The Philippine Islands Part 23

Lieutenant-General (local rank), Sub- Inspector of Army Corps 12,000 Brigadier-General 4,500 800 Colonel 3,450 600 4,200 Lieutenant-Colonel 2,700 400 3,288 Major 2,400 2,520 2,880 Captain 1,500 1,584 Lieutenant 1,125 1,242 1,485 Sub-Lieutenant 975 1,068 1,275

After 6 years' and up to 9 years' service, an officer could claim a free pa.s.sage back to the Peninsula for himself and, if married, his family.

After 9 years' service, his retirement from the Colony for three years was compulsory. If he nevertheless wished to remain in the Colony, he must quit military service. If he left before completing six years' service, he would have to pay his own pa.s.sage unless he went "on commission" or with sick-leave allowance.

Estimated Annual Disburs.e.m.e.nts for--

P cts

The Civil Guard (Constabulary), composed of Three Corps = 3,342 Men and 156 Officers 638,896 77 The Veteran Civil Guard (Manila Police) One Corps = 400 Men and 13 Officers 73,246 88 ---------- The Disciplinary Corps, Maintenance of 630 Convicts and Material 56,230 63 (For the Disciplinary Convict Corps) 92 Non-commissioned Officers and 23 Officers 47,909 51 ========== P 104,140 14

Army Estimates

P cts

Estimate according to the Budget for 1888 _Plus_ the following sums charged on other estimates, viz.:-- 3,016,185 91 Disciplinary Corps, maintenance of 630 Convicts and material 56,230 63 The Civil Guard 638,896 77 The Veteran Civil Guard 73,246 88 Pensions 117,200 00 Transport and maintenance of Recruits from Provinces 6,000 00 Expeditions to be made against the Moros--Religious ceremonies to celebrate Victories gained over them--Maintenance of War Prisoners, etc. 11,000 00 ============ Total cost of Army and Armed Land Forces P 3,918,760 19

Before the walls were built around Manila, about the year 1590, each soldier and officer lived where he pleased, and, when required, the troops were a.s.sembled by the bugle call.

At the close of the 16th century barracks were constructed, but up to the middle of last century the native troops were so badly and irregularly paid that they went from house to house begging alms of the citizens (_vide_ p. 53, King Philip II.'s Decree).

In the 17th century troops died of sheer want in the Fort of Yligan (Mindanao Is.), and when this was represented to the Gov.-General he generously ordered that the Spanish soldiers were in future to be paid P2 per month and native soldiers P1 per month to hold the fort, at the risk of their lives, against attack from the Mahometans.

In the forts of Labo and Taytay (Palauan Is.) the soldiers' pay was only nominal, rations were often short, and their lives altogether most wretched. Sometimes they were totally overlooked by the military chiefs, and they had to seek subsistence as best they could when provisions were not sent from the capital (_vide_p. 157).

Mexican soldiers arrived in nearly every ship, but there were no barracks for them, no regular mode of living, no regulations for their board and lodging, etc.; hence many had to subsist by serving natives and half-breeds, much to the discredit of the mother country, and consequent loss of prestige. Each time a new expedition was organized a fresh recruiting had to be made at great cost and with great delay. There was practically no regular army except those necessarily compelled to mount guard, etc., in the city. Even the officers received no regular pay until 1754, and there was some excuse for stealing when they had a chance, and for the total absence of enthusiasm in the Service. When troops were urgently called for, the Gov.-General had to bargain with the officers to fill the minor posts by promises of rewards, whilst the high commands were eagerly sought for, not for the pay or the glory, but for the plunder in perspective.

In 1739 the Armoury in Manila contained only 25 Arquebuses of native make, 120 Biscayan muskets, 40 Flint guns, 70 Hatchets, and 40 Cutla.s.ses.

The first regular military organization in these Islands was in the time of Governor Pedro Manuel de Arandia (1754), when one regiment was formed of five companies of native soldiers, together with four companies of troops which arrived with the Governor from Mexico. This corps, afterwards known as the "King's Regiment" [109] (_Regimiento del Rey_) was divided into two battalions, increased to 10 companies each as the troops returned from the provinces.

