The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-01

Matanzas. There was no direct assault
upon the train, no wevor. The insurgents
were concealed in thckets and opened
fire from ambush.
SoIdiery in the Fiid
At times they used grenades filled with
dynamite. The Spanish soldiers showed
no lack of bravery. 1t was said that the
travelling officers went to the opposite ex-
IRENE. Whenever an attack was made
upon the train they got down on their
hands and knees and crawled into the
ironclad cars for shelter Many of the SOL
diers mounted the tops of the cars and
used their rifles. In no case did they leave
the trains to attack the insurgents. At
nearly all stations there were restaurants,
where the officers refreshed themselves
with light wines and liquors The privates
were forced to be content with their cold
coffee. Not an intoxicated officer or priv
ate was seen by any member of the con-
gressional delegation. At one time the
train passed a company of cavalry on the
march The horses resembled the marsh
ponies found in Florida. The men rode in
single file and appeared to be perfectly
equipped Near a bridge between Matan-
zas and Havana, within a mile and a half
of where Ruiz was killed, there was a
field battery of three pieces. They looked
like od-fashioned six-pounders and seemed
to be in bad condition.
The country was dotted with block
houses, resembling those built in our In
dian wars.-Some were ironclad, and 9TH
ers protected with plank There were
loopholes in profusion. Many of these
blockhouses were surrounded with ditches
like meats, the bitches being protected by
o barb-wire fence and the dirt thrown
up against the b1ockhouse. 1t was said
that this prevented the patriots from as
saulting the forts at night. In some of
the houses where attacks were threaten
ed the soldiers were ever under arms,
wary and watchful. In others they left
their rifles in the racks within the house
and lounged around outside in slovenly at
tire.
The garrisons of these blockhouses vary
In size. Around Matanzas three soldiers,
one of whom was a corporal, had charge
of such posts. In small towns in the in
terror, more subject to attack, there were
a dozen soldiers at each station, under
the command of a sergeant
The Spanish recruit is not boisterous,
nor given to horse play. He never solacs
himself with songs. nor becomes particu-
larry dcmonstrative on any occasion. The
brightest of the recruits were called Gal
leois. They are said to have a streak of
Celtic blood in them, and they certainly
exhibit Celtic disposition. They are wit
ty and quick in motion, but lack Irish
Drawn and muscle. The Biscayans were
tall and energetic There is said to be
fine lighting material among them. This
does not hold true with the Catalonians
and Valencians, who are more squalid and
not particularly neat in habit.
Outside of the Trocha
Apparently there was no inspection of
these Lighthouses by any Spanish officials
Rarely were the guards relieved of duty,
and there were no signs of drills or any
military routine whatever. aside from
loungng around the post and awaiting
demonstrations from the enemy. Near
the cities each blockhouse maintained tele-
phonlc communication with the military