CHILIAN TROOPS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1097, 6 April 1880, Page 3

CHILIAN TROOPS.

■ ♦ An ex-officer of the German Guard Corps, now a resident in Chili, sends home- to the Berlin Militar-Wochen-hlatfc an interesting account of the Chilian army. The Chilian soldier is, nays the writer, of the Araucanian race, and is a direct descendant of the tribe of Indians which, at the time of the Spanish conquest of South America, successfully defied the armies of Spain, and under the leadership of the gallant chiefs Lantaro and Caupolican, preserved the independence of their country. Of middle stature, sturdy, and thick-set, of powerful bodily build, hardened against fatigue, indifferent to the dangers of death, with a light brown or copper coloured skin, the Chilian soldier bears the stamp of a sav&ge bravery. With his intellectual faculties, however, but slightly or not at all developed, and with an innate loVe of personal independence, the Chilian submits but unwillingly to discipline ; and according to the testimony of Chilian officers themselves orders earsonly be enforced, by a frequent and free application of the stick. The regular Chilian army only, which before the outbreak of tk? present war with Peru numbered as a trained and disciplined body, the remainder of the armed forces of the country consisting altogether of militia and national guards. The armament of all the troops is, however, excellent. The infantry, organised in regiment of two battalions, the latter 600 strong, is armed almost exclusivevy with the Comblain breechlooder (the rifle adopted also in Belgium, Greece, aod Brazil);

6000 men only having received very lately Gras rifles manufactured by the Austrian Small-arm Company at Steyer. The cavalry carry Remington carbines ; while the field batteries are equipped with Krupp guns. The ammunition is mostly procured from Europe, but latterly very successful attempts have been made to manufacture projectiles for the gUns in the country.