The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-05

lOUtluR Tue bLT6HRtu VI 6dCn OF the tOuT
divisions of the army may be COM
puted as follows:
Six regiments infantry, 700 men each. A, 300
Two reg ments cavalry, go men each, / 240
-Four batteries artillery, 100 men each. 400
Engineers, troops and staff...".............. 100
900
INFANTRY AND CAVALRY STRENGTH.
ENED.
This general plan of tactical organi-
z't on is the one that is, with some
slight modification, in force today.
One OF the mos notable OF these
notifications is the change that has
taken place in the Infantry. This arm
is now organized into single battalion
regiments, on the FRENCH and German
plan. That is, each infantry regiment
is now composed Of four companies,
and each of these has nominal
strength OF $50 enlisted men on its
mus,er rolls. Thus, while the tactical
unit OF the infantry in former times
could not turn out more than ZOO
men, it can, by this change, now put
$50 sin active service. Among other
good effects brought about by this
modification it has increased the
strength of the army from the $4,000
which it was originally intended to
number to more than 10000 fighting
men Of all arms. Il may be added
that the cavalry has also been
strengthened.
TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS OF THE RE-
PUBLIC.
The divisional headquarters OF the
amy are First Division, City of Mex
leo; Second Division, Tehuacan de
los Gfanados; Third Division, San
Luis Poto.i; Fourth Division, Guada.
lajara. The country is mapped out
into teritC rial divisions or districts,
and these again into what are called
military z5nes. Each of these zones
is under command OF an officer who
reports directly to the Minister of
War. This lessons the influence OF
the division comm anders, concentrates
the spower in the Minister'S hands,
and miuimizes the chances of pronuu-
Ciamentos. Formerly the artillery
brigades were stationed in the cities
where their respective divisional
headquarters were located. This is
not the c'se now. The force of this
arm have long ago been called into
the City OF Mexico, so that they can
be under the eye OF the Minister, who
by this means is able to prevent their
commanders from forming relations of
too intimate a chsrac err with the nu.
merous generals and chiefs who have
lost their professional positions
through the ingratitude of President
Dlaz or ths poverty OF the country,
ard wh) are always ready for a revo.
luton, no matter what side may turn
up.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
AS far back as the year 1860 the
Mexicans were able to manufacture
rifed'brass field pieces. They have
now in operation at the capital small
arms factory under the control of the
Artillery Department that csn turn
out a few hundred stand of arms
weekly. They have had several pow
der factories for many years in opera
ton, but the powder made in them is
not of good quality. There is also an
factory on the American
plan at the Ciudadela, in Mexico.
The rifles that are now being turned
out for their infantry are more Ike
toy guns than anything. else. They
are Of vsry light caliber-.43-aud
short in proportion, so that they could
not compete with the Springfield rifle
Of 45 cslher that is now in the hands
Of the American troops The Next
can troor 8, with all their valor, are, as
1 general rule, very bad marksmen.
The ma eiial Of their artillery is the
ineet that can be had for money, but
The average ari 'leryman could not hit
/ hsyetack at 100 yards range. 1t is
only about two years since the gov
,rnment of Gen, Gonzales purchased
q France no less than eighteen bat
cries of the new and approved
French steel field pieces of eight and
lalf csntim tiers ,liber, known as the
De Bsnge gun Much of the smaller
,laUses of army equipments are made
u the county. The Mexican clvalry
8 famous for its fearless riders and |
,alorous troopers, but it would be al
ogether too light for an encounter
With the came arm of the American
ervice