Evening journal., 1898-07-11
SPAIN'SCUBANF FORCES
What Uncle Sans Troops Will
Have to Contend With.
Many Deardless Boys Sent from Spain
Who Never Return to Their
HOmeB-the Army
Clnssined.

rs 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-lookng,
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 it, and it is all they
care. Poor boysl One could only pity
them, as they kept always coming, com
ing to Havana, and never going back
1t would be pity to NOW down these
inOffensive lads with machine guns anu
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 inference
would be Irresistible that the cavalry
moup's were the direct descendants OF
Ros.nante 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.
"Hellol" said friend on the side
walk. "Going to have new horse?"
What dye mean?" demanded the
other.
why, l 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 10 death.
Third-Guardia Ciyil-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 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
uerrillas-cayalry. From
the name, this force IS supposed by
most Americans to be composed OF law
less bands of rufians roaming about,
without method or discipline, in search
of throats 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 oi
their own country; second, in their ca
pacity of scouts and rural patrol they
come in contact with the insurgent:
more frequently than any other Span
ish force. When captured by insurgenti
a guerrilla receives no quarter. lie J!
either hacked to death with machet'
or hanged to the nearest tree. BY rea
son of his intimate knowledge of the
country the guerrilla is more feared an'
hated than all the rest of the Spanisl
- troops combined. When captured b.
insurgents, the Spanish-born soldier Il
treated humanely, and put to work rails
ing vegetables for the use of his cap
tors. The captured guerrilla, however
is killed like a wild beast.
Fifth-Yolunteers infantry. Thi
was Weyler's pet force. 1t is compose'
chiefly of Spanish residents of Cub
who hold themselves in readiness 70
active service when called upon in time
of emergency. Its fighting ability
supposed to be confined to volleys o
selected epfthets delivered at Ion
range.
Sixth-Nlobilizad This
an irregular force for defensive pui
poses only. It is composed of bot
Spaniards and native-born Cubans.
is to all intents and purposes a force {
night watchmen serving without pa
or with pay, as circumstances provide
Each fortified town is supposed to pre-
vide a certain number of mobilizado
to do guard duty at the blockhouse fort
guarding the place. The citizens usua
ly take turns at this duty. BY obtair
ing special permit from the author
ties the owner of a plantation may arr
his worlsmen or may hire men as guard
to protect his property against bar
dts.
Seventh-Orden Publico - infantr.
This is a city guard similar to the Qua
dia Civil. II was with men from tn
force that the United States consulai
general in Havana was guarded.
The Spanish troops are armed wit
the Mauser rifle, which is small-boi
weapon Of high power, fiat trajeetoT
and great penetration. 1t will kill at
distance of mile and a half. TT
Springfield rifle, with which the Ne
York national guard is armed. is !
match for the Mauser. Many of the i
surgents have Remingtons of the san
caliber and length of chamber as q