No. 569.
Mr. Cushing to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation,
Madrid, August 10, 1874.
(Received August 31.)
No. 71.]
Sir: I transmit herewith, in translation, extracts
from a preamble and regulations published by the ministry of war in the
“Gaceta de Madrid” of the 9th instant.
You will perceive by this that the government contemplates sending to Cuba a
military re-enforcement of twelve thousand men, chiefly of the new
levies.
Most of the regulations regard matters of detail only, which would be of no
interest to the Department, and they are therefore omitted.
I have, &c,
[Page 904]
[Inclosure.]
Extracts from preamble and regulations on the
subject of re-enforcements for Cuba.
[Translated from the “Gaceta de Madrid “of
August 9, 1874.]
Ministry of War.—The country not only needs the
concourse of all her sons to conclude the civil war which is causing so
many and such transcendental evils in the peninsula, but it is also
necessary to carry their co-operation to the island of Cuba, where
another war no less sanguinary and cruel is desolating its fertile and
rich settlements. The present captain-general has dictated and is
carrying into execution most important measures to terminate at once the
campaign and to restore the peace which that beautiful An till a so much
needs, to the end that it may develop the grand elements of wealth which
it comprehends; but in order that those measures maybe efficacious, and
of immediate results, it becomes indispensable to carry there at once
12,000 men, who ought to embark in the briefest time. With the object,
therefore, of collecting this number, the President of the executive
power of the republic has been pleased to dictate the following rules:
- 1.
- As soon as the coming into quarters of the youths of the
extraordinary reserve, decreed on the 18th of last month,
begins, exploration shall be made among them, and before they
are distributed in the battalions of their respective
demarcations, as to the wish of those who desire to enlist to
serve in the infantry corps of the island of Cuba.
- 3.
- The individuals who desire to enlist shall engage to serve in
Cuba for the time that campaign shall last, and shall receive
the bounty of 250 pesetas ($50) for each complete year they
serve in the said Antilla; which sum shall be delivered to them
at the termination of each year, or, if they prefer it, when
they are adischarged. Besides, there shall be delivered to them
at once, in the act of enrollment, other 250 pesetas, ($50;) and
finally, there shall be given them 2 pesetas 50 centimos (50
cents) of daily pay, from the date of their ingress until that
of their embarkation direct for Cuba. Said individuals may leave
assigned to their families from 4 to 5 reals daily, (20 to 25
cents,) which will be collected through means of the general
treasury of ultramar, in accordance with what has been
heretofore practiced and is ordained in article 10 of the royal
decree of October 2, 1872.
- 4.
- The war in that island terminated, an absolute discharge shall
be given to the individuals of this enlistment who do not desire
to re-enlist; they remaining free from the reserve service, even
though they shall not have served the three years in activity
prescribed in article 2 of the same royal decree.
- 12.
- Recruiting-lists also remain open in all recruiting-offices
for discharged soldiers of the army and civilians who desire to
enlist, whether they be subject or not to draft by the call for
125,000 men, with the understanding that those who are included
in it, and shall be admitted for Cuba, shall provide substitutes
should they be drafted in the quota of their respective towns;
to which end the chiefs of each office will immediately
communicate officially to the alcaldes of the same, with
transmission of copy of their personal descriptions. The special
recruiting-commissions will also admit individuals of both
classes who present themselves to enlist if they possess the
prescribed conditions; proceeding in the same manner as
previously indicated in regard to civilians inscribed in the
call referred to, who shall be drafted as soldiers.
- 13.
- Individuals discharged and civilians who may be admitted will
have right to the same advantages prescribed in rule 3.
- 15 and last.
- Remain in force all other orders issued and which have
governed in previous enlistments, as also those contained in the
circular of October 31, 1872, and in the royal decree of the 2d
of the same month and year, which will be applied and extended
to the actual recruiting, except in such part as may be opposed
to the rules dictated in the present provision.
By order of the said President I communicate it to your excellency for
your information and consequent effects,
God guard your excellency many years.
COTONER.
Madrid, August 7,
1874.
