artillery, who was at one time military attaché to the Mexican Legation at Paris.
The reserves are armed with the older Mauser rifle of 1893, and the ammunition is manufactured in Mexico. Gun-running has always been more or less a favourite pastime with the malcontents in the Northern States, and it is possible that many of the rebels were during the Revolution armed with better and more up-to-date weapons than their opponents in the regular army.
The method of obtaining men for the Mexican Army is, to say the least of it, a peculiar one. Considerable numbers enlist, but others are "taken," that is, the form of conscription in vogue might be characterised as impressment. The vast bulk of the rank and file is naturally drawn from the half-breed and Indian castes. These men are most amenable to discipline, and are possessed of all the fiery courage of their Aztec forefathers.
There are excellent military schools at Chapultepec and Vera Cruz, and at the former, the place of instruction is situated in the historic palace of the Presidents. In connection with this institution a touching story of patriotism is told. In 1844, during the invasion of Mexico by the army of the United States, the castle was invaded by American troops, who succeeded after a desperate engagement in penetrating to the fortress. The flag of Mexico, with the national emblem of the eagle bearing the serpent in its talons, floated from the topmost turret, and when the American soldiers reached this last citadel they were met by the cadets, almost boys, who gave such a good account of themselves, that the Northern soldiers were for the moment thrown back. Seeing that the Americans were being reinforced every moment, and that the flag of his country was in danger, one of the cadets seized it and, wrapping it about his body, leaped from the turret, and was dashed to pieces on the earth below.
In the war with the United States, the Americans had cause to remember the terrible Mexican Lancers, whose
