Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-26
Close-Range View of Diaz and His Army

over the fire-outlined towers and dome
Of the cathedral. ana the church bells
throughout the city changed and beloved
as If mad. This performance. 4 am told.
is gone through every year on the eve
OF September Is. but Of course, the
l0th performance was entitled to an eN-
ira halo and inspired with accelerated
patriotism.
Parade of the Military.
The centennial military parade was re-
viewed by the president the next day.
This time we watched from windows look
ing out on the narrow Gales de San Fran
cisco, the daily dress parade grounds Of
Mexico Citys smart set ! have wit
messed many military displays, and the
chief interest lies in comparison or con-
trast. / have seen our own troops massed
in large numbers on various occasions
at two presidential inaugurations at the
New York Columbian quadricentennial pa
rade. at the dedication Of the st. Louis
worlds fair, and for many smaller Incl
dents. 1 have seen President Carnot re-
view the French troops at Champs de Mars
on the French fete day, and 1 have
seen q whole German army corps salute
as each company passed the emperor and
empress as II counting their legiOns The
column that marched this day contained
according to an officer Of the Mexican
army, 1880 men, Of which about 700
we're marines and sailors from the foreign
warships, dispatched b. their respective
governments to pay their tribute OF good
will in this way. The Mexican infantry
strikes me as a slatternly lot; their uni
forms are not striking; they appear TO be
overloaded with accoutrements; their
marching is ragged; they exhibit no signs
Of dash or vigor; they act and in this
they act the truth. as IL they were pain
fully walking in shoes when they are
accustomed to sandals or bare feet
Flower of Mexican Army.
The Mexican cavalry and light artillery
make q much better impression than the
infantry The horsemen are accustomed
to the saddle and their mounts are above
average The artillery corps were largely
in evidence. 1 am no Judge of guns but
those more expert insisted that the pat
terms are up-to-date, the equipment first
/ class and the quotas Of different styles
wen distributed. The flower Of every
Mexican military parade, however, and
the pride Of Mexican people, are the
rurales, the mounted rural military police,
who strike terror to evil-doers and keep
the peace throughout the length and
breadth Of the land. 1t is said that when
! President Diaz determined, many years
ago, to rid the rural districts Of highway
men and desperadoes, he sent for some
Of the most noted bandits and laid down
the ultimatum that they must help him
put all the outlaws out Of business, OF
he would put them themselves out OF bust
ness.
1t took several severe object lessons tc
bring them all to his way OF thinking and
to enlist them in the rurales. Yet there
they are the most splendid specimens OF
horsemanship, dazzling in their SILVER
shimmering uniforms Of yellow buckskin
overtopped with tall sombrero Of gray felt
likewise embroidered and tasseled witt
heavy silver, The privilege Of promotion
TO commissioned officers rank is the priv
ilege to add few more pounds Of silvel
to the load by spreading it over saddle
bride and blanket.
That captain there" exclaimed one o.
our chaperones, as the Respondent ruralei
were passing, lis worth $4,000 as ht
stands for the melting pot" 1t must hav,
been the theory of reserving the best 70
the last, that the rurales should hav
tailed up the procession. The people VIII,
had stood patiently on the curbs for hours
took one long, admiring look at thes
masters minions OF the law, and then dis
persed in satisfied good humor and goo,
order.