roman Catholics and on
| Sundays they went to mass at Santiago
| The doctors We're exceedingly well
pa1d, receiving as much as S400 per
month. But in this there is exaggeration.
| The generals convey their orders in
the simplest possible manner, and they
are obeyed with mathematical rapidity.
THE sanitary train is excellent. and
| for the transport of the repatriated
| tSpaniards) from the hospitals outside
| the walls the Americans gave all their
| ambulance coaches, which are very well
| equipped and drawn by six mules with
| automatic brake, and driven by one man.
Whistle as They Fight
THE regular army always fight in the
vanguard. In marching they go whist
| ling or singing
| From the moment they reached San
| tfago they never missed a moment in
practicing with arms and drilling.
| Their infantry is very well instructed
and one of their battalions distinguished
| itself by the extreme rapidity with which
| 1t dug and formed trenches.
Their activity is so great that they
have not occupied place more than half
an hour before they have it fortified OF
| cavalry there is little. The mounts are
| poor
II 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.
i