The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
Spanish
Army
Lea H.

However deficient Spain may lie in
naval officers of whom she does ncs
possess sufficient number to equip e
fleet of auxiliary cruisers which
proposes to put into commission, slio
certainly not lscking in field officers -.
her land forces. There are nearly 10
generals, some Of them belonging 4,
the reserve forces but most of thela "A .
the active list and drawing full n
At the head of the list are ten captsi
generals, whose rank is equivalent q
that of field marshal in other foreign nr.
mics. In several instances this grade is
of a purely honorable character. 1t is
held by the young king, who is'a boy
only l2 years old, and likewise by his
grandfather, the old ex- king, Don Fran
els Of Assist, the husband Of Queen Isa-
bella. He is dwarf in stature and on
ly a little taller than his grandson, King
| Alfonso XIII Among other captain
generals are General Blanco, marquis
| of Pena Plata, who is now in clsief COM
mand in Cuba, and who is too we'll
known to need more than passing men-
| tion; Martinez Campos, who rs one of
| his predecessors at Havana is equally
familiar TO people in the United States;
| General Primo de Rivera and General
Lopez Dominguez.
1t is General Dominguez who Is gen.
orally regarded at Berlin, Paris, Vienna
and other military ccnters as the clever
est and strongest Of all Spain's gener-
| ais, and who i'll any grave emergency 10
likely to be invested with the chief COM
mand of the Spanish army or else with
the portfolio of minister of war. Ho has
been Justly described as a mixture of
the celebrated Russian General Skobe-
left and of the French General Chanxy,
and, like them, lie is the idol OF the
rank and file of the army to which he
belongs. He is nephew Of the late
Marshal Serrano, who rose from the
humblest beginning to be dictator, re-
gent and president Of the republic Of
Spain. He has been the author of near
ly all the reforms that have taken place
in the last 90 years. and in consequence
has come to be looked upon rs the SOL
dier's friend. If he has been kept in the
background Of late years, 1t is because
ministers and even the court dread his
popularity and his ambition and fear
that the latter in moment OF crisis
might lead him to avail himself OF the
former to secure for himself some such
dictatorial power as that repeatedly pos
sessed by his uncle, Serrano.
Infinitely less popular in the army,
but more liked at court, is Captain Gen
eral Primo de Rivera, the very type OF
the polished scoundrel, who by his
smooth tongue and talent for intrigue
has managed to win 10 marked degree
the confidence of the queen. Indeed, she
has apparently forgotten the circum-
stances which led him TO be shot ut
some eight years ago and severely
wounded by one of his officers, major,
who had been subjected to persecution
of the most incredible character at the
hands of the general at the instigation
OF a demimondaine whose anger the
major had incurred, and who had the
general completely under her sway.
The major, who was driven by despcra-
ton to the act was sentenced TO death
aud executed, leaving q wife and chill
dren in pcnniless condition, while the
queen seems TO think that the general
was shot at and severely wounded while
in the performance OF his duty and
therefore possesses o claim upon her
good will. Even Weyler, with his bru-
talipy, is preferable to Primo de Rive
{ ra, for while Weylor will have man
!, hanged or shot, giving the order for his
J. execution with gross oath or course
9 gibe, Primo de Rivera will order the
!. most fiendish tortures to he inflicted,
!. eouching his instructions in the most
J. courteous suaye and guptle language,
o smiling genially tho while. Only those
G who have been out i'll the far east aud
e who have knowledge Of the atrocities
v committed by bis orders and under his
% very eyes when he was viceroy OF the
IS Philippine islands can realize the true
j. character of this man.
Another general who is likely to make
!. his nainc known abroad IL the present
!, war lasts sufficiently long Is Cassola,
|, one of the few officers who have never
!, been implicated in any pronunciamcnto
d He has sometirts been called the Span
r ish Moltke, owing to his ceaselcss ant
n indefatigable activity and to his re
s markablo silence and reserve. This pc
l. culiarity i'm country where loquacit,
IS and gesticulation arc the order Of th'
y day is sufficient to cause people to lool
r upon him as kind of rara avis He Il
J, stern and upright soldier who, Il
d quote enc Of his own rare remarks
a wants 10 make an army loyal to hi
o king and country, with its face to tn
i enemy and its back turned upon politi
y cal struggles.
q Cassola is so strict disciplinerial
IS that while minister ef war he actuall,
h placed cid Captain General MARITIME
d Campos under arrest besides severcl.
10 rcprimanding him for having rcfuse'
n in his capacity as captain general Q
Madrid to take the countcrsign iron
l. tho Princess Eulalic in the absence Q
Is tie queen from tho capital. MTtinc
L. Campos took the ground that, inasmuc
sr as Don Antonio, the husband Of Princes
-. | E..tot;, .,.ao m ,,,o-o cas,faiu of tavnl,-