Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/386

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PORTUGAL.

this act, but without effect. On the 19th of June, 1867, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill presented by the government for raising 37,000,000 milreis to fund the floating debt and to negotiate 3 per Cent. External Bonds at such a price that the interest shall not exceed # per cent, above the rate of the actual stock, calculated upon the market price.

Army and Navy.

The army of the kingdom is formed partly by conscription, and partly by voluntary enlistment. Freedom from conscription may be purchased by a fixed sum, amounting to about 80/., payable to the Government. The time of service is eight years, of which five have to be spent in the regular army, and three in the militia. More than one-half of the standing army consists of men procured by en- listment, or who have made the military service their profession.

By a law of military organisation passed June 23, 1864, the strength of the army was fixed at 30,128 men on the peace-footing, and 68,450 on the war-footing. The state of the finances of the kingdom, however, has hitherto prevented the carrying out of the plan of organisation, and scarcely more than half the number of men fixed by law are kept under arms. The actual strength of the

army in 1869 was reported as follows: —

Officers Men

18 regiments of infantry of the line

683

9.218

9 battalions of riflemen

. 314

3.468

8 regiments of lancers and dragoons

244

2.253

3 ,, of artillery

. 107

1,278

1 battalion of engineers

3

317

Staff and sanitary troops

19 t . 1,545

106

Total

16,640

The number of troops in the Portuguese colonies amount to 8,500 infantry and artillery, besides a reserve of 9,500 men.

The navy of Portugal numbers 22 steamers and 25 sailing vessels, most of the latter laid up in harbour. The steamers comprise —

7 corvettes, with a total of 98 guns and of 1,806 horse-power.

8 sloops. „ „ 35 „ „ 960

7 gun-boats, „ „ 21 „ „ 340 „

Total 22 steamers,. . with 154 guns and of 3,106 horse-power.

The navy is officered by 1 vice-admiral, 5 rear-admirals, and 31

captains ; and manned by 3,493 sailors and marines.