New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27

weak point of the Spanish Army which in spite
oi the excellent raw material has much more
III common with the military forces OF the South
american Republics than with those Of any
great Power Of the civilized world The mo-
h'ent one enters club. cafe any other
pace Of public resort ut Madrid one hears on
every side discussions as to what this that
general is going to DO in the way Of political
coups. the latter being accounted Of much more
Importance than any victory in the field. In
TACT the foreigner gathers the impression that
inc spanish sirmy is Il mere political engine. the
generals officers and soldiers of which consider
IL perfectly lawful and right to conspire against
and to overthrow the Government " the day.
General Salamanca very faithfully depicted
the feelings Of the Spanish Army when
he declared one day from his place in the
Senate that "the army only made pronun-
ciamcntOs against the Governments which
resisted its inclination" and that the army
pressed the aspirations Of public opinion" citing
as examples the glorious pronunciamentos Of
1868. 1873 and 1874"
THE ARMY LACKS DISCIPLINE.
Tho non-commissioned officers and men dis
cuss tho politics of their chiefs. the subaliern
officers argue as to the right or wrong Of the
commands which they receive before proceeding
70 execute them. while the generals are most
outspoken in criticisins the conduct Of the Gov
eminent and If The Crown. In fact. there is alb
solutcly no spirit Of discipline either among the
officers or men. and the result is 70 be found in
tie otherwise unlccountablr failure Of an army
close upon two hundred thousand mep and
nearly fifty generals to suppress the Cuban in
Suirection. which could readily have been
crushed the beginning with small disci-
plined force. but which has had its growth f"s-
tered and developed 20 phenomenal degree by
the lack If discipline Of the men and the in
capacity Of the officers Of the Spanish Army
Properly ofcered honestly paid on the iegu-
lar pay day when his money is due equipped
and cared for in the same way as the
soldiers Of the United States. of Great britain
and Of other European Powers. the Spanish sol
der might prove 4 Formidable antagonist. espc-
cially when h, is IN the latter part Of his three
years compulsory service. For h. is even under
most unfaVorablc conditions good fighter. not
afraid Of getting hur; nor hampercd by any
scruplcs as to hurting others. In fact. his one
fault Is his tendency to saVagery attributable
to the prcsenc. Of Moorish blood in his veins.
which leads him to mutilate the dead and
the dy ing much ii the same manner Is the
NoOrs The DorVishcs. most Of the Asatic races
and the American Indians are in the habit Of
doing with their foes This is. after all but
another phase OF thc iisubordinaiiur Of the
Spanish soldiers since their officers hcirg un-
able to control them even in times of peace. are
still less BILE to restrain them when the din
and excitement Of battle have aroused in their
bosums the latent lust Of blood and slaughter.
Not since the beginning Of the century have
81 anish troops had an opportunity Of measuring
swords against tho trained army f any great
Power. and there is every reason to believe that
should that opportunity be afforded to them n
the next few weeks they will. owing To their lack
If discipline. to the faultness Of their equip
nent. to the incapacity and INSTRUMENTATION Of
the suhaltcrn officers. and to the anxiety Of the
generals to get the best. not Of the enemy. but
II their own comrades and fellow commanders.
beginning Of the present century. when the
Spanish forces W-re defeated in every encounter
with the French that they undertook single
handed while their support was always regard
% in the light Of drawback rather than Of an
assistance By their English allies. The great
Duke Of Wellington. in fact. used TO say that all
that q Spani1rd was III for was guerilla war
fare that is 10 say. for shooting at a man from
ehind a tree And there is much to lead one
TO believe that what was true then Is just as
true to-day. EX-ATTACHE. .