The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-07-09
REAL SPANISH SOLDIERS.
Although They Are Poorly Fed and
Clothed They Make Good
Fighters.

The Spanish soldier, as described by
those who have seen him in his den,
is small, lissome, almost puny being
and presents a picture the reverse OF
inspiriting. AS he slouches along on
the march, unkempt, unshorn and
tatterdemalion, the sight of him in the
ranks would break the heart of an Eng
fish or German martinet-than whom
there is no greater stiekler for form and
appearance ON the face of the earth, or
at least the writer has never seen a
greater. But to come back to our Span.
iard-huge hempen sandals inease his
often sockless feet, his trousers are
frayed and threudbare, his ill-fitting
tunic hangs limp and loose for want
of buttons here and there, and his cap
If he boasts of one, Is flung carelessly
on the back of his head. Huge wooden
gloves of bright green hue, and sad.
~ in need of darning, endeavor to con-
ceal the scanty length of the tunic
sleeves, but two or three inches OF
brown, sinewy arm insist on peepng
forth at the least eXertion. His rifle is
carried any how-sometimes at the
trail, sometimes at the slope, and ofter
slung behind his back, but always In
different position to that of his neigh
Dor in the ranks. The order is inya.
riably straggle, and the formation
is more easily guessed at than identified
by one accustomed TO the sharp, quick
movements and straight serried ranks
of more disciplined troops.
Yet, withal the Spanish soldier is
good fighter, when brought to bay,
as many bloody field has attested In
guerilla warfare his fame is preemi-
nent, and amidst the great privatious he
bears his hard lot cheerfully and I'M
complainingly. Notwithstanding his
shutting gait, he never seems to tire Oh
the march, and in brief is in many re-
respects worthy and dangerous foe. On
the field of Igualda, one of the fiercest
fights of the late Carlist war, n loyal
regiment that had no choice between
humiliation and surrender, unhesita'
ingly chose the former and allowed it.
self to be mercilessly butchered, though
not without rendering good account
OF the enemy, whose victory was pur-
chased at an enormous sacrifice.
In the matter of food, the peninsulaT
soldier is easily satisfied and no great
charge on the commissariat. Two meals
a day suffice him, and those are scanty
enough. In some smart" corps coffee
and soup are allowed early in the morn
ing but the average soldier feeds only
at nine a. m. and again at five p. NJ
One and hale pounds of bread, and
black at that, is the entire ration al
lowed per day by the government. Any
additional luXurics (save the markD
must be purchased out of his own
pocket at the regimental canteen, which
Is kept by civilian, though the prices
are kept within reasonable bounds by
reglmental committee. The private
eats little or no meat, especially when
on active service, and to this is at
trlbuted the wonderful reeuperatiye
power of Spanish soldiers, their wounds
healing extremely easily and rapidly.
On the march our Don is satisfied with
a chunk of dry black bread, little oil,
ana a Glove or two of garlic, the whole
washed down by a modest allowance
OF water. Truly a fighting ration that
the American soldier would find il hard
to stomach. No wonder the typical
spaniard is lean and evil smelling and
unwholesome lookingl 49, st. Louis
Globe-Democrat.