Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22

commander would have his men alert and
active, full Of spirit and determination. In
spite of their rags, they would lock like
soldiers. Where the officers were negli-
gent and Indifferent the hattafions would
show it, too Unfortunately, most of the
officers belong to the latter class. 1 have
heard them praise the patience, and en-
durance of their men to the zkies, but it
was the praise that might be given to a
troop of dumb animals. That a command
ing officer had any duty, beysnd ordering
such beasts of burden about seemed never
to enter their heads. $50
OF the different branches of the service,
the cavalry is the better equipped and bet
ter provided. In some parts of the island
the infantry Is literally starving army in
rags. Artillery as such is hardly known.
The infantry is formed into artillery as
occasion requires. The men who are shut
up in the forts everywhere have to learn
to be artillerymen. 1 have seen more field
pieces brought into Havana during the last
week than 1 supposed was available for the
whole war. Most of theiH were small and
of ancient pattern. Since the insurgents
learned how to use the dynamite gun and
Calixto Garcia began bomnarding the towns
held by the Spaniards in Santiago the
troops have learned more cpncerning the
use of artillery than they Fknew before.
They had to learn for tt5eir own defense.
But whether as cayalrynen, infantrymen
or artilierymen, the Spanish soldiers are
the same patient animals
In spite of the neglect of their govern
ment, the long arrears of pay and the
abuses to which they are subject. mutt
how
has gone over to the insurgents it has
usually been one of local volunteers or
guerrillas, and not the regular troops. 1t
may be awhile yet before the privates
fully comprehend their new power, be-
cause the officers will bexslow in teaching
it to them. However, the officers must
have the support Of the rank and file to
sustain themselves, ands the knowledge
will gradually spread among the ranks.
Then the army as a mass may become a
tremendous factor. The soldiers have no
taint Of disloyalty in them They are
fighting para Ia .patrans-,.tor the coun-
try They do not know what autonomy
means. Their lot has beens.the same un-
der Sagasta that it was under Canovas
Former changes of ministry have meant
nothing to them. 1t would be hard to
---~--NS
ting somebody else in Sagasta's place
would be treason to Spain.
Power of the Omcers.
The officers as class are fully con-
scious of their power It, Is true that with
them the army is5 a Professional calling,
yet In Spain the inilitaTys nrofession has
always been mixed up WITH political af-
fairs. Their esprit du corps II hardly as
high as In most armies Many of the
young officers who come out from the
military school are Of ssbod type, but
their training does not Appear To have been
a broad and thorough prep8ation for
military life. They would lhardly rank
with the graduates of g. CIR or West
Point. Few Of the noble and hlstoric fam
lilies Of Spain are withsuA representation
In the army in Cuba today 70 Is possibly
an exaggeration to say thst th1 officers as
a class have wanted to proloAg the war
indefinitely. 1t Is q literal tr,rl1n that few
OF them have looked forward to an early
and complete restoration Of Jnsace. The
double pay which they receivs is an in
ducement not to put the army on q peace
footing too soon..
The chance for wirning some of the
numerous decorations and the pensions
which go with them is q temptation. The
opportunity for gain in the commissary
department is a recognized prerogative.
Not to take advantage Of 1t would be to
permit the unwarranted assumption that
the Spanish military system is on a basis
different from the spaniaEi official system.
The younger oficer1 do nSs think of these
things. The older snes, s4nany Of whom
have served in the Philipia hes. do think of
them. and are not concernse II change in
the ministry at Madrid sNduld prolong the
term of the insurrecticn.
Among the ranking generals Spain has
many fine soldiers In Cuba, but thay assert