The times., 1898-07-10

Cuba If it could be said that they died
fighting an inglorious fee. The Ameri-
can victories up to date nave been won
from soldiers seasoned by long cam
paigning, and in the main led by men
who have known the art or fighting from
their boyhood up. 1t seems now that
the day is fast approaching when his
tory will repeat itself once more and at
the close of this war the Spanish pha-
lanxes will be reduced TO about the same
condition, comparatively speaking, as
they were when the persistent and sturdy
Dutchmen of the sixteenth century gave
them a quietus that was only awakened
when Wellington came upon the scene
and infused new vigor into their despair
Ing commanders.
Every Spaniard is compelled by law TO.
serve his country. No matter how high
his rank he must take a share of glory
either in the military or naval service.
The little king, three years too young TO
ascend his throne-if he ever does-is al
ready a soldier.
Outside of the officers the army is rails
ed by conscription and comprises twen-
ty-eight regiments of cavalry, fifty-six
regiments of infantry, each of two bat
talions; twenty battalions of rifles, four
regiments of engineers, ten battalions of
garrison artillery, fourteen regiments of
artillery, sixteen companies, 1920 men,
military train.
The regular army reserve consists of
fifty-six infantry battalions.
Besides the ordinary branches constitu-
ting the army there are two other kinds
of troops, the Carbineers and the Civil
Guard, which are also within the juris-
diction of the secretary of war. The
former are strictly body of men for
frontier defense, but more particularly
to prevent smuggling.
The Civil Guard (Guardia Civil is the
finest and best equipped force, forming
part of the Spanish army. In correct
sense they are not soldiers, but are more
of the nature of a rural police. They are
organized on a military plan. The or
! ganization consists of some 10000 men.
| and their special duties consist of pro-
| tecting and guarding the country roads,
! even in the most wild and rugged Sec
! tions, so that g. person can traverse
! Spain always under the vigilance of a
! Civil Guard, stationed in small houses al
along the roads. When requested the
! corporal or officer in charge of the guard
house will give the passenger or way
farer an escort of one or more men. or
arriving at the next guardhouse the
/ Civil Guard would be changed for an
other, thus affording a continued protec-
ton. Another branch of this force (no
ruraD do ordinary police work in the
cities and towns; In the cities there is
also a municipal police which in no way
Is connected with the Guardia Civil. TIL;
officers and men receive higher pay thar
their comrades in the line but their:
is a hazardous life the year around. Thi
institution has an academy for sergeant
and a college for young guards study
ing for promotion. The best youth o
the farmer class are in this CORPS. anC
as the young men have to go through
rigid examination that their qualiflca
tions may fill the prescribed severe reg
ulations for admission, 1t may be justl.
called the corps d'elite of the Spanisl
army.
The cavalry is the weakest branch o
the service, but excellently well mount
ed.
1t is composed OF eight regiments o
lancers, four of dragons, two of hussar
and fourteen of chasseurs. They ar