The San Francisco call., 1898-03-20

a field of land conflict, the element of providing for the cost of land warfare would be hardly less than that of the marine struggle. Prudence would also dictate that the scale of preparation would take into account the possibility, even probability, of Spain's forming al dances with European powers by which her fighting strength on land and sea would be largely augmented.
 With these considerations existing, the cost of going to war with Spain at this time could not be estimated far be- low the cost when the first crash of arms came in 1861
 As to Spains first cost in going to war with the United States, 1t must be borne in mind that Spain is now prac- tically on war footing, and has been since the Cuban struggle became seri- ous The war footing of Spain is 1S3,- 912 men, and this footing has been reached, if not exceeded, in Cuba alone. The forces there have fiuctuated, but the official figures year ago gave 121,- 136 men in Cuba. Adding the reserve force in Spain and those in the Philip pines and Puerto Rico, the total is fully up to the war footing of Spain. The same is true of Spain's navy, which is and has been on a war foot ing. Doubtless war footing of Spain capable of dealing with Cuba would have to be very materially enlarged in dealing with the United States, but at least 1t would serve as a nucleus-it would save that extraordinary cost of first start Up to this time, how ever, Spain has known no need of a war footing beyond that above given which, in detail, is as follows:
 Infantry ....... 132, GOO Staff .. n,140 Cavalry 17.156 Hospital Corps. 4S3 Artillery 12.166
 Engineers. ..... 11,027 Total .. 1Ss, 972
 While this is the war footing of Spain, yet provision has been made by which, in an extraordinary emergency, 1,0S3,575 men could be put in the field. This vast number, in a country having but 17,000,000 population, is phenom- enal in the annals of warfare. It is not conjectural, however, but is based on careful estimates made by Spain as to her utmost resources in case of need.
 Spain's first cost of war with the United States has been estimated at LOGO 900, 000 pesetas. The basis for the estimate is the cost of the Cuban con- fiict to the present time. The war budget for 1S95-96 was LAO, GOO GOO peso tas regular and 40, 900, 900 pesetas extra ordinary. This has been mounting up ever since, until the cost of the war up to this time is estimated at s2S0, ,0O0 900, or SS5000,0 900 year. With the increases requisite for 8 conflict with the United States, the cost would be more than double that of holding Cuba, and, by most conservative estimate, the total of 1000, ,000,0 900 pesetas, or $200, 900, 900, was made by one well fitted for an in- telligent view of the subject.
 During the first stage of war large element of cost to be defrayed by the United States would be found in the necessity to provide 100000 men with new rifles, at cost of $17 to $20 In
 e. IL. O 00nn nnn other detail in reaching the total esti- mate for six months was the cost of uniforms, two suits at $8 each being al- lowed. This, for 100000 men, would be about $3.500,000. In the item of ammu- milton, the estimate contemplated 500