Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-08-29
Bandit Soldiers of Mexico Are
Most Dangerous Fighting Men
Uncle Sam Would Have to Face

Most picturesque. and also danger
ous OF the fighting men OF Mexico
that United States soldiers would have
to conquer in case OF Intervention are
the rural police-lOs Rurnies de la
Federation. In official language Hard
riding desperate fighters, these men
Will give IL good account of themselves
against any foe.
The rurales were organized shortly
before the civil war by President Coz
monfori. The nation Was oNerrun with
marauding bands The authorities
were powerless. President Comon-
fort conceived the idea Of USING part
at these lawless men TO stamp out the
others. So the rurwes were born
testament OF the old aGage that II
takes "a thief Ia catch timer.
4 Worry Ca MACMILLAN.
The first rurales were Known us
cueidados. leather chad. because of
their leather uniforms. Most of
them turned rebel wncn Emperor
MaNimilian usnrped the Mexican
throne. They never surrendered To
the french troops, never stopped their
bitter. guerilla warfare. MaNimilian
organized a similar corps known as
cazaderOs. hunters" and under the
leadership of French veteran known
as ~ Tigre they were his stanchest
native supporters.
t'ndcr President Porfirio Diaz the
corps was brought to its present or
ganization ana efficiency He con-
tinucd the practice OF cnlisting out
laws. aud soon the rurales won "a
worldwide reputation as 'iri sguaar
caValrymen.
The Hest cavalry AT tlsc World.
Some foreign military officers who
have observed the rurales class thom
as better cayalrymen than the fos-
sacks Of RUSSIA, the wild hungarian
hussars ct 'he Austrian army or even
the Arab speheos OF Egypt whom
Klpllng believed the superior of any
fighting men. American officers do
not rate the rurnles that high ana
probably. they do not deserve sucn
distinguished classification
prior Go the Madero revolution the
ruralcs numbered about three thous-
and men. Since then the corps prob
ably has been increased 20 five thou
sand. most of whom are used as pa
trols along the various railroad h"es'
Are ftcaiIy Only Policemen.
The Organization of the rurales ~
different from any military organlza-
ton In the United States StrleuF
speaking. the ruraloH are not soldiers
hut policemen. They are attached y"
the Departments de tpherndci"h'
which corresponds Go our Department
of Justice The battalion formation
Is used. each unit consisting ol TWO
hundred men and known as corps
A commandments, ranking WIN ma
Tor. commands "A corps ne mas
captain, three licutcnants ana Twelve
subueutonunts. called cahos' "eh'eis'
AS commissioned officers under NM
Three top scrgeants. twelve serSe"h'S'
twclty-four corporals' nine bVb'Is
and two standard bearers are 'he nom
commissioned Officers
MANY Gcw-Gaws On Their uniforms
Few corps are ever togclhei 10,
more than brief periods. IhoN WI,
have headquarters Ia "a state oapi'"i
and keep squads of men ~ "oe'h
or mote smaller towns surfouhuihs
a. Thcy are continually patro'lhs
the highways at the nation ~ groups
of from three Go n dozen
The uniform Of the rurale y ms
most distinctive feature. a private
wears rfNNi FORM lAiNihN
laced al the bottom 60 form legginG
A short. holero-liko Jacket, also gray
h trimmed with single band OF sill
yer lace down the front and around
the bottom Of The Jacket SILVER
frog draws u tight lust above the
waist. allowing an inch or two OF the
light colorcd shirt Ia show. The
shirts have low. soft collars. Grim
son ties. siminr 20 those usually worn
hy comic supplement poets are worn
The hats are hlgh peaked somhreros
trimmed In silver lace with the mum
oral of the corps In silver on the
side An wear large spurs,
Officers Wear GAY clothes.
Officers follow the same cut and
color in their uniforms, but each man
decOrates his clothes "a suit his own
taste and pockethook Captain Al
yirez. commanding the ruralc dotach.
ment al Matamorns few months ago
wore 10 much silver lace that only in
4 few spots could the gray Of the
Jacket be seen a row OF silver tas.
sells hung from his hat hrim and d
STRIP AZ silver lace at least two inche,
wide went down the outside of each
trouser leg tie also wore wide
red silk SWORD sash, completing uni