The Washington herald., 1919-12-02

forces into separate columns for the
purpose OF raiding the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops
sent to their relief. reassembIing these
bands only when and where some tesl-
ing blew was to be struck. Not only
had the military value of this practice
been amply demonstrated. but It had
been proved a necessity owing to the
fact that the Insurrectos were COM
PEELED to live on the country.
When OReilly and Branch enlisted
in the army OF the Orient they were
assigned to the command Of Col.
Miguel Lopez, and 1t was under his
leadership that they made their first
acquaintance with the peculiar
methods Of Cuban warfare.
Active service for the two Americans
began at once; scarcely a week had
passed before Leslie Branch gained
his opportunity OF tasting the salt
Of life in its full flavor. for the young
Matanzas colonel was one OF the few
Cuban commanders who really en-
joyed a fight
There had been. at first, some doubt
Of Branch's fitness to take the field
at all-he had suffered a severe hem
orrhage shortly after his arrival at
Cubitas-and it was only after n hys-
terical demonstration on his part tnar
he had been accepted as a soldier.
He simply would not be left behind.
At first the Cubans regarded him with
mingled contempt and pity, for GER
tainly no less promising volunteer had
ever taken service with them. Never
{ tleleSS he uOtIld no da
! many friends among them had he not
begun his service by refusing to abide
by discipline of any sort and by
scorning all instruction in the use OF
| arms, declaring this to be, in his
case, a silly waste Of effort. Such
an attitude very naturally aroused
I resentment among the other men: il
was not long before they began to
Erumble at the liberty allowed this
/ headstrong wealIling. But upon the
! occasion Of the very first tight this
i'll will disappeared as IL by magic.
for. although Branch deliberately dis
obeyed orders, he nevertheless dis
played such amazing audacity in the
face Of the enemy, such a theatrical
| contempt for bullets, as TO stupefy
every one. Moreover. he lived up to
his reputation; he continued to be in
sanely daring, varying his exploits TO
correspond with his moods. with the
result that he attained a popularity
\ which was unique, nay, sensational
His conduct in the face OF this gen.
eral admiration was no less uneN-
, pected than his behavior under fire
Branch gruTly refused TO accept any
| tribute whatever: he snarled. he fairly
barked at those OF his comrades who
tried TO express their appreciation OF
his cOnduCt-a demeanor which of
| course awakened even greater admi-
| ration among the Cubans. He was
uniformly surly and sour: he sneered.
| he sconed. he found fault. He had
| the tongue OF a common scold. and
! he used it with malevolent abandon.
II was fortunate indeed that he knew
no Spanish and that most Of his COM
panions were equally ignorant of Eng
! lish, for mere admiration. even Of the
| fcrvent Latin quality. would scarcely
| have been proof against his spleen.
| As it was. his camp mates endured
/ his vituperations bIandly. putting
him down as a pleasing eccentric in
whom there blazed a curious but iB-
| spiring- spirit OF patriotism.
O'ReilIy alone understood the reason
| for the fellows morbid irritability
| his suicidal reCklessnesS. but whcr
, he privately demonstrated he Wa:
| gruriy told TO mind his own business
| Branch fatty refused TO modify his
| conduct: he seemed really bent upon
! cheating the disease that made his
| life a misery.
CTo Be ContinuedD