DEFENCE
1261
division of 2 brigades, and there are 3 permanent cavalry brigades. The total strength of the field army would probably be about 220,000 combatants.
For the units of the second line, or reserve troops, there are at present 116 battalion cadres, 14 squadron, and 14 battery, cadres. The second line troops are apparently intended to provide 7 divisions of about 13,000 com- batants each. Total about 90,000.
There are also the Guardia Civil and the Carabiueros. The former is a constabulary, and the latter a military police used as Customs guard on frontier. Both are recruited from the army and under military discipline. The total strength of the Guardia Civil is somewhat less than 20,000 (2,000 mounted), and of the Carabineros nearly 15,000 (500 mounted).
Outside the Spanish peninsula, there are the 2 military commands of Melilla and Ceuta on the coast of Morocco, also the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, each of which forms a military district. The troops in the Balearic and Canary Islands are mostly recruited from the islanders. In Africa they are Spanish, and are supposed to be always on a war footing. Melilla has now been raised to a Captain-General's command. The corps of occupation recently consisted of 4 regiments of Infantry of 3 battalions, and 3 battalions of Chasseurs (all battalions have 6 companies), a regiment of cavalry of 6 squadrons, 3 Held batteries, 3 or 4 mountain batteries, a howitzer battery, a regiment of engineers, and the necessary subsidiary services. A native battalion of infantry and squadron of cavalry have been raised at Melilla, and 3 companies of native infantry and a "mixed " company (horse and foot) have been raised to perform the duties of military police. The total strength of the corps of occupation is 12,000 to 15,000 combatants. The troops in the Ceuta district have also been strengthened, as also the garrison of Laraiche and Alcazar. The native troops in that district compiise a squadron of cavalry, a company of marines, and 2 companies of Tirailleurs. The following table shows the distribution of troops in Spain and in the over-sea garri^sons, the battalions which are only cadres being shown as battalions : —
Infantry.
Cavalry
Regi-
ment.s.
Artillery. j
Line
Regiments.
Chasseur Battalions.
tarn & Siege. 1 -^^"i='-
iSpain . Africa
Balearic Islands Canary Islands
58 4 4 4
Itj 2 2 3
28 1
18 1
7 G 2 1
2
2
Totals .
70
23
29
19
13 7
The Spanish infantry is armed with the Mauser rifle, model 1893. Calibre
- 275. The cavalry have the Mauser carbine. The field artillery gun is a
Schneider Canet 14| pr. of 19*106.
The peace establishment of the Spanish army including Guardia Civil and Carabineros amounts to 13,405 officers and 114,668 men. The budget for 1911 showed a total of 188,356,697 pesetas (about 7,530,0007).
Spain has numerous fortresses which guard the passes of the Pyrenees and the Portuguese frontier. On the north and north-west coasts are the fortified ports of Pasajes, Santona and Santander, Ferrol, Coruua, and Vigo. On the Straits of Gibraltar are Tarifa and Algeciras, with Cadiz at its entrance.
