The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-10
"BRE AKFASTr THE BATTLE CRY.
A Suggestion For Producing Instant
Dlsor gsnixstion In Spanish Army.

n Suggestion FOR producing instant
Disor gsnixstion In Spanish Army.
Whenever ! read anything about this
Spanish war;" remarked New York man.
81 think of.rhose Spanish carabineros at San.
tander and wonder IL the rest of the Spanish
army are anything like them. Tho steamer
stopped at santander and a custom house
officer came ON board with those four cara
bineros. The carabineros had real carbines.
IL was their duty TO see that nothing left the
ship without the permission of the custom
house official.
lone Of our passengers was wilbor, the
secretary of the United States legation ut
Lisbon. He was going to Lisbon, and had in
tended to 70 all the way by steamer. But
while the steamer waited In the harbor of
santander something's dispatch from his
chief or something Of that sort-made him
change his mind. so he showed his creden-
tials to the custom house man, ana being
member Of a legation, he received verbal per-
mission to take his trans ashore. Now, all
the palaver between wilbor and the custom
house man went on in theDcabip. Two Of the
carabineros we're keeping watch and ward on
the upper deck. One of them was leaning in
an easy attitude against the taffrail by the
In the crook OF his elbow. while the butt
rested on the deck and solemnly rolling q
cigarette. wilbor and a steward with the
baggage came out Of the companion way and
made for the gangway. The carsbinero COM
plsted his cigarette with an alert jerk, and
grabbed his carbine when he caught sight Of
the baggage suppose the soldier was tech
nically right in refusing TO let wilbor land
x.,tx ..sS A.
house man. and l forget why the hitch oc-
Cured. but there was a hitch and an argu-
ment-American diplomat against Spanish
soldier. This particular American diplomat
was veteran. know. and the carabinero
bad to call to his comrade from pacing up
and down on the other side OF the deck TO
come and help him out. So there were two
Spaniards to one American. which made the
controversy last longer
1t must have been going ON for ten min
utos when ships boy came up and called
out something about breakfast to the cara
bineros, and Immediately the jealous guar
dian Of the gangwsy dropped the dispute He
evidently thought he had had enough arguing
on an empty stomach. There were two fresh
carabineros longing about. who had not even
done turn Of guard duty since they came
aboard. and the sentry who had first tried TO
stop Wilbor became Suddenly deaf to every
word except the Spanish for 'breskfast,'
bawled for his idle comrades to come and carry
on the argument with the obstinate Amer
lean. and the two spent warriors went below
and sought Refreshments. 30 wilbor had to
begin his story of the verbal permission OF
the custom house Official, the privileges Of the
diplomat the need Of catching the train. and
so ON. all over again to his new adversaries.
But / think he swore Internationally in
American. That Is why it seems to mo that
the Spanish for breakfast might make an
effective battle cry for our troops in Cuba,
especially after the lean timos Blanco's men
have been having there lately THE Sun.