Evening star., 1898-05-07
SPANS FORCES IN CUBA.
Seven Different Classes of Troops
Serving on the Island.

From the New York Tribune.
When American troops land in Cuba they
will be confronted by an assorted lot Oh
Spanish soldiery. Spain's forces OH 'he
island are ella ssified as follows:
First-Regular infantry. This force is
composed exclusively of men born In Spain.
One can have only feelings of pity Tor THESE
poor boys, for most Of them are barely
twenty years cf age. AS regiment aitSr
regiment goes marching past, one VIII iooh
at thousands of youthful faces before see
ing a grizzled veteran. These poys are
clean-looking, neat and Weli-peha'eu
'Toughs' and roWdies among them are al
most wholly unknown. They care nothlhS
about Cuba. The island might sink into
the sea. and they would merely roll fresh
cigarette and dream of the blue nils Oh olo
Spain, so very, very far away. They are
dragged from their peaceful, quiet homes TO
fight fer Spain. That is all they know
about it, and It Is all they care. Poor boys!
One could only pity them, as they Kept al
ways coming, coming to Havana, and never
going back. 1t would be pity to NOW
down these fnoffensive lads with machine
guns and steel-jacketed bullets.
Second-Regular cavalry. This is practi-
cally little more than mounted infantry
The men are .ofISpanish birth. If one did
not know that their horses came chiefly
from Texas the inference would be ire
sistible that the cavalry mounts were the
direct desGfndants of Rosinante of blessed
memory he average cavalry horse of the
Spanish forces ia Cuba recalls the old story
of the mag whv was driving along viii
lage et,someThere in Connecticut with
horse that wassapparently saved from TO-
tai disintegEation only by the harness
"Hello!' sadtia friend on the sidewalk
Going to Savesa new horse?'
What dye mean?' demanded the other.
why, Ishought you We're going to have
new horse. / see you have the frame up"'
When the Spanish cavalry horse becomes
too weak 2Rnd decrepit for active service
he is sold to the, bull fighters, who prop
him up while the bull cores him to death.
Third 0uardia Civil-infantry. This is
really admirable body of men. 1t is the
pick of the Spanish troops in Cuba. To be
eligible for service in this corps man
must be OF good character and some edu-
cation, AS the name implies it is civil
guard. detailed chiefly for service in cities
and other places where an intelligent. we'll
behaved force is required. The are
not mounted They are of Spanish birth,
and they take pride i'll the good name Of
their corps.
h-Guerrllas-cavalry. From the
name, this force is supposed by most Amer
leans to be composed of lawless bands of
ruffians roaming about without method
discipline, in search of throatS to cut and
hen roosts to rob. This is an error. The
guerrillas are regularly enlisted men, prop
erly officered, and subjected to army dis
cipline. The detestation in which they are
held arises from tw" circumstances: First,
they are mostly native-bOrn CubanS fight
ing for pay against the freedom of their
own country: second in their capacity Of
scouts and rural patrol they come in con-
fiict with the insurgents more frequently
than any other Spanish force. When cap
tured by insurgents guerrilla receives no
quarter. He is either hacked to death with
a machete or hanged to the nearest tree.
BY reason of his intimate knowledge of the
country the guerrilla Is more feared and
hated than all tie rest of the Spanish
troops combined!a When captured by in
surgents, the 3panish-born soldier is treat
ed humanely and put to work raising veg
etables for the use of his captors. The
captured guerrilla, however, is killed like
wild beast.
Fifth - Volunteers-infantry. This was
Weyier's pet force. 1t is composed chiefly
of Spanish residents of Cuba who hold
themselves in readiness for active service
when called upon in times of emergency
It's fighting ability is supposed to be con-
fined to voleys of selected epithets deliver
ed at long range
Mobilizados-infantry. This is an
irregular force for defensive purposes only
1t is composed of both Spaniards and ma
tive-born Cubans. 1t is to all intents and
purposes force of night wa.chmen serving
without pay or with pay, as circumstances
provide. Each fortified town is suppos I'd
to provide certain number of mopili1ados
to do guard duty at the blockhouse (. rts
guarding the place. The citizens usually
take dt tiiS uuty. by obtaining Il
special permit from the authorities the
owner of a plantation may arm his work.
men may hire men guards to protect
his property against bandits
Seventh-Orden Publico-infantry. This Is
a city guard similar to the Guardia Civil
1t was with men from this force that the
United States consulate general in Havana
was guarded.
The Spanish troops are armed with the
Mauser rife, which is smal. bore weapon
Of high power, fiat Trajectory and great
| 1r;ll
mile and half. The Springfield rife. with
which the New York National Guard is
aimed, is no match for the Mauser Many
OF the insurgents have Remingtons of the
same caliber and length of chamber as the
Mauser. soithat captured Spanish ammun.-
ton may be used in rebei guns.