New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-29
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
MILITARY STRENGTH OF SPAIN.


THE NUMBER OF SOLDIERS IN SPAIN AND IN CUBA
THE NAvY-IE-ENFOBCrm ENTs NEEDED IN CUBA
DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING MoNkY TO EQUIP
SOLDIERS.
70 the Edftor or The tribune.
SIR: Ii nay he of interest to many persons
olearp the military and naval of Spain ana
the greatest force that nation can bring to bear Tor
,,orcme effort to maintain possession OF Cuba ana
PORTO Rico win begin with the infantry OF the me-
which constitutes the main strength OF all ARMIES II
consists OF 30 regiments OF three battaons each except
The Goth Regiment (of Guadalajara and the sam oi
Grauadal having only two battalions. All these Pat
talons have six com anes severally OF So rank ana
ale The nominal strength OF the infantry arm docs 10.
therefore exceed $1,000 men OF its l3s pataliohs "a
are excellent light infantry especially III the ch'e %
snain Reside being numbered, every regiment mas Il
,necial name the first being known that Of III Key
fbe Kinc) A few take their designations from some
cit, ar uroyiuce and q few from famous parsonage
The cavalry embraces 20 regiments and sluadrohS'
with nominal total force of II 900. Inc spanish cav
slryren are good riders and there spec SCHOOL 'or
This arm Six of the cavalry regiments are chas'eWS'
eight are lanccrs the others are curasscfS carbeee
or heavy cavalry The cavalry, ike the infantry ree-
,ents an hear distinctive The engineer force
Of good sized and weliraned men, number about Z'Oo
The artillery which has been greatly demordled by the
pocal connections Of the country, Is nOb an eHcctlNr
.orrs and does not exceed at most, 10000 men The
rs 600 men; to which, however, may DO added the
cparda Civie 10000 men, distributed Spain, with
dues very similar those of the French Gendarmerlc
but Of higher martial training and an ORDERLY well
disciplined corps detachment of tins corps Is now on
special service in Cuba. There are aso provincial
militia about 4J 900 men, and the revenue police about
1900 men, The military force of all descriptions under
arms in spain and las colonies is Therefore l32oOo men,
exclusive Of the volunteer force in Cuba.
Under all stress OF the Carist AMI Cuban wars II Is
notorious that the Spanish Government at no time
has been able 10 put in the field In the fehn-
sula more than 100000 men, and has mover been
able TO penetrate make strong impression
,op the chief Carst strOnghOds AZ the same time,
nv, recuar force kept in the Island OF Cuba though II
ebe laI.alions of tie very best OF the Spanish reF-
peuts has not been strong enough, aid'd ny INV l"Vu
Spanish volunteer force to keep an nsuleeu'h! p'S
Of barely SOC men from invading and maintaining 'ho'
foothold IN the sugar district Of the Cinco villas Inc
insmeens for II months have remained IN the ds'c''
and have destroyed many great sugar estates as vel as
10000 tons of the sugar Of The crop OF l7'l-o.
TTeuayal force OF an alleged formidable character, OF
which So much has been said, consists OF fix "-cads
resembling the Arapies repaired several years SINCE a'
The BROOKLYN NavYard They excellent vessels Of
their kind There also IL or II screw i1geS 81 the
,liss of the Corona and Villa DC Madrid Is or 20 COZ
y-t,es such a. the Tornado, which captured the Ni-
ginius and about the number Oncludngtr np"'Al
%1 shidIo' olo To rurboats to+ one qurl nuit
en- The United States. OF which possibly, 20 ar
SIN a'ioat At most there - vessels or every
naval cigs, including c EuuboIis. ID re- '"b I" tt
character of these vessels, il may be said that Tie
i0ncIals are exceptionally good, and the steamers "a"
not have d1u0r sufficiently heavy To resist tht orihAb'C
OF the present day The Other vessels eih ",ns SOL.
excellent ships Of ~ their respective classes, nave
been built Tor long time and have been moCh "' 'h'
time IN active service II the waters OF tuhd ana the f
4, me time Of the outbreak OF the insuwection m
Cuha-OCt0hcT 1865 the regular Spanish force IN tht
island numb rel anout lo,1'o men wi ~ ny MN
bv the end of 1859 Lad been TrtfO Ccd. ny 2O3OO men
Unto December 1874, there was annual rccnoiC'-
uent Cf about ] 100 men 10 III mp TIE gaps maze Nv
The climate and battle During the year lust ended tut
IetufOrcrlucn have risen 30 fIa,t"h under $50"
men of Vicl three-fuutt, have been landed since 1il
i There re- rs the nsufrtctuu has lived and cNtenicH
It, limits in despite of The employment OF more tiau
TINS day larger pGufOIc"mtnt than +o''Vo
men must be sent to give hope OF nc radical N'-
roofing uf the revolt there. As affairs slhhd VII
spain and wiz q national debt Of S2,6ooOVcol",
can the Government of King Alfonso increase the
Sp1uisb army 10 any effective cNtcntf Of course
with her urt sent u0pulaJn sufficiently large increase
rtud be r. ady made for Tie utter Lack al money ia
tia 10 recruit cOtlc. arm luip transport 1000 Hr-
end maintain in tine field the army necessary Tor TIE Work
IN hand must large amount Here, ana luet cit IS
fl,s SPANISH difficulty ia the Cuban problem. IL Is
curious that in spite ~ the deploiahir ds"iot-
which have so long distracted Spain her exports hav"
wears Nevertheless tLc total dlcul oI -Lth cAi"l'''
with an aggr,c gate p0uu!tion Of $4,000 900 ana az ar"
@. 1875 900 sGuare miles. il much -n Ter ihsn That oi
Cuba with q population OF only l,2JVOOO s0dis ans an
area of ouly 5000 square miles. y
Nelr- York, Jan. 6, 1870