The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-04

M manager, in his strivings after the
yrotesaue, ever produced on that
s.,ir,ic world which lies back of the
sootliehts aggregations better calculat-
"a to excite the risibilities of those
,,,ho come from the haunts of North
avn civilization and progress than are
those. which are supposed to uphold
nv force of arms the dignity of this
new nation.
The army of Panama, with one small
battalion stationed here, and separate
companies distributed in other centers
of population throughout the isthmus,
e one of the most remarkable organ
izations with which anv man ever
came in contact. It's equal can be
found nowhere unless it is in some
other Latin-American republic, and
even among these countries it would
he impossible to match all of it's ludi-
crous details.
Ask at the government building and
they will tell you that they have 1900
superior men in their army Go in
vestigating on your own account, and
YOU will discover that this army con-
sists of about 700 officers and men,
the number Of officers being out of all
proportion to the number of men,
Pursue your Investigations little far
ther. and you will be assured by those
in authority that if necessary the re-
public of Panama could put from 3d.
600 to $4,000 men in the field to resist
an invasion or put down an insurrec-
ton Apply yourself to an effort to
gauge this populace, and you will
come squarely in contact with the
fact that it would tax the resources
of the republic to the utmost to arm
and equip 1900 men for active serv-
ice and that even this number would
have to go into the field without uni
form and with a most varied assert
ment of 2rms.
Juvenile Fighting Force.
The long and short of the matter is
that the army of the republic is lit
tie more than a name. The Colombian
Battaliom-for by this name it is still
knoWn-Which, under the command of
Gen. Huertas. affected the arrest of
Gems. Tovar and Amaya and gave sub
stantial form to the revolution, was
during the old regime, a really eff
fective organization. 1t was recruited
principally in the province of Cauca
where the men grow to goodly size and
where they take naturally to the pro-
fession of arms. 1t was well-uniform-
ed well-equipped and fairly we'll drill
ed. Although it numbered only 200
men it was able. when turned out on
parade in gaudy yellow, blue and gold
uniforms with its multiplicity of gen.
erals, coonels and captains each one
dazzling in his gold-lace and resplend-
ant accourtrements to impart a snowy
effect to any scene. But since the birth
of the republic of the isthmus it has
lost much of its Identity.
In the hurry of setting up the new
government there was a natural Gag
ernessr 70 recruit the strength of the
army Little Judgment was exercised
in enlisting men for service and to-
day the Panamaian army looks very
much like high school cadet corps.
1t is not eXaggeration fact in the
least to say that in this army there
are to be found large number of
boys under Is years of age than there
are persons over that age.
A visit to the barracks of the Co
lombian Battalion. or to the Quartet,
the new barracks opened under the
republic, imparts the same impression
as would a visit to a Juvenile insti-
tute. Before Gen. Huertas offices at
the barracks, when 1 called there the
other day, a lad of 10 years of age was
standing sentry duty. The little fell
low was bare footed. as is the rule
in the ranks and the only resem-
blance to a uniform in his apparel was
worn and soi!ed cap, about three
sizes too large for him. About his
waist was strapped a belt, the point
of the bayonet scabbard clearing the
ground by not more than two inches.
AS he brought his rifle-an obsolete
Springfield-to the "Order." and salut-
ed. the crown of his cap was sew
eral inches lower than the second sight
ON the gun, while the bayonet lowered
far above his head.
Boys Fight Well.
There are men-full grown. well-de-
veloped, hardy isthmian products--to
be found in this army; but in the
main it is made up of boys of that
age and size commonly found in the
primary grades of the public schools
in the states. These little fellows are,
however, good fighters. The majority
of them, among those now over II
years of ago, fought in the last revo-
luton. They are esteemed by the Of
ticers, who claim that they can glide
through the swamps and jungles which
alternate in making this an almost
impossible country with greater ease
than can grown men, and there is no
dlscounting the fact that they can and
VIII fight. They don't know enuogh
10 run away" said an officer when l
questioned their worth as soldiers.
They often have to stand against
trees" continued this officer, ito keep
the recoil of their guns from knock
ing them down; but when it comes
TO standing on the firing line, 1 would
rather have them than men," And call
ing TO a diminutive sentry, the officer
gave message in Spanish. In a few
moments, in response to the summons,
thefe appeared before us a lad of not
more than IL years of age. This boy,
VINO could not have weighed more than
pounds, fought through the closing
Jays OF the last revolution, and won
sne praise of his officers by his per-
4orrnances at the six-days' fight at
me railroad bridge just outside of
rdnama, the last encounter in that
Evolution. The little fellow went
through that fight with dauntless cour-
ose' loading and firing regularly and
effectively, and never once showing the
sign or the white feather.
-, 80 it is with nearly all the others in
ms army Gen. fuertas is himself
o. o. example of the boy soldiery of
tanama. Although but 80 wears old
~ Is now the commander-in-ch chief of
he "llly IN which he has served since
oe was 91s Vars old. A record
twenty-five and one-half years as
ola ai Tor a man now but 80 years
eoI,n oould not be matched in any other
I,s,,n! y except this, where the I'M
M oai ana the unexpected is to be found
upon every hand.
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