New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-27
SPANISH FORCES GIN CUBA.
SEVEN DIFFERENT CLASSES OF TROOPS
SERVING IN THE ISLAND.
A REGULAR INFANTRY FORCE MADE UP OF
BoYsTHE GUERILLAs AND WHY THEY
ARE HATED AND RECEIVE
NO QUARTER.

ARE HATED AND RECEIVE
No QUARTER.
When American troops land in Cuba they will
be confronted by an assorted lot of Spanish
sodiery. SPANS forces on the island classi-
fed as follows:
First-Regular infantry This force is COM
posed exclusively Of men born in Spain. One
have only feelings Of pity for these poor
boys for most Of them are barely twenty 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-looking. 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 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 1t. and 1t is all they care
Poor boys. one could only pity them. as they
kept always coming coming to Havana. and
never going back. 1t would be pity to NOV
down these inofensive lads with machine guns
and steel-jacketed 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 in
ference would be irresistible that the cavalry
mounts were the direct descendants of Rosi-
mantle Of blessed memory. The average cavalry
horse Of the Spanish forces in Cuba recalls the
old story Of the man who was driving along
village street somewhere in Connecticut with a
horse that was apparently saved from total dis
Indignation only by the harness.
"Hellor' said a friend the sidewalk.
Going TO have a new horse
What dye mean" demanded the other.
WHY. thought you going to have a
new horse l see you have the frame up
When the Spanish cavalry horse becomes too
weak and decrepit for active service he is sold
70 the bull-hghters. who prop him up while the
bull cores him TO death.
Third -Guardia Civil-lnfantry. This is really
an admirable body of men 1t is the pick OF the
Spanish troops in Cuba. To be eligible for ser
vice with this corps a man must he OF good
character and some education. AS the name I'M
plies IT is a civil guard detailed chiefly for ser
vice in cities and other places where ar intelli-
gent well-behaved force is required. The men
are not mounted They are of Spanish birth.
and they take pride in the good name or their
corps.
Fourth-Guerillas- cavalry. From the name.
this force is supposed by most Americans n be
composed Of awless bands % ruflians roaming
about without method or discipline in search Of
throats to cut and henrOosts 10 rob This is al
error The guerillas are regularly enlisted men,
properly differed. and subjected to army disci-
pline The detestatOn in which they are held
arises from two circumstances First. they are
mostly natve-horn Cubans. fighting for pay
against the freedom OF their own country, sec
ond in their capacity Of scouts and rural patrol
they come in conflict with the insurgents more
frequently than any other Spanish force When
captured by insurgents q guerilla receives no
quarter He is either hacked to death with
machete or hanged to the nearest tree. BY rea-
son Of his intimate knowledge OF the country the
guerilla is more feared and hated than all the
rest Of the Spanish troops combined. When cap
tured by insurgents. the Spanish-horn soldier is
treated humanely. and put u work raising vege-
tables for the Of his captors. The captured
guerilla. however. is killed like wild beast
Volunteers infantry. This was Wey-
ler's pet force II is composed chiefly OF span
ish residents Of cuba who hold themselves IN
readiness for active Service when called upon IN
times Of emergency It's lighting ability Is sup
posed 10 be confined 10 volleys or selected cpl
thets delivered at long range
sixth - Mobilizados - infantry. This IL an
irregular force for defensive purposes only 1t
is composed Of both Spaniards and ive-born
Cubans II is 10 all intents and purposes
force Of Ght-watchmen serving without pay or
with pay as circumstances provide. Each
fortified town is supposed 10 provide certain
number Of mohillzados 10 do guard duty az the
hlockhouse forts guarding the place. The citi-
zens usually take turns at this duty BY OBJ
tanning n special permit from the authorities the
owner Of a plantation may arm his workmen or
may hire men as guards 10 protect his property
against bandits
Seventh-Orden publico-infantry This is
city guard similar 10 the Guarda civil. II was
with men from this force that the United states
Consuate-Ceneral in Havana was guarded.
The Spanish troops are armed with the Maui
rife which is a sman-hore weapon OF hiGh
power fat trajectory and great penetration. IL
will Kill nj distance of a mile and a half. The
Springfield rife. with which the New-York Ma
tional Guard is armed. is no match for the
Mauser Many OF tho insurgents have Reming-
tons OF the same calihre and length OF chamber
n the Mauser. so that captured Spanish ammu-
milton may he used In rebel guns
AGREEMENT on THE ALASKAN BILL