CHAPTER V.

SPANISH AND AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL STRENGTH COMPARED.

Spain's eight army corps-A list of Spanish vessels with their speed and armament -Her reliance on her navy--Disadvantages of distance from base of supply -Coal is king-United States ships and their commanders-Elements of strength-An English estimate-Rapid mobilization-The response to the President's call-American inventive genius in activity-Science harnessed for war-Electric bombs and flying torpedos-Modern advances in speed.

HAT is known as the peace organization of the Spanish army of the peninsula consists of eight army corps. According to the last report, exclusive of 56 line battalions, and 10 rifle battalions located in Cuba, there were available for mobilization in the peninsula including the garrisons of the Balearic and Canary islands, and of North Africa:

Infantry-56 second battalions at 1000, 56,000 men; 56 third battalions at 1000, 56,000 men, and 10 rifle battalions at 1200 12,000 men.

Cavalry-28 regiments at 596 horses and 700 men, 19,600 men. Artillery-14 field artillery regiments, each of 8 batteries of 6 guns, with an equal number of artillery and infantry ammunition columns, 25,606 men; 3 mountain artillery regiments and ammunition columns, 7254 men; 9 battalions fortress artillery, partly of 6, partly of 4 companies, 8175 men.

Engineers—4 sapper and miner regiments at 2000, 8000 men; I pontoon regiment, 3442 men; I railway regiment, 1040 men; I telegraph battalion, 1271 men; total, 198,389 men.

To these have to be added the administrative and sanitary ser vices, 4845 men. The cavalry takes the field with 16,708 horses; the artillery has 816 field guns.

The following reserve troops were also available:

Infantry-112 reserve battalions (56 regiments of 3 battalions)

at 1000 men, 112,000 men.

Cavalry-14 reserve regiments of 4 squadrons, with 600 horses and 702 men, 9828 men.

Artillery-7 field artillery regiments, I for each army corps district, and 136 guns, 14,140.

Engineers-New formations, 6000 men; total, 141,968 men.

Apart, therefore, from the troops in Cuba, 130,000 men in round numbers, there were in March, 1896, available on mobilization 340,000 men, with 25,108 horses (cavalry), and 952 guns.

The following is a list of the fifty-eight Spanish vessels of war in Cuban waters in April, 1898, together with their type, displacement, speed, armament and date of launch:

Alfonso XII., cruiser, 3900 tons, 12 knots, 6 6.3-in. B. L., 3 57mm.,

2 42mm., 6 37mm., 4 machine guns, 1887.

Reina Mercedes, cruiser, 3090 tons, 15 knots, 6 6.3-in. B. L., 3 57mm., 2 42mm., 6 37mm., 4 machine guns, 1887.

Marquis de la Ensenada, cruiser, 1064 tons, 14 knots, 4 4.7-in., 2 57mm., 2 37mm., 2 machine guns, 1890.

Conde de Venadito, cruiser, 1189 tons, 12 knots, 4 4.7-in. B. L., 2 2.75 in. B. L., 6 37mm., I machine gun, 1888.

Infanta Isabel, cruiser, 1196 tons, 14.75 knots, 4 4.7-in. B. L., 4 37mm., 6 machine guns, 1885.

Isabel II., cruiser, 1152 tons, 12.8 knots, 4 4.7-in. B. L., 2 2.75 in., I 42mm., 9 37mm., I machine gun, 1886.

Filipinas, torpedo cruiser, 750 tons, 20 knots, 2 4.7-in. R. F., 4 Nord., 9 42mm., 2 machine guns, 1892.

Jorge Juan, torpedo cruiser, 935 tons, 13 knots, 3 4-7 in. B. L., 4 machine guns, 1876.

Galica, torpedo cruiser, 541 tons, 18.6 knots, 6 57mm., I machine gun, 1891.

Marques de Molins, torpedo cruiser, 571 tons, 18.6 knots, 6 57mm., I

machine gun, 1891.

Martin Alonzo, torpedo cruiser, 571 tons, 18.6 knots, 2 4.7-in. B. L.,

4 57mm., I machine gun, 1891.

Vincente Yanez, torpedo cruiser, 571 tons, 18.6 knots, 6 57mm., I

THEO. ROOSEVELT.

machine gun, 1891.

Nueva Espana, torpedo cruiser, 630

tons, 18.6 knots, 2 4.7-in. B. L., 4 57mm., I machine gun, 1889. Legaspi, transport, 1249 tons, 9.6

knots, 2 3.5-in. B. L., I machine. gun, 1874.

Magallanes, gunboat, 527 tons, II

knots, 3 4.7-in. B. L., 3 machine guns, 1884.

General Concha, gunboat, 548 tons,

9.5 knots, 3 4.7-in. B. L., 3 machine guns, 1883.

Fernando el Catolico, gunboat, 500 tons, 10 knots, 1 5-in. B. L., I

machine gun, 1875.

Hernan Cortes, gunboat, 300 tons, 12.2 knots, 2 2.9-in.. R. F., 2 37mm. Maxim guns, 1895.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa, gunboat, 300 tons, 13.5 knots, 2 2.9-in. R.

F., 2 37mm. Maxim guns, 1895.

Alsedo, gunboat, 217 tons, 9 knots, 1 4.7-in. B. L., I machine gun, 1882.

Cuba Espanola, gunboat, 255 tons, 8 knots, 1 5-1.in. B. L. I machine gun, 1870.

Contramaestre, gunboat, 179 tons, 9 knots, 1 5.1-in. B. L., 1869. Diego Velasquez, gunboat, 200 tons, 12.25 knots, 2 57mm., 1 17mm.. 1895.