The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
sPAIN'S UNREADINEss.
An Englishman's Opinion of the Fleet
Lately at Cadiz.

An Englishman's Opinion of the Fleet
Lately at Cadiz.
Correspondence London Mail
1t so happened that my visit to CadiZ three
days ago conceded with that of Senior
Aunon, the Spanish Minister of Marine. 1
travelled in the train from Seville that car
ried him and his staff in special carriage.
AT the wayside platform there was always
small crowd to welcome him, and when
near Cadiz the new Minister met with most
enthusiastic receptions AT the terminus
he was received with full military honors,
the soldiers having some difficulty in keep
ing back the crowd while he was taken off
to his headquarters on board the Pelayo.
1t was announced in the Spanish press
that the Cabinet had sent Senior Aunon to
Cadiz in order that he might report to them
on the efficiency of the fleet, and also make
critical examination of the new works in
connection with the fortresses and the ar
senal. 1t is probable, however, that his
chief duties had regard to the expediting
OF the naval equipment necessary for the
fleet. On the morning after his arrival he
summoned a meeting of captains and lis
tened attentively to what each declared was
still necessary for the outfit of his vessel.
No details were given, but it seemed likely
there had been the usual amount of Spanish
representation during the past month or so.
kilograms and letters were promptly sent
by the minister to Madrid. One result is the
announcement to-day that between three
and four thousand men are to be sent to
CaadiZ, 10 raise the crews to their full COM
plement in numbers This can be effected
easily enough for Spain has still a human
reserve on which it can draw But whether
her arsenals are not by now well-nigh ex-
hausted is open to doubt
to Gibraltar by sea, our little steamer
passed between the two big armed CD
MAMMA and the Columbia, and one could
easily see how, on either side and at either
end, portions of their bulwarks had been
removed to give play to the quick-tring
guns that should be carried fore and aft.
But the most careful inspection that was
possible showed no signs that any guns had
Unf
OF the two battle ships that lie in the har-
bor only the Pelayo looked really dignl-
and. its no doubt abundant guns, was little
more impressive than the two cruisers al
ready named, whom it closely resembles
with its great free-board and its row of
three tall tunnels. OF the smaller craft the
three large torpedo destroyers looked ex-
ceedingly business-like. OF the unarmed
"tranSatlanticS the less said the better.
The town Of Cadiz. shaped something like
the diamond of playing card, lies at the
some five miles into the sea, across the
mouth of the bay Of the same name. The
longer diameter of the diamond is a little
more than mile in length. Situated on
rock which nowhere rises to any great
height above the sea, the whole city, which,
in its time, has been fortress of extraordi-
nary strength, is surrounded by fine ram
parts, which still abound with batteries and
Notifications of past date. The chief of
Of San Sebastian, lies at the seward ex-
tremity of the diamond, to which it is con-
necteQ by narrow spit or land.
From the sea it is possible to observe that
this ancient position has been recently
armed with at least three Of those long
barrelled cannon which claim modern ORR
which had long been a well-known land
mark, has been pulled down quite recently.
Various portions of the ramparts have also
been rearmed during the past few months.
In their case however, though the mount
ing is evidently new; the guns are muzzle-
leaders of a short, thick type, very similar
in appearance to the seven-ton guns with
which our own Isle of Wight forts were
supplied about 1870. Curiously enough these
guns at Cadiz have not been mounted in
front of the old embrasures of the low wall
which surmounts the ramparts. They are,
therefore, quite invisible from the sea at
present, but new embrasures must be made
in front of them before they can be used
unless the ancient walls are to be knocked
down and disfgured by the Spanards them
selves.
The arsenal of Cadiz is In the suburb of
St. Fernando, situated at the bottom of
CadiZ bay, and some seven miles from the
city. 1t is impossible for stranger to make
any inspection of the works, as to which
secrecy is so carefully maintained that
Englishmen, though duly provided with
passports, have here been arrested without
railway station. One feels that this would
hardly be the case If the products and ar
rangements of the arsenal were worthy of
any praisworthy comment
The city itself is full of soldiers and sail
ors, and at first sight presents very mar
tial aspect. But a little quiet consideration
is, without question:, fair number of well
disciplined and sOldier-like artillery. who
are Quartered in the fine old barracks that
lie alongside the batteries on the ramparts,
and many Of the sailors and marines who
come ashore from the fleet seem good men
enough. But by far the bulk of the garri-
of Cadiz seems to be composed of the
rawest and youngest infantry recruits-boys
that would never have been called to serve
at so early an age, but for the drain that
Spain has suffered on its military conscrip-
ton during the last three years: 1t is no
wonder that the people of Cadiz look
gloomy when one remembers what tens or
thousands of soldiers have sailed from the
port during this period to be absorbed by
the rebellious colonies. And that without
reckoning the lives necessitated by the out
break of war with America
But what chiefly surprises the Engllsn
onooker is the very small atte9 en- ts "r rsn
recruits. who seem at liberty to LOAF about
the narrow streets, clad in cotton uni
form and provided with no accoutrements,
from early morning to late evening. Very
occasionally you will see company or TWO
being put through some elementary lessons
in formation battalion drill; but such
things as parades on any large scale seem
entirely unknown. The boys. though under
sized. look hearty and strong. but they
would surely be none the worse for course
Of route marching a series of maneuvers.
But nothing of the kind seems ever TO be at
Presumably there are rifles for arming
these youthful levies, but one wonders If
they often have the handling of them. Rife
ranges seem to be entirely nonexisteEt, and
during my sojourn in Spain 1 have not
heard on any single occasion even the rattle
of blank cartridge whether in volleys or in
dividual firing. Similarly have never seen
or heard any artillery or big gun practice,
whether a. a target or otherwise. One Is
consequently not surprised 10 read in the
papers about the bad shooting Of the Span
ish gunners in Cuba and in. the Philippines.
firing OF the infantry will prove equally in
effective To have some knowledge Of fire
discipline ana to receive due instruction in