The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-20


further titan for mutual psoteetion sssfuss
ssnm mon enemy. and each nation At The samc
tDe Irsservtd its own indepeBds nee. This expla-
patton might be web excused, a. some may snue ~
n admG il. But as know Vie malicious ehaSae
ter ard the little good faith Of 0pponents, Il
has been requisite 70 make it, TO take away every
prstext upon which they have probably built this
strange eiifce.
Az Ne will show, the object OF an allisDce Il to
lend mutual assistance TO the contracting parties;
therefore, il an alliance were formed between spain
and Mexico, both nations would be bound 70 mu'
tlsly asst according to the tenor Of the stipu'a-
tions. Now, could Spain assist Mexico2 The qnes-
ten thus put-wbich is the only way i ought aud
can he put-we vii see at once how futile ara the
arguments, and how iDexact the conclusion OF the
Stglo For eyen suppo4ng that Spain Il in as great
decline as the go asserts how is 1t she has not the
power 10 sd Mexico, at least as much as Mexico
could aid berl Precisely upon the same basis OF
mutual assistance and DOT any other Is it that an
alliance would have 10 be founded
Now, perhaps, to know to what point the assist
ance could he efftctual, which in such case we
would receive from Spain, and how far snch an al
nance would be advantageous tn u.s. let Us ask Is the
mortal decay fact which the y gto attributes TO
her? j. Spain In truth annihilafed as to he far
yo,r able IN assist other nations scarcely to ss
tain Lerselfi On subject of SO much Importance,
ard in which there is more, in reality, than q
question of fact, we do not admit we concur In
the assertions OF the Clamor Publico of Madrid,
an opposition paper, and which permits OppOrtu
nifty TO sgmatlze and uDderrate the present govern
neht Of Spain. We want facts. and If the SgiO will
not produce them we will seek for them in cOntem
perane0us history
We'll, this history informs ms that from the death
of Ferdinand the Seventh, Spain has doubled her
revenues and has considerably increased der army
aud navy. Thus history informs US that Spain has
sent very recently her armies to Portugal and TO
Italy, ard armies, TO- that excited the admiration
OF many military men of other nations, who had the
opportunity to see and examine them Thus history
informs us, also, that Spain, in sending these
armies, had moreover other views than to assist
friendly sove,egns paying all the expenses OF these
expeditions without leaving the rations to be
paid which her soldiers drew in the country occu-
pied by theIn-condnct that attracted more atten,
ton, IS Spain almost always has had to nay, and
very dearly too to her allies for the services she
has received.
In ls4s we have seen in Spain what never has
been exhibited in any other nation. We have seen
her government rudeiy send out Of the kingdom an
English minister under an escort of cavalry and
have seen England suffer this severe and bumliati0g
lesson without daring to send her squadrons Or her
armies upon the coast of Spain to avenge the insult
Allths il told In contemporaneous history and Ger.
tapy do not see in any proof Of their debility and
impotency which the S,gio SO much harped on
In general, or AFFECT TO have, the most erroneous
opinions. The same exist with regard to the power
Of the United States and therefore 1t H not ont OF
place to present some stat sites taken from official
documents. At the end Of the year 1850 the Spanish
armv consisted Of
The staff Of the army.
The corps Of the Adjutant General.
The corps Of tie halbardiers.
One squadron Of guards.
Forty.seven regiments OF infantry Of the line.
Eighteen regiments Of Light infantry and sharp
shooters.
Five regiments Of foot artillery.
Three brigades of horse artillery.
Five companies Of sappers
Five brigades of fixed artillery.
One regiment Of engineers.
Two DO carabineers.
Thirteen do lanoers.
Eight squadr0ns Of sharp shooters.
Two do. mounted do.
IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
Twelve regiments of infantry.
Four companies of volunteers (veterans)
One brigade Of artillery of eight battalions, Of
which two were flying. aud one other mountain.
One regiment OF lancers.
IN PUERTO RICO.
Six regiments Of infantry. two OF the line and
two light, and one of shsrpshooters.
Two bngades Of artillery, one Of eight batteries,
two Of them flying, and other of two field bate
ries, each Of them with one company OF sappers.
Forming grand total Of nearly two hundred and
twenty thousand men, without counting the corps OF
reserve Of the civic guard and OF the custom house
caTabineers In the Peninsula nor the corps Of the
three existing in the islands Of Cuba, Puerto
Rico and the PHILIPPINES.
Let us nowlc look at the forces Of the United States
at the same d8te:-
One corps of engineers.
Two regiments OF dragons.
One regiment Of mounted rifles.
Four regiments OF artillery.
Eight regiments Of infantry.
Forming a total of ten thousand three hundred
and thirty four men. There are all veteran troops.
The militia s very numerous, but never has served
will war of invasion. Not only is its or
ganizati opposed to this, bu the constitution OF
the country also prohibits IT, Let what were
the naval forces Of both nations at that same date.
Tbose of Spain were -
Three ships Of the line
Five frigates.
Six cNrvetfes.
Fourteen sloOps
Three RchoOner.
Twenty-six steamers.
| These ships were manned by 532 officers, Is 900
soldiers and 02s Sailors and me united 206 cannon
The American navy was composed OF
Eleven ships of tie hIe-
Fourteen frgates.
Tventy.one s0ops.
-Four 6ChOOnerH.
Fifteen steamers.
Five store ships.
Five bomb ketches.
The force on these vessels being then peace esta
blshment, was 1890 men, which would be much In
creased in the event Of war. The ordnance consisted
| OF 2,029 cannon.
As will be perceived, the Amer ,an navy is some
what superior, but not so much is generally be-
lieyed nor could it destroy the Spanish; Moreover
IN case Of war the American navy would have many
more points to cover and very difficult, upon any
point ever TO concentrate larger force than Spain.
In the event of war IS 1t would be impossible for
the United States to dream of invading Spain, the
Of action would be country or the island Of
Cuba, and the Spanish government could with much
facility tend to our Aid respectable army, without
having the least necessity Of increasing the present
humber OF soldiers. Moreover, as the numerous and
well disciplined army now under arms is perfectly
equipped. armed and paid, the portion sent here
| would but Sigh increase the present expenses.
| Permit Us nov to make few observations upon
the probable results CT q war; II the United States
| dare to undertake 1t against both Mexico
| and Spain. In ls47 they found country cut up
into Thousand factions, for wont of q sole, eEer
| getc and central government, and when the Anlei-
CaIa had only to n ht ug IN Detail with I'm iueignjG
cant portion Of tne nation; bat they he'd, neverthe
| less, TO employ in the war moro than one hundred
thousand men, OF whom nearly thirty thousand per-
isled In the field and hospitals, and expended more
! over, the enormous SIM Of one hundred millions of
dollars Yet many times the result of the contest
wss very uncertain will be perceived in recalling
| what passed In tie camraign of the capital.
| IL at the lat moment our army, formed
Of sudden by ST. Santa Anna, and consequently
raw troops, (viiliout resources, and almost abar
dnncd Lv tic latal federation sil fcrrht with