New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-30
THE NAVY.

The naval strength of Spain is far below that of
either England. France Russia or the United States
According TO the latest official returns published last
wear the Spanish navy, at the end of the year 1866
consisted of total of lis vessels, having All arma-
,nent OF Oh guns. Of these 20 ships of the first
class IS Of the second class 81 of the third class Is
of smaller dimensions and not classified: the whole
number including several then building. Most of
vessels are steamers and of the first class IA are
iron-clad frigates, carrying among them lGl guns.
i'm the same class there are II frigates carry
i,c 4GI cuns in ALL Tie whole are manned by
force of 1859 sailors, and 1850 marines with 1l2l
officers Of all ranks Since Nelson at Trafalgar, in
1856 inflicted such terrible blow on the naval
rower of Spain, her navy has never enjoyed that con-
sderaOn which belonged TO it previous TO that ter
ribc eight and its operations Of late in the Pacific
against Chill have not added to its Tenown. Doubt
lr,S has suffered IN common with every branch of
The Spanish service from the blighting influences of
a rcactiOnary Government STILL, for power not
ranking first class. it presents on the whole a very
respectable show aud its adhesion r;ru-e
revolution cannot fail TO have powerful effect, in
moral as well material point OF view, upon the
issue OF the struggle.
The latest Official returns giving the strength OF the
Spanish amy of no later date than 1856, IN which
year the entire military force of the kingdom
amounted TO total of pa 26l men, rank and file and
offcers the former being &31GS and the latter 9aI.
This total includes the provincial militia and the Ma
tiOna Guards. which deducted from the whole, will
leave the regular army at the figure OF about 1900
men Of these, lG4OOO are infantry, 1000 cavalry,
and The remainder artillery and engineers. AT the
DEATH of Ferdinand VII, in 1888 the military force
Of Spain consisted of only GOOOy men and 5000 horses
bat in 1859, when the war with Morocco was about
10 be undertaken, il was increased 10 2jOOO men,
and at present, will be seen. 1t Is nearly three
times as large il 35 years ago. large part OF
the army is stationed in Cuba and the Philippine
Islands the number of soldiers IN the former colony
alone being about One-hfth OF the enlre military
force of Spain The Spanish army has played an I'M
pOrtant part in the revolutions which have been so
common in Spain of late years, and has again ana
again taken sides with the leaders of the Liberal
cause This was so in 1920 when 1t was sought 10
compel Ferdinand TO restore the Constitution OF
lSl2 in 1896 when the military insurrecton occurred
At Malaga for the same object and notably IN 1914,
the date of EsparterOs last triumph over the IN
prncipied Christina, the Queen mother The latest
military instruction was that OF 1906 headed by
Gen Prm. which proved unsuccessful.
The following table. showing the ancient provinces
Of The Kingdom of SPAN, and the number and popu-
aiion of the modern provinces into which the OLD
divisions have been subdIyded, will help the reader
10 form some idea of the extent TO which the Tevou
tiOnary movement has progressed.
tNBss old divisions and provinces uto WHICH we D'eooH