Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-12
MEASURING FORCES
Spain's Army Four Times the Size
of Ours.
BUT OUR RESERVES ARE FAR GREATER
The American Soldier Candidly
Regarded as Brave Man.
MPA RISON DRAWN

Unbiased military authorities agree that
there is no satisfa Glory basis of comparison
between the fighting qualities OF the SOL
diers of Srain and those of the United
States, for the reason mainly that Spain
has rot engaged in conflict with first
class power in modern times. Many army
officers have been asked for their views on
this subject. but have steadfastly declined
to commit themselves This extreme reti-
cence on subject in which they naturally
have the liveliest interest is due to a recent
order of the Secretary of War specially en-
joining officers of the army from public
comment on current events affecting the
general government Notwithstanding this
prohibition. it was not at all difficult to
learn In the course of a general converse
ton, in private, that most of the officers Of
Uncle Sans small army have a sublime
confidence in their ability to conquer the
soldiers of Spain at any time or place where
the conditions are anywhere near equal.
Spanish military prowess was admitted
on all sides, but no one in the War Depart
ment was prepared to assert that it COM
pared with the yalor and fighting strength
OF the American army According to one
authority, the Spanish army has deterior-
ated considerably since the days of Charles
and the Duke of Alva. when its infantry
was the flower of the military world and
Terror
Individual Courage.
As one officer put it: Man for man, the
Spanish soldier is not equal to the Amer-
can soldier. The Span iards are brave and
proud, but they haven't got the lasting
courage of the Americans. The British and
the Americans are on ar equal footing so
far as fighting is concern ed, and the Span
iards have lost every time they have met
british ont of
Gibraltar. and have kept them out. The
French easily defeated them in the Denn-
sula,with less troops, while the same French
troops were afterward defeated by the Brit
1sh in the same territory. There is no dis
pute that at one time the Spanish was the
finest infantry in the world. but they have
since deteriorated considerably. They were
not able to stand against the British at
Trafalgar. whereas the same British troops
were subsequently defeated by the Ameri-
cans in the war of 1912. Most of the Span
1sh conquests were made over people who
were not capable of a fair resistance. Ac-
cording tc one authority the strength of
the Spanish army lies in the spirit of 10y
atty and the spirit of ignorance of the sol
dierS.
Some Mediaveal History.
In the sixteenth century Spain was fully
abreast of the times, and the qualities
named enabled her soldiers to build the
splendid empire of Charles V, extending
over the largest part of western Europe
and over almost the whole of the two
Americas The Spanish soldiers were the
best soldiers in Euro pe. Their courage and
their discipline had been formed by eight
centuries of warfare. Their faith in their
leaders was implicit Disloyalty was the
blacklist crime in the Spanish calendar.
They fought with desperate courage and
With perfect discipline. They would go
wherever their chiefs led. They never MUIR
Tured under the most terrible hardships or
the most discouraging reverses. The rulers
OF Spain in those days had a perfect wea-
pom for conquest in the compact, disciplin-
ed hardy, adventurous and loyal Spanish
PEOPLE.
With this military people behind him Fer
dlnand drove the MCors back until the last
Moorish ruler surrendered and departed fol
Africa. leaving Spain once more wholly to
Spanish rule. And Charles V, who succeed
ed Ferdinand. extended the empire ovel
western Europe. And Philip ii, his crue
and arrogant son, even threatened Eng
land-impregnable behind her barriers OF
stormy sea. In the Americas these hardy
and obedient Spanish soldiers followed Bal,
boa through the Businesses of the Cordil-
leraS to the Pacific, went under Cortez tc
subdue Mexico. under PiZarro to overturr
the lncas. under Ponce de Leon to seek the
elixir OF life in the haunted forests of Flor
Ida, under De Soto to endure without com.
plant the miseries of that long and disas-
trous journey 10 and from the Mississippi
Why 1t Was.
Buckle, more clearly than any other his
torian. he's shown why the crash came Sc
suddenly. The Armada was in a way the
elimination of outward demonstration OF
the power Of Spain But Buckle points out
that Spain never lad any real basis OF
power; that 1t was all false and hollow; that
real power can only lie in the intelligence
and spirit of independence in the plain
people, and that where this Is absent one
incompetent ruler will crumble the whole
nimsy structure into nothingness.
Spain stands today where she stood in
the sixteenth century, and is far behind
In the progress of civilization. She is nc
stronger now than she was then, while
most of the other nations have kept pace
with the spirit of advancement, and conse-
quently are superior to her in all the quail
tiles that go to make a nation powerful and
secure America in particular is far ahead
OF Spain in all tine elements of power and
intelligence. and. like England, would have
no trouble in demonstrate her military
superiority If the emergency arose.
Spnin's Military System.
Under the military law of July 1. 1885,
the armed forces of Spain consist of, first
a permanent army: second. a first or active
reserve. and. third, second or sedentary
reserve. All Spaniards over nineteen years
OF age are subject to duty for three years
in the permanent army. then for three
years In the active service, and afterward
for six years in the sedentary reserve Ex-
empilon from service may be secured by
the payment of l 800 pesetas. For the colo
NAL army the total period of service is
eight years. four with the colors and four
IN tne second reserve. By increasing the
number of depot battalions, assigning to
each reserve battalion special district
and making it the essential basis of regi-
mental organization, both for recruits and
the reserves. 1t Is said that Spain would he
able to easily mobilize in case of necessity
an army Of LOSS, 595 men,
According to the latest returns, the
strength of the regular army of Spain in
peace and war is as follows:
Permanent Uor