The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-23
SPANISH SOLDIERS IN CUBA.
The Amy Is Made Up Largely of
Youthful Recruits Sent Over
from Spain.

lrst-SReguiar infantry. This force
is comprised 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 aces before seeing grizzled
veteran. These boys are clean-looking,
neatland Nell-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 it, 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
inoffensive 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.
II 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
Rosinante 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 viii
lage street somewhere in Connecticut
with horse that was apparently saved
from total disintegration only by the
harness.
'Hello!" said friend on the side
walk. Going to have a new horse?"
what dye mean?" demanded the
other.
why, 1 thought you were going to
have new horse. l 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. To be eligible for service in this
corps a man must be of good character
and some education. AS the name i'm
plies, it is a civil guard, detailed chiefly
for service in cities and other places
where an intelligent, well-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-Guerrillas From
the name, this force is supposed by
most Americans to be composed of law
less bands of rutfians roaming about,
without method or discipline, in search
of threats to cut and hen roosts to rob.
This is an error. The guerrillas are reg
ularly enlisted men, properly differed,
and subjected to army discipline. The
detestation in which they are held
arises from two circumstances: First,
they are mostly native-born Cubans,
fighting for pay against the freedom 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
a guerrilla receives no quarter. He is
either hacked to death with a machete
or hanged to the nearest tree. BY rea-
son of his intimate knowledge of the
country the guerrilla is more feared and
hated than all the rest of the Spanish
troops combined. When captured by
insurgents, the Spanish-born soldier is
treated humanely, and put to work rails
ing vegetables for the use of his cap
tors. The captured guerrilla, however,
is killed .;e a wild beast.
Fifth-Nolunteers - infantry. This
was Weyler's pet force. 1t is composed
chiefly of Spanish residents of Cuba
who hold themselves in readiness for
active service when called upon in times
of emergency. Its fighting ability is
supposed to be confined to volleys of
selected epithets delivered at long
range.
ilizados-infantry This is
an irregular force for defensive pur-
poses only. 1t is composed of both
Spaniards and natiye-born Cubans. 1t
is to all intentS and purposes a force of
night watchmen serving without pay
or with pay, as circumstances provide.
Each fortified town is supposed to pro-
vide a certain number of mobilizados
to do guard duty at the blockhouse forts
guarding the place. The citizens usual
ly take turns at this duty. By obtain
ing "a special permit from the authori-
ties the owner of a plantation may arm
his worllmen or may hire men as guards
to protect his property against BAN
dts.
Seventh-Orden Publico - infantry.
This is city guard similar to the Guar
dia Civil. 1t was with men from this
force that the United States consulate
general in Havana was guarded.
The Spanish troops are armed with
the Mauser rifle, which is a small-bore
weapon of high power, flat trajectory
and great penetration. 1t will kill at
distance of mile and half. The
Springfield rifle, with which the New
York national guard is armed. is no
match for the Alauser, Many of the in
surgents have Remingtons of the same