New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-04
THE PANANAN ARMY.
Mann officers in Proportion to Men
-Undrilled and UndiSciplined.

a., arm
- and ION will discover that ms army con-
CO. ,-,,,t seven hundred officers and men, the
,-,rsr OF officers being out al an proP"'u'h 10
~ number q men. Pursue your inNesusauohs
-. f,,--r,~ ard Won viii be assured ny those IN
.r-,ri+v .,a- II necessary lhe Republic OF Pan
la ,-,t rom %ocne 20 $1,000 men In the field
= vsefe, an invasion or pat down an instruction
.,-ry ,oursele to an effort 10 gauge TINS popuiace
~ ,,ol will cone squarely IN contact Win 'le 'aC'
=. :, would lax the resources Of the republic to
he utmost 10 arm and equip 1900 men for active
&c and that even this number would have to
o. into the field without uniform and with most
,a-ied assortment Of arms.
IT, Iorg and short Of the matter il that the army
NJ the republic is little more man name Inc
~o,on,tian Eattalion-for by this name II Is sun
q ,,-o,,n- which under the command OF General
Huertas effected the arrest OF Generals IoVar ana
. Anava and gave substantial form 10 the reNolu-
ZION was during the old regime. q really eHecuNe
organizatlon II was recruited principally In the
rrovtrre u Caucs where the men grow 10 6oooly
5zs and where they take naturally 10 the pro-
feesi0n o. arms 1t well uniformed wen
coulnpes ana fairly well drilled. Although IL hChl-
be~ed only Two hundred men. II was abe. wheh
turned out on parade in gaudv yellow. blue ana
god uniforms with IT'S multiplicity Of generals
c,loDels and captains. each one dazzling In his
eold lace and Respondent requirements 10 lmpaFt
snowy effect 10 any scene. But since the o4rth OF
the republic OF the isthmus Il has lost ucl' Oi us
identity.
~ ,te hurry II setting up the new government
.bere was a natural eaeerness to recruit the
Strength Of the army. Little judgment was eNeF-
cised in ensting men for service ana To-Day 'he
raranan army looks very much like a high schooI
cadet corps. II IS not eXaggerating fact IN me
least 70 say that in this army there are to be FOUND
larger number Of boys under fifteen years oiu IMAM
there are persons over that age
A visit 10 The barracks Of the Colombian Bat
talon or 70 the quartet. the new barracks opened
under tne republic. imparts the same impression as
would 2 visit 10 a Juvenile institution Before Gen
eral Huertass Offices at the barracks "heh
called there the other day. lad Of ten years was
standing sentry duty. The little fellow was pare
footed as is the rule in the ranks anc the only re-
sena.lance 10 ? uniform in his apparel was worn
and soi1ed can about three sizes too large for nm
About his waist strapped a belt, the point OF
the havoaet scabbard clearing the ground by not
more than two inches AS he brought his rifle
IN obsolete Sprngfeld-to the order and saIuted
-be crown of his cap was several inches lower than
the second sight on the gun, while the oayonet
lowered far above his head
THE BOYS FIGHT WELL
There are men-fuu grown. well developed. hardy
isthnlian products-to be found in this army put IN
the main it is made up Of boys of that age ana SIZE
commonly found in the primary grades or the pup
lie schools in the States. These little fellows are
however. good fighters. The majority Of them
among those now twelve years old, fousht IT
The last revolution. They esteemed by Inc OH
GERS who claim that they glide through me
su,arnns and iunces which alternate in making this
an almost impossible country with greater ease
Than can grown men, and there is no dlscounuAs
the fact that they and will fight Ihey ooA !
know enough 10 run away" said an officer when l
questioned their worth soldiers They often
have TO stand against trees continued this ofncer
ITO keep the recoil Of their guns from knocking
them down; hut when il comes to standing on me
firing line I would rather have them than men.
And calling a diuinutve sentry. the officer gave
a message in Spanish. in a few moments. in re-
rponse 10 the summons. there appeared before us a
lsd Of not more than eleven. This boy. who could
not have weighed more than forty pounds, fought
through the closing days of the last revolution
and won the praise Of his officers by his perform
arces at the six days fight the railroad bridge,
just outside Of Panama, the last encounter IN that
revolution. The little fellow went through that
night with dauntless loading and firing reg
larry and effectively, and never once showing the
sign OF the white feather
So it is with nearly all the officers in this army
General Huertas is himself example of the boy
soldery Of Panama. Although only thirty-two years
old. he is now the commander in chief Of the army,
IN which he has served since he nine and one
haif-years old. A record Of twenty-five and one
half years a soldier for now thirty-two
years old could not be matched in any other coun-
Try except this. where the unusual and the uneX-
pected are 70 be found upon every hand.
General Huertas IS one Of the characters of Pan
anna have already told now he came TO deliver
The army the Separatists. There is back
Of that. however the mans personal story Tn
educated and illiterate, he knows absolutely moth
ing Of the art OF war or Of military science All
rov fit braSe and T resorcef sgbier
along the hushvv cking methods in vogue here his
reputation is second TO that Of no other man in the
and 4 his life depended upon it he could not drill
q fun regiment of troops. He lost his right arm
appliance where his arm should be; but his phys
ical deficiency does not prevent him from appear
ing as gorgeous spectacle when he dons his full
dress uniform.
the other officers of this army. General Domingo
10 direct military operations than is Huertas. and
the whole army reflects the weaknesses OF its COM
Cipiaed Life in the barracks is like holiday. and
IN its shortcomings. Under the Colombian regime
these troops were paid 81 day in Colon ban silver.
The republic has Won great favor in their eyes be-
cause il has increased the pay to 50 day With
ms wage the men are REQUIRED 10 provide their
furnish them with their uniforms and arms.
UNIFORMING THE TROOPS
How well The government does its work in the
matter Of furnishing uniforms was very forcibIy
demonstrated the other day. AS a rule the SOL
diers are harefooted but herculean effort is be-
ing made 10 provide them with shoes and the other
accessories Of a complete outfit Every little tailor
shop IN Panama is busy making blouses and trou-
tIs nut WIN shoes II is different proposition
happened into one OF the leading stores Of Pan
anna d day or so ago and found in the rear OF the
!opI SIX sc!CleIs ~ command Of corporal. They
shoe odfe5 ,b 5y 9a qua 10 De ntted with
ne mud The store furnished one sock, and soldier
80 began me trying-on process He slipped the
pam Of shoes that gave promise Of fitting He
1hen removed the sock. passed IL 10 soldier No.
Ger ~. used the SOCK while trying on shoes and
into hen VINE The Ihs sdc Iea MS bare feet went
Ger 10. 3; and 50 IL went until the six men had
Zen snod: the one sock furnished by the store do
Ing duty for the six men To furnish socks is eyi-
SeLiiy not part OF the governments business: nor
caS ~ ged fo To- SSsTpt when on parade they
y he 6alC