The San Francisco call., 1897-03-21
SPANS ANY tOWER.

The prodigious efforts which Spain is put
ting forth in Cuba and the Philippines have
astonfshed those who have been LED 10 peileVe
that the nation was on the verge OF DanK-
ruptcy. What with serious dlsanectlon AZ
home and open rebellion in her colonies, 1t Is
question how long Spain can keep up oralh
which many nations usually accounted more
powerful would find most serious burden.
The figures tell their own story. In Cuba,
Incl iudng the re-enforcements OF the Eleventh
Expeditionary Corps, but not counting volun-
teers, there are 107 battalions OF infantry, o
guerrilla companies, OF the guardla CIVIL
disciplinary brigade. squadrons OF cavalry,
2 regiments of mountain and 2 Dattanons OF
field artillery, also 2 battalions OF sappers, De-
sides battalions of telegraphers, railroad
troops, ETC., numbering in all some 2oo'ooo
about 5000, and in the Philippines, according
to the Revista Tecnica, is about 36.76O. OF
whom IA 600 are national infantry.
At home there are with the colors "a. l9O
infantry, 1896 cavalry, 11,774 artillery,
1894 engineers 2400 army service establish
ment, Ia, ,679 guardia civil and IA, 1856 gendar-
merle, making total of nearly 129,OOO OFF,
GERS and men. Thus Spain is now keeping on
a war footing at home and abroad an army OF
more than 371 900 men. The significance OF
these figures is apparent when we compare
them with the strength of the German army,
which is 557 900 men, Considering the popu-
lation and resources of the two countries
gives a clearer idea of the enormous efforts
which Spain is now putting forth.
BY a law of the last Congress the National
Guard will soon be uniformly armed with the
Springfield rifle, cal. As These arms VIII be Is
sued by the Secretary Of War in return for those
now held by the guard. This very important
IL xtx,s1 kHnf of N
ferent States q most excellent weapon. and,
besides, will give uniformity in ammunition,
a point of great importance whenever troops
Of different States are brought together for a
common purpose. The Springfield has stood
the test Of time and use, and the absence of
the magazine principle is not such draw
back at first sight would appear. Even
with magazine arms the magazine will not be
used except in times of great extremity, and
then only for very limited period of time.
For every other purpose the Springfield gives
q fire which Is quite rapid enough for accurate
work. Being single-loader there will be less
excuse for wasting ammunition and a conse.
quent simplificatlon of its supply service
Up to the present time the French army
cyclists have been employed to transmit
orders and carry messages, but it is now pro-
posed to form corpsof true bicyclist COM
batants-a sort of noun ted infantry. An ex-
perimental company uses q folding wheel
which will enable its rider to transport 1t
easily on his shoulders whenever any great
obstacle is encountered. Each man is ned
with the Lebel rifle and carries 120 rounds.
Two cycle smiths are attached to the com mpany
to make the ordinary repairs. The company
was tested at the last autumn maneuvers, near
Laon, where it was utilized for rreconnoiterlng,
scouting ana outpost duties. For occupying
advanced positions. such as bridges and
heights, such company will prove most use-
full, owing to its rapidity OF movement Ger
many is also training corps of cyclists for
similar purposes