The 20 companies were each composed as follows:--

1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 2 drummers, 6 first corporals, 6 seconds corporals, and 88 rank and file.

The Gov.-General's Body Guard of Halberdiers was reformed, and thenceforth consisted of 18 men, under a captain and a corporal.

The Monthly Pay under these reforms was as follows:--

Staff Officers. Regimental Officers Governor-General's P. and Staff P. c. Body Guard P.

Chief of the Staff 40 Captain 25 00 Captain 35 Adjutant-Major. 25 Lieutenant. 18 00 Corporal 10 Adjutant. 18 Sub-Lieutenant. 14 00 Guards 5 Captain 12 Sergeant 4 00 Drummer 3 00 First Corporal 3 25 Second Corporal 3 00 Rank and File 2 62 1/2

From October 1, 1754, the troops were quartered in barracks, Commissariat Officers were appointed, and every man and every officer was regularly paid fortnightly. The soldiers were not used to this discipline, and desertion was frequent. They much preferred the old style of roaming about to beg or steal and live where they chose until they were called out to service, and very vigorous measures had to be adopted to compel them to comply with the new regulations.

In May, 1755, four artillery brigades were formed, the commanding officer of each receiving P30 per month pay.

In 1757 there were 16 fortified provincial outposts, at a total estimated cost of P37,638 per annum (including Zamboanga, the chief centre of operations against the Mahometans, which alone cost P18,831 in 1757), besides the armed forces and Camp of Manila, Fort Santiago, and Cavite a.r.s.enal and Fort, which together cost a further sum of P157,934 for maintenance in that year.

SPANISH VESSELS IN PHILIPPINE WATERS

Year 1898

Name. Cla.s.s. Tons. H.P.

Reina Cristina Cruiser 3,500 3,950 Castilla Cruiser 3,260 4,400 Don Anto. de Ulloa Cruiser 1,200 1,523 Don Juan de Austria Cruiser 1,130 1,600 Isla de Cuba Cruiser 1,048 2,200 Isla de Luzon Cruiser 1,048 2,200 Velasco Gunboat 1,152 1,500 Elcano Gunboat 560 600 General Lezo Gunboat 520 600 Argos Gunboat 508 600 Marques del Duero Gunboat 500 550 Manila Transport 1,900 750 General Alava Transport 1,200 1,000 Cebu Transport 532 600 Callao Gunboat, and 4 others very small, besides 3 armed steam launches built in Hong-Kong, viz.:--_Lanao, Corcuera_, and _General Blanco_.

NAVAL DIVISIONS

Station. Commander's Pay.

P

South Division 5,760 Palauan (Pta. Princesa) 4,560 Isabel de Basilan 3,360 Balabac Island 3,360 Corregidor Island 3,360 West Caroline Islands 3,360 East Caroline Islands 4,560

HARBOUR-MASTERS

Station. Pay. Station. Pay.

P P Manila 3,200 Pangasinan 1,500 Yloilo 3,200 Ilocos Norte y Sur. 1,500 Cebu 1,500 Cagayan 1,500 Capis 1,500 Ladrone Islands 1,500 Zamboanga 1,500 Laguimanoc (Civilian) 144

The Chief of the Philippine Naval Forces was a Rear-Admiral receiving P16,392 per annum.

There were two Brigades of Marine Infantry, composed of 376 men with 18 officers.

_Cavite a.r.s.enal_

The chief Naval Station was at Cavite, six miles from Manila. The forces at this station were 90 Marines as Guards, and 244 Marines as reserves. One hundred convicts were employed for a.r.s.enal labour.

The Officer in command of the Cavite a.r.s.enal and Naval Station took rank after the Rear-Admiral, and received a salary of P8,496 per annum.

The Navy Estimates (Budget for 1888) amounted to P2,573,77627.

_Spanish Judicial Statistics_