Middletown transcript., 1898-04-30
SPANISH NAVAL EDUCATION.

such period has lapsed
since she has been engaged in war of
any magnitude that the actual ability
of her navy is an unknown quantity,
allho the near future may demoustra Q
it very clearly TO America and the
Great Powers. 1t is generally admitted
that The insurreciion in Caba while
long continued, has merely shown the
inability of her military forces and
what is generally believed to be cor
ruption among the officers in command
on the island. The naval work has
been merely confined to a few engage
ments of gunboats and filibusters, and
has been really of no consequence.
The reputation achieved by the
Spanish in the days of the Armada and
in the conflicts which distinguished
the early part of the present century, is
familiar to every reader of history; and
it is the opinion of British and other
naval officers that to-day Spain's power
lies principally in her naval representa-
tives. Political influence, however.
has prevailed to large extent in the
army and navy as we'll as other depart
ments Of the government; but it has
not been as widespread in the latter
branch of the service as in the other;
and the Spanish naval officer, while
he has not received the thorough train
ing II rtquisite for commission in our
own country or Great Britain, Is still
fairly proficient, while. so far as cour-
age and natural advantages are con-
cerned, be is perhaps equal to any of
his rank. At the time the Armada
was afoat, the Spanish sailors had no
superior the world over, and their
skill in naval tactics at that time was
remarkable. The city of Cartagena
was formerly one of the principal edu-
cational centers. but later Ferrol, near
the Northwestern coast, became the
site of this branch. The young Span
lard receives his primary education
still at Ferrol, but, with the exception
of the Engineering School, the higher
institutions are at Cadiz. The graduates
of the navy complete their course at
the academies of San Carlo and San
Fernandina, where are located also
smaller schools of gunnery practice and
torpedo practice, which form what
would be called in this country post
graduate courses.
Ths Spanish naval cadet is selected
from the upper classes. Sons OF officers
in service or retired constitute the ma
jority, altho any one who is in proper
physical condition, Roman Catholic
and a Spanish subject, is supposed to
be eligible. Outside the sons of Off
GERS, however, one finds only the chill
dren of professional men in the list, oc-
casionally the family of tradesman
being represented. This far differ
ent from the United States, where the
members of the Annapolis Naval Acad-
envy come from all walks of life. As
the navy is very popular with the peo-
pie, there is great demand for en-
trance, and the beginning of each
school year finds far more applicants
than can be accommodated at the train
ing school. One reason is that the ar my
and navy circles are popular as in the
United States from social standpoint,
and officers are everywhere received
with the utmost cordiality at festivities
and other society events. 1t is a very
life to be stationed at Madrid,
Cadiz, or any of the larger cities, all
of which have numerous garris0ns
while all of the important Spanish har-
bors in time of peace contain one or
more war-ships, the officers being al
lowed ample time for recreation on
shore. Another reason is that the
number of physicians and legal pra'-
tioners is ex remedy small in Spain, land
the opening for young men in this re-
spect is very limited. The question
of caste, such an important part OF the
social system, deters the young Span
lard from engaging in trade of any kind
unless he is Of the mercantile class.
Even then many endeavor to avoid an
occupation which they consider obnox-
ious, by entering the service. AS the
pay Of the fficers is faiIly good, and
they are, of course, provided for at the
expense of the Government. life on
buald ship and in a garrison has many
charms in times Of peace. Consequent
ly it is not strange that the officers, as,
al ready intimated, represent the high
est class of the Spanish people, and
humber not a few scions Of nobility in
their ranks.
The system of instruction should re-
suit in very high standard of ability
in the navy. Beginning with the train
ing-school, which is on board an old
war ship at Ferrol, the students are
thaueht all of the essential studies
which would enable them to command
a vessel and become experts in the most
strategic tactics of modern naval war.
fare. The primary instruction which
lasts from two and half to three years,
ncludes photography, natural philos-
ophy, mathematics, fencing, drawing
gymnastics and the study of English or
French at their option. Graduates In
these studies enter the Engineering
School or the academies AZ Cadiz, the
former Notwithstanding special courses
in mechanics, ,dyRomics, ETC., while the
Others receive theit diplomas after COM
pleting course in higher mathematics,
naval maneuvering and ad-
minislration. artillery tactics and, as
wH@n