The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-03-04
FACTS ABOUT SPAIN.
A Brave Pc pie, But No. Fit for Open
Fighting.


Fighting.
Portland Oregonan: The area OF con-
tinental Spain is 1871, 100 tqnare miles
about double that OF Oregon. The pop
ulation. according to late simate, is a
little less than 18,O00.000 For so old a
country, there has been within recent
times considerable increase OF populs-
ton. In 1898 the population was esti-
mated TO number 10,C6l 480: in 1928 II
was 10 69s O29; 10 1860, 10 .658,5Sl.
The population OF Spanish colonial
posseasion in America lie estimated at
2.438. .395-now much reduced by the
Cuban war; in Asia, 7,12l, ,l72; in Africa,
1876 600. Total, 9,G95 ,567. The total
population OF Spain and her colonies,
therefore, is about 27 10000.
According to the statement OF the
minister OF finance, the debt OF Spain,
June 20, 1896, amounted 10 5,94l Ass, 800
pesetas. The pesets is silver coin, OF
the nominal value in our currency OF
46a cents. The debt OF Spain, then,
measured in our money, would amount
TO the prodigious sum OF q, 500 900 ,000-a
sum ne arly as great as the debt OF the
United States at the close OF our civil
war, and three times as great as the
present interest. bearing debt Of the
United Slater.
In financial sense, then, Spain is
very weak. Her revenue for many years
has been constantly below her expendi
tures. She has, moreover, employed
every possible means Of raising revenue,
and has no further resources 10 draw
upon and her credit Is so low that ad.
ditional loans are impossible.
Her army, on paper, 10 somewhat for.
midable. The forces consist Of per.
manent army Of q normal strength OF
1873 900 men and officers, and Of first or
active reserve and Of second or seden.
tary reserve, for which no number are
quoted. The greater part OF the active
army has been sent during the past three
years to service in the East and West
Indies, and IL is believed that the greater
part have perished Spain's army Is
not actually formidable, nor could she or
ganize really formidable army. But she
has q navy OF considerable strength, /,
with which losses might be inflicted on
us at points along our extended gca
board. OF couree, she could land no
forces on our shores. Nor probably
should We attempt to land an army on
the coast Of Spain. We ehould. how.
ever, speedily send an army to Cuba,
and every effort would be made to des-
troy the Spanish navy, to blockade the
ports OF Spain, and to force them, where
1t might Seem possible. The commerce
OF Spain is very considerable, and it
would be an important part OF our effort
10 blockade the ports OF the country.
spain has no resources that would en-
able her to compete with US in making
additions TO naval strength.
The Spaniards are brave people, but
for an open field fighting are not good
soldiers. they are capable, however, OF
making desperate resistance, when under
cover. II was only when within FORTH
cations that they made Rny real resist
ance to Napoleon'e armies. True, they
captured one French army corps during
the Napoleonic wars, but that was due to
the incompetency Of the French COM
mander. But the Spaniards have high
opinion OF their own soldierly qualities
and Of their national prowess; they are
vainglorious braggarts, and really believe
they never were beaten, but they have
been victorious in all their wars. 1t is
their fixed belief that 1t was their own
might that expelled Napolean from
Spain, and they doubt not II Spain had
been in the place Of France in 1870 the
German armies would have been hurled
back In defeat over the Rhine.
OF the soil OF Spain, about so per cent
is classei as productive. OF this 35 per
cent is devoted to agriculture and gar.
dens, 3 8 per cent to Vineyards, l,6 to
olive culture, 20 TO natural grass, and 81
to fruits. Wheat, rye, barley, maize,
esparto, fax, hemp and pulse are the
leading farm crops. The vine is the
most important culture, and large guam
titles OF wine, oranges, rsisins. grapes,
nuts and olives are exported. Great
Britain takes annually from Spain pro.
ducts worth fl0, 100000 to fl2,000,000.
Contrary to common opinion, Spain
has very considerable merchant navy.
From the latest return, 1t contained 427
steamers Of 3i3,178 tons net, and l04l
sailing vessels Of l72, ,72g tons net; total,
1868 vessels Of 485, ,90v tons. In 1906
there entered x, ,268 vessels, OF IS, l92 1929
tons, OF which H. ,054 carried the Spanish
flag.