The morning call., 1895-01-27

improved transportation facilities, have
made revolution almost one of the lost arts
in Mexico.
In recent publication, entitled "The
Armies of To-day" Thomas A. Janyier
gives detailed account of the composition
and organization of the Mexican army. 1t
is composed of three grand divisions-the
permanent army, the reserve OF the per-
manent army and the general reserve.
Nominally it consists of about 10000
infantry, $4,000 cavalry and 1000 artillery
in all about 10000 men. The permanent
army-the effective force actually in SER
vice and ready for Immediate use-is made
up of about 10000 men of all arms. OF
these $4,000 are infantry, 5000 are cavalry
and the remainder comprise the artillery,
engineers, staff, military schools and the
manusactories of war material.
The present military administration is
thoroughly progressive. By the constitu-
tion the President of the republic is the
general-in-chief of the army. The actual
service is conducted by a general of
division holding the Cabinet position of
Minister of War, and to his person is at
tached the general staff. Under him are
five generals of division and twenty-five
brigadier- generals. Five generals of divis-
ion and sixteen brigadier-generals are
carried on the reserves.
Over 80 per cent of the field and regl-
mental officers are graduates of the Mill
tary College at Chapultepec. About 300
cadets are constantly in training there,
and about sixty officers are annually
graduated. The course is similar to that
of West Point, and the gradual retirement
of the older officers and the filling of their
places by young men thoroughly trained
in accordance with the best of modern
military methods has markedly raised the
tone and practical efficiency of the army.
The cadets, as rule, are drawn from the
upper classes of Mexican society, but
among them are many young fellows of
native Indian stock. The Chapultepec
boys have gallant traditions behind them,
and are a spirited and soldierly lot of
young men. An important adjunct of the
college is an artillery school, in which
officers of that arm take postgraduate
course.
The rank and file of the army is mostly
drawn from the lowest classes. For many
years it has been the practice to draft
criminals into the army, but of late Presi-
dent Diaz has been wedding out that class,
though the reform is not yet complete.
As rule, the soldiers constitute credit
able body of troops. Most of them are of
Indian stock. They are said to possess the
soldierly qualities of obedience and per-
sonal bravery. They have great endurance
and can march, and fight with rations and
supplies on which the average soldiers of
the United States and Europe would break
down. Their camp equipage and COM
missariat are of the simplest, but are suited
to their habits.
The armament of this force is respecta-
BILE. The field artillery is somewhat de-
ficient. The batteries comprise about forty
3-inch rihed guns. Lately new guns have
been turned out as rapidly as possible from
the national foundry near Chapultepec.
That establishment and also the well-ap-
pointed armory for the manufacture of
small arms and the national powder-mill
are organized upon a military basis and
can turn out good work.