Show SPANISH SOLDIERS UNDER FIRE method of advance discipline more laxen camp than on the field the spanish soldiers bahaa behavior for under fire Is admirable only yesterday as were were re tiring down the slope of a hill under a deaul tory fire I 1 saw a sergeant quietly stop in the open roll and light a cigarette and then pro aeed deliberately to rejoin his comrades writes a correspondent of the london mail discipline Is somewhat lax in camp though I 1 believe that with the material which the cers have to handle a little more strictness would be advisable tor for the soldier of spain is a cheerful independent devil may care fellow on the field however his obedience leaves nothing to be desired unless it be his over anxiety to continue firing after the cease fire has sounded in direct opposition to our english methods the non nod commissioned cers have power to hit a man for slackness stupidity or non of orders whereas one soldier striking another Is most severely dealt with especially as spaniards invariably fight it ot t with the knife the officers are keen and well informed and their care for the men s comfort Is not able here is an example we had lust just re turned from convoy connoy duty and on returning to camp were glad to find an excellent cold soup prepared with oil water vinegar and vege tables the officers of each company stood around seeing that the men men got their due por don first haling tasted it to assure themselves of the quality of the food some of the spanish methods in the field are unusual the firing line for instance starts with a rifle a yard but the advance in stead of being conducted in line follows this plan each squad of six to 10 men under a corporal on the signal to advance being given wheels around and doubles toward the next cover in indian die file extending into line as tha the cover Is reached in this way the whole line may advance simultaneously or squad by squad the advantage claimed being the small ness of target offered to the enemy during the rush forward As by force of experience we learned in south africa the absolute necessity of using all cover so the soldier here after his first few fights in which the losses were so altogether disproportionate to the successes gained found that to compete with the moors required all his cunning and was no mere field day now during the advanced advance he makes full use of all stones and depressions in the ground the only fault I 1 note Is that he Is too prone to make use of the kneeling position from behind cover thus exposing the head and shoulders to fire |