The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-27
Relative Strength of the Bsllgerents in Spain.
fLondop Tabletl

We collect from the various sources of
information open to us some details as to
the relative strength and position of the
opposing governments in Spain and we
give them without processing any very i'm
plicit reliance on their correctness, although
they may probably be regarded as forming
as near an approximation to the truth as
can be arrived at under present circum
stances. The force of the Carlist army on
the 18th of July consisted of SO, 792 infantry
in dispersed battalions; of which 13 were
in Navarro, containing 13, 045 men; in
Biscay, containing 1859 men; 9 in Guip-
uscoa, or ID ,427 men; and the rest in other
PROVINCES. OF cavalry, in three regiments,
Don Carlos had IA ,499 men, which were
soon to be raised to twice their number. OF
artillery he possessed four mountain bat
teries of % guns four batteries on wheels
of 4S guns, and l6 mnrtars. This was prior
to his receipt of 81 cannon at Bermeo.
Besides these regular troops there are
numerous bodies of guerilla bands who call
themselves CarIi3ts, and are here, there,
and every where, and who push their preda-
tory excursions almost to the very gates of
Madrid. Don Carlos may be said, without
risk of exaggel alton, to be in possession OF
the whole of the North of Spain, of all Ma
varre, and Guipuscoa; his troops overrun
Biscay, Alava, and CASTLE on the one side,
and Aragon and CATALONIA on the other.
The plain of New CASTLE lies before him,
ana Ln6r6 uOeB DOb appear W CAbSO Guy W.
stacle to oppose his march on Madrid save
the multitudes of hastily raised, discon
tented, and disorgauized militia under the
orders of Marshal Zabala and the other
generals of the Republic. The Paris letter
in Wednesdays Times says that the
strength and audacity of the Carlists are
daily increasing; that the Madrid Govern
ment is powerless to guard the French
frontier, across which supplies are continu-
ally furnished to the Carlists out of French
territory by the expert smugglers of the
Psrenees, in spite of all the exertions OF
the local French authorities, stimulated as
they now are by remonstrancesf from Madrid |
and watchers from Berlin. The writer adds
that the forces of Marshal Serrano are I'M
able to drive the Carlists from the pro-
vnces they occupy. The Madrid Govern
ment nominally holds the rest of Spain
under its rule, but its attempt to raise
levy en- masse has prove failure; the re-
cruiting is everywhere evaded, and in
instances is met by open and forcible re-
distance This fact stands in remarkable
contrast with another; namely, that the
com batants on the Royalist side are, with
out exception, volunteers. As to the
force at the disposal of the Re
public We know nothing very definite; but
We know, as a certainty-In addition to
what has been stated above-that good SOL
diers are very scarce in that service, and
that officers, at least good ones, are even
scarcer. Marshal ZabaIa is still in the field,
and is stated to have under his command
so, 900 troops, of whom not more than
&c, GOO, including the division Of Moriones,
were available for strategicai operations.
Coucha had 35, 900 men and 60 guns when
he was defeated and killed. Zabala's
health is said to be in so weak state that
he win shortly have to retire from active
duty. By recent accounts he had
suffered defeat at the hands of General
Alvarez and had gone to Madrid, leaving
his command in the charge OF Generals
Iona and Lszerna. General MoriOnes lie
to be about 10 resign. General
Iona is ia command Of the garrison as
Vittoria.