ioo 6eo0rapbfcal IRotes on 



tillery, 2304 ; cavalry, 8454 ; rural guards of police, 2365 ; gendarmerie, 

 250 ; total, 37,103 ; and was commanded by n Major-Generals, 73 

 Brigadier-Generals, 1041 Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, and Majors, 

 and 2335 Commissioned Officers. The total righting strength, including 

 reserves, is stated to be 132,000 infantry, 25,000 cavalry, and 8000 

 artillery. Every Mexican capable of carrying arms is liable for mili- 

 tary service from his twentieth to his fiftieth year. 



Notwithstanding that General Diaz is himself a soldier, he has fol- 

 lowed the policy of the Liberal party of reducing the army as much as 

 possible, and in his report of November 30, 1896, in which he informs 

 his fellow citizens of his results of his sixteen years administration, he 

 gives the following figures, showing the reduction he has been able to 

 accomplish in the army since 1888 : 



The army had, in 1888, according to President Diaz's report, the 

 following personnel : 



Major-Generals 16 



Brigadier-Generals 84 



Commissioned Officers 1,205 



Non-Commissioned Officers 2,566 



Soldiers 29,367 



Total 33,238 



In 1896 the personnel had been reduced in the following numbers : 



Generals 24 



Commissioned Officers 166 



Non-Commissioned Officers 299 



Soldiers 8,170 



Total 8,659 



The Mexican navy is now in its inception, as it consists of a fleet of 

 two dispatch vessels, launched 1874, each of 425 tons and 425 horse- 

 power, and severally armed with a four-ton muzzle-loading gun, and 

 four small breech-loaders. A steel training ship, the Zaragoza, of 

 1 200 tons, was built at Havre, in 1891 ; four gun-boats are building, 

 and a battle-ship and cruiser are projected ; five first-class torpedo- 

 boats have been ordered in England. The fleet is manned by ninety 

 officers and five hundred men. 



EDUCATION. 



In 1521, the City of Mexico fell into the hands of the conquering 

 Spaniards, and exactly eight years after that event there was established 

 in the City of Mexico the College of San Juan de Letran, for giving 

 secondary education to intelligent Indians as well as to the sons of the 



