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In most European States the Army is worked by the Sovereign or Government of the country for the defence of the Crown and the nation, and for the upholding of the Law. This, however, was for a long time not the case in the south-western portion of Europe, i.e. the Iberian Peninsula. It could not be the case, for during even this century revolution has succeeded revolution, and the different forms of government introduced at rapidly-recurring intervals have made it impossible for the Army to be always at the beck and call of the head of the State for the time being. The energetic young king, Alfonso XII., who ascended the Spanish throne in 1874 (and died in 1885), experienced the necessity of making himself chief of the Army, and instituted a military system by which he hoped to put an end to the earlier irregularities.

The Army of Spain is therefore now divided into the Peninsular Army, which serves in Spain itself, and the Colonial Army, which serves in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands.

The Peninsular Army is founded on the system of universal conscription, to which every Spaniard becomes liable on attaining his twentieth year. Those who are exempted by law from the Army are only called out in time of war, and those who belong to certain named professions are allowed to buy exemptions from service for £60. Of the remaining able-bodied men it is the ballot which decides which are to enter the Active Army.

Service is for twelve years on the whole, of which six years, as a rule, or three, or even less, are passed with the Colours. The remainder of a man’s service is passed in the Active Reserve. All those who are not taken by lot to serve with the Colours, including those exempted by law and purchase, are classed as “Disponible Recruits;” these receive only a very short training and are called out to reinforce the Army in case of necessity only. After six years’ service as such, the “Disponible” recruits enter the 2nd Reserve.

The kingdom of Spain is divided up into 14 Military Districts, each under a Captain-general. These are again divided into 140 Military Zones, each under a colonel, who is responsible for mobilisation and supply details.

Each Zone comprises 1 Active, 1 Reserve, and 1 DepÔt battalions. These latter two battalions are in peace-time represented only by cadres, which would be expanded into either Field or 2nd Line battalions in case of mobilisation. Of the 140 active battalions 20 are Rifles; the remainder form 60 Line regiments of 2 battalions each.

There are in peace-time no higher units than battalions; brigades, divisions, and army corps would be formed only in case of war.

The remainder of the Spanish Army consists of:—

Cavalry—8 Regiments of Lancers, 14 Regiments of Cazaderos (Light Horse), 2 Regiments of Hussars, 4 Regiments of Dragoons, each of 4 squadrons. Besides these there are 28 Reserve regiments, of which only cadres exist in peace-time, and 1 squadron of Life-Guards.

Artillery—5 Regiments of Divisional Artillery of 6 batteries each, altogether 30 batteries with 180 guns; 5 regiments of Corps Artillery of 4 batteries each, altogether 20 batteries with 120 guns; 2 regiments of Mountain Artillery, each of 6 batteries, altogether 72 guns, and 1 regiment of Siege and Position Artillery, 4 batteries of 4 guns each, altogether 16 guns. Total therefore, 388 guns, and 9 battalions Fortress Artillery.

Engineers—5 Pioneer regiments, 1 Railway battalion, 1 Telegraph battalion, and 5 Reserve regiments.

There is no Train in time of peace.

The peace-strength of the Peninsular Army amounts to 116,000 men.

Besides these there are 16 regiments of Gendarmes (Guardia Civil), numbering 15,000 men, and 11,000 men of the Carabineros, or Frontier Force.

The Colonial Army, about 33,000 men in all, is formed by voluntary enlistment.

The Infantry is armed with the Remington rifle, the Cavalry with sword and Remington carbine. Three sections[21] of each squadron of Lancers carry the lance. The Artillery is armed with cast-steel Krupp guns of 3·15 inches calibre; the Mountain Artillery with those of 2·95 inches. The guns have, however, been altered to Colonel Placentia’s system.

The two Royal Household Companies, Halberdiers, are the only ones who wear the old Spanish dress.

The Spaniard combines the liveliness and hot blood of the southerner with the determination and endurance of the northerner, and would now count as one of the best soldiers in Europe if it were not that, in consequence of the long civil wars and disturbances in the country, he had become somewhat less amenable to discipline than formerly. If an instance is required of what Spaniards can do when fighting for their land and freedom, we have only to look at the guerilla and mountain warfare waged by this plucky nation against the old campaigners of Napoleon at the beginning of this century, before the English troops came to their assistance.

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PORTUGAL.

Universal Conscription is the rule in Portugal as well as in most other countries, but there are numerous exemptions and sendings on “unlimited furlough with the Colours” (in order to save the national exchequer), so that the Army does not by any means comprise as many men as would appear from the strength as laid down on paper. With a nominal peace strength of 37,000, the actual strength is only about 18,000.

The terms of service are three years with the Colours, five years in the 1st Class, and four in the 2nd Class Reserves.

The Infantry consists of 24 Line and 12 Rifle regiments, each of 2 Active and 1 DepÔt battalions, altogether 72 battalions, the DepÔt battalions being skeleton ones.

Cavalry—10 regiments, of which the first two are Lancers, and the remainder Light Dragoons (CaÇadores a Cavallo). Each regiment consists of 3 Active and 1 DepÔt squadrons.

Artillery—3 Regiments of Field Artillery of 12 batteries each, 2 Regiments of Garrison Artillery of 12 companies each, 1 Mountain Brigade of 6 batteries.—Total, 32 Active and 10 Reserve batteries with 132 guns.

Engineers—2 Active and 1 Reserve battalions, and 1 Torpedo Company.

Portugal has, besides this Army, a Colonial Force of 9,600 men, chiefly natives.

The Infantry is now armed with the Kropatschek repeating-rifle; till quite recently, they had the Enfield rifle. The Field Artillery is chiefly armed with 3·54-inch steel Krupp guns.

More attention appears to be paid in Portugal to the Navy than to the Army, and it seems unlikely that the latter will be engaged in war, at all events for some time to come.

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