Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/84

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Army.—Estimated yearly cost of maintenance, 18,000,000. The personnel of the army is as follows:

Each State has also militia of its own, which takes the place of a police force to a considerable extent. All the prison-doors are guarded by soldiers, although the keepers are civilians.

The soldiers are armed with Remington rifles and carbines; and the sabres used are chiefly of American manufacture. The dress-uniform is of a dark blue.

Several of the officers of the Mexican army are reformed brigands. In some States, where powerful bands of banditti defied the authorities for years, the Government has finally dispersed them by giving the leader a military commission, and then sending him to fight against his old comrades.

A large number of the officers who were in the army before 1876 are now on the retired list, with pay. They retain their rank, without power. The present (Liberal) Government deems this policy advisable.

It may be remarked that Don Agustin Iturbide, the