The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1898-08-18

What Uncle Sans Troops Will
Have to Contend With.
Many BeardIess Boys Sent from Spain
Who Never Return 10 Their
HomeA-the Army
Classified.
spain's forces in Cuba are classified

Spain's forces in Cuba are classified
as follows:
First-Regular infantry. This force
is composed exclusively of men born in
Spain. One can have only feelings of
pity for these poor boys, for most of
them are barely 20 years of age. As
regiment after regiment goes march
ing past, one will look at thousands of
youthful faces before seeing a grizzled
veteran These boys are clean-looldng,
neat and well-behaved. "Toughs" and
rowdies among them are almost wholly
unknown. They care nothing about
Cuba. The island might sink into the
sea, and they would merely roll a fresh
cigarette and dream of the blue hills of
old Spain, so very, very far away. They
are dragged from their peaceful, quiet
homes to fight for Spain. That is all
they know about ii, and it is all they
care. Poor boys! One could only pity
them, as they kept always coming, com
ing to havana, and never going back.
1t would be a pity to NOW down these
inoifensiye lads with machine guns and
steel iacl1eted bullets.
Second-Regular cavalry. This is
practically little more than mounted
infantry. The men are of Spanish birth
If one did not know that their horses
came chiefly from Texas, the inference
would be irresistible that the cavalry
mounts were the direct descendants of
Rosnante of blessed memory. The av-
erage cavalry horse of the Spanish
forces in Cuba recalls the old story of
the man who was driving along a vii
| lage street somewhere in Connecticut
with horse that was apparently saved
| from total disintegration only by the
! harness.
'lIello!" said a friend on the side
walk. Going to have new horse?"
What dye mean?' demanded the
Other
why, / thought you were going to
have "a new horse. | see you have the
frame up"
When the spanish cavalry horse be-
comes too weak and decrepit for active
service he is sold to the bull fighters,
who prop him up while the bulls gore
him to death.
Third Guardia Civil--infantry This
is really an admirable body Of men 1t
is the pick OF the Spanish troops in
Cuba. 70 be eligib for service in his
corps man must be OF good character
and some education, As the nulaa inn
plies, il is a civil guard, detailed chiefly
for service in cities and other places
where an intelligent, wel-behaved
force IS required. The men are not
mounted. They are of Spanish birth
and they take pride IN the good name
of their corps.
Fourth uerrillas--cavalry. From
the namc this force is supposed by
most Americans to be composed Of law
less bands Of rulliaus roaming about
without method or discipline, in search
of Threats to cut and hen rousta TO rob
This Is an error. The gugrtuas are reg
ularly enlisted men, properly ulcered
and subjected to army discipline. The
detestation in which they are held
arises from two circumstances: First
they are mostly uative-horn Cubans
fighting for pay against the reedom OF
their own country; second, in their ca
pacity of scouts and rural patrol they
come in contact with the insurgents
more frequently than any other Span
ish force. When captured by insurgents
guerrilla receives no quarter. lie is
either hacked to death with a machett
or hanged to the nearest tree. BY rea
son of his intimate knowledge of the
country the guerrilla is more feared ant
| hn.tgI ,1 "a Of h., ,tsl
troops combined. When captured by
: Insurgents, the Spanish born soldier i,
treated humanely, and put toworli rails
ing vegetables for the use of his cap
tors The captured guerrilla, however
Is killed like wild beast
Firth-Nolunteers 49, infantry. rhi,
was Wcyler's pet force, It is composed
chiefly of Spanish residents of Cubi
who hold themselves in readiness fo
active service when called upon in time
of emergency. Its fighting ability il
supposed to be confined to volleys o
selected epithets delivered at Ions
J range.
) SiXth-Mobili2ad os-infantry. This i
, an irregular force for defensive pur
HosVS pHIS' II is composed OF Dol
Spaniards and natve-bom Cubans.
is to all intents aud purposes force o
, night watchmcn serving without pa,
/ or with pay, as circumstances provide
} Each fortified town is supposed to pro
!, vide certain number of mobilizado
, to do guard duty at the blockhouse fort
guarding the place The citizens usual
! " take turns at this duty. BY obtain
4 ing special permit from the authori
ties the owner of plantation may arm
q his workmcn or may hire men as guard,
!. to protect his property against ban
dts.
Seventh-0rden Publieo - infantry
9 This is city guard similarto the Guar
: dia Civil. 1t was with men from th
force that the United States consulat
general in Havana was guarded.
The Spanish troops are armed will
the Mauser rifle, which is small.bor
weapon of high power fat traiector,
and great penetration, 1t will kill at
dist?nce of mile and half. Tn
Springfield rifle, with which the Ney
: York national guard is armed, is II.
+ match for the Mauser, MANY of the in
: surgents have Remingtons of the sam
@ caliber and length of chamber as tn
V Mauser, so that captured Spanish am
: munition may be used in rebel guns
N. Y. Tribune.
Il Population of Corea,