[Footnote 25: It will be remembered that Spanish infantry were the staple of the Carthaginian armies.

This infantry of the janizaries was the first standing army in Europe.

By the time we reached the ground the Belgian infantry was half a mile in our rear, and to reach the car we had to cross nearly a mile of open field.

They were hard and strong, their health having considerably improved since the early summer, but at the end of September the infantry were by no means march fit.

As a matter of fact, the ordinary infantry of the line, in their blue coats and white breeches and gaiters, were quite little fellows, and even their high brass-covered hats and red plumes could not make them very imposing.

When the news came that General Toral had decided to surrender, the 25th Infantry was a thousand yards or more nearer the city of Santiago than any regiment in the army, having entrenched themselves along the railroad leading into the city.

Infantry is the decisive arm.

The infantry is only two paces from us, and see, here comes the artillery.