Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/676

fixed at seven years, three to be passed in the army, two in the first reserve, and two in the second reserve; the first reserve being liable to be called out at any time to complete the active army, but the second reserve only in case of war, and by a vote of the Cortes. The abdication of King Amadeus, however, prevented the carrying out of

the contemplated reorganisation of the army.

The contrast between the conduct of the Spanish soldiers and of the Spanish people during the Peninsular war presents a curious problem. At the very time that the armies of Spain were dispersed on every occasion, often almost without firing a shot, the people were signalising them selves by the heroic defence of their towns, and by carry ing on a desperate guerilla warfare that nothing could subdue. The Spaniard possesses many of the highest qualities of a soldier: he is hardy, temperate, individually brave, high-spirited, and independent; and though naturally indolent and idle, is easily roused, and capable of great heroism, as well as of sustained exertion. Yet this people, when brought together, form without exception the worst soldiers of Europe. They are impatient of discipline and restraint, and as easily discouraged as they are excited; and that mutual confidence in one another and in their leaders, which alone gives moral strength to a mass of men, is altogether wanting. How much of this may be due to the want of good leaders may be a question ; but discipline must always be the basis of all military efficiency, and of discipline in the true sense of the word neither the soldiers nor the people of Spain have any idea.

Portuguese Army.

The existing army dates from the Peninsular war, when a considerable force of Portuguese, at one time exceeding 00,000 men, was organised under Marshal Beresford. Trained and partly officered by English officers, it proved itself not unworthy of its allies, and bore its full share in the series of campaigns and battles by which the French were ultimately expelled from Spain. At the peace the army numbered about 50,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry, formed on the English model, and all in the highest state of efficiency. This force was reduced in 1821, under the new constitutional government, to about one-half. By the present law of military organisation, passed in 1864, the strength of the army is fixed at 30,000 men on peace footing, and 68,000 on war footing. The number under arms, however, has never approached this; and in 1869 the actual strength and composition of the army was as follows:—

Officers Men. 1 8 Regiments (of 9 companies each) Infantry of the Line, 683 9213 9 Battalions of Rifles, 314 3468 8 Regiments of Lancers and Dragoons, .... 244 2253 3 ,, Artillery, 107 1278 1 Battalion of Engineers, 3 317 Staff and Administrative Troops, 194 106

The number of troops in the Portuguese colonies amounted to 8500 infantry and artillery, besides a reserve of 9500 men.

The army is raised partly by conscription and partly by roluntary enlistment, more than one-half being obtained by the latter method. Exemption may be purchased by the payment of a fixed sum, amounting to about 80. The time of service is eight years, of which five are spent in the regular army and three in the militia. The Portuguese have distinguished themselves rather by naval enterprise than as soldiers. Physically they are inferior to the Spaniards; but they are more amenable to discipline, and proved themselves far more valuable and trustworthy auxiliaries in the long Peninsular struggle.

Dutch Army.

The military power of the " United Provinces " dates its rise from the middle of the 15th century, when, after a long and sanguinary struggle, they succeeded in emancipat ing themselves from the yoke of (Spain ; and in the follow ing century it received considerable development in con sequence of the wars they had to maintain against Louis XIV. In 1702 they had in their pay upwards of 100,000 men, exclusive of 30,000 in the service of the Dutch East India Company. At the beginning of the wars of the French Revolution the army had fallen to 36,000 men. In 1795 Holland was conquered by the French under Pichegru, and in the course of the changes which ensued the army was entirely reorganised, and under French direc tion bore its share in the great wars of the empire. In 1814 Holland was relieved of the yoke of France, and in the following year, her armies, under the gallant Prince of Orange, fought side by side with the British at Waterloo. At the peace of 1815 the Belgian provinces, subject before the war to Austria, were annexed to Holland, and the whole formed into a constitutional kingdom ; but the union between the northern and southern provinces of the Netherlands was dissolved by the Belgian revolution of 1830, and in 1839 Belgium was finally acknowledged as an independent kingdom.

The military forces of the Netherlands consist of a home or regular army, a colonial army, and a militia. The regular army is in theory raised by conscription, five years being the term of service, but substitutes are allowed, and a great part of the force under arms are volunteers, the conscripts being drilled for ten months only, and then sent home on furlough, subject to six weeks annual training. The colonial army is raised entirely by voluntary enlist ment. The infantry of the regular army consists of 8 regiments of the line, each of 4 active and 1 depot bat talion, a regiment of guards, composed of 2 battalions of chasseurs and 2 of grenadiers, and a battalion of in struction. A battalion consists of 5 companies, of a peace strength of about 100 men, and a war strength of 200. The cavalry consists of 4 regiments of hussars, each regiment having 6 squadrons, viz., 4 field, 1 reserve, and 1 depot. The strength of a squadron in time of peace is about 100 men, in time of war about 200. The artillery consists of 5 regiments, viz., 1 field, 3 garrison, and 1 of horse artillery. The field artillery regiment has 14 active batteries of 6 guns each, and 1 depot company; the horse artillery has 4 active batteries and 1 depot ; the garrison regiments have each 14 companies, of which 1 is for torpedoes and 1 instructional. The engineers consist of a scientific staff, and 1 battalion of sappers and miners. The war strength of the Dutch army in 1872 was as follows:—

Staff and Administration, 175 Infantry, 43,010 Cavalry, 4,259 Artillery, 11,166 Engineers, 1,115 Total, 59,725

with 108 guns. The colonial army numbered about 28,000 men, 13,000 Europeans, and 15,000 natives.

The militia, or garde civiqtie, is divided into two classes :

the first, or active militia, numbering about 26,000 ; the second, or resting militia, about 61,000. The whole are organised in battalions according to locality. They are generally well clothed and armed, and of fair physiqxie, but are very badly drilled. The men of the regular army are well drilled, and sturdy and robust, though rather small.

They have had the advantage of the services of many