COAST. I ARTILLERY JOURNAL, - Air Defense Artillery

490 THE COAST ARTILLERY JOURNAL
Spain
SYSTEMOF PROMOTIO~OF OFFICERS.-Two schools of opinion have existed in
the Spanish Army on the subject of promotion for many years; advocates of one
of these insisted on promotion for war merit only, others believed in promotion
by seniority.
Each one of the systems undoubtedly has many factors which recommend it.
Ambitious officers, advocates of the first, sought duty in Morocco where opportunity
might present itself for rapid advancement in the military hierarchy. The defect
of this system, however, might result in the promotion of officers of high courage
only, lacking in other necessary qualifications. On the other hand, with promotion
by seniority alone with a large proportion of the army engaged in active service,
others who remained at home in Spain would receive all of the advantages of
casualties in action and deaths incident to the long.extended Moroccan campaign.
The first system, that of promotion by war merit, has been in effect for some
years, and many officers who have been for a long time in Morocco have attained
rapid promotion by gallantry in action. General Franco, an officer of only 34
years of age, is a marked example.
Many years ago the Artillery and Engineers of the Spanish Army entered into
a compact to refuse promotion except by seniority, accepting instead of promotions
for gallantry the aWl\Id of war crosses which gave them certain annual increases
in salary which were practically equivalent to what the increase in rank would bring.
In order to end this unsatisfactory state of affairs, General Primo de Rivera
had a decree published recently which discontinues promotion by war merit begin.
ning October 1, 1926. On and after that date promotion is to be by seniority and
by a system of election in proportion to the vacancies occurring annually, as follows:
1/4 of vacancies of General;
1/5 of vacancies of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel;
1/6 of vacancies of Major;
1110 of vacancies of Captain.
In order to be eligible for promotion ~o the vacancies reserved to election,
applicants must fulfil the following conditions: to be in the first half of the promotion
list, to have been declared apt for promotion by seniority, to have passed
the preparatory course for promotion, and to have sufficient merits. A classifying
board will submit to the Ministry of War a list of the most qualified officers
for promotion in the months of November and December of each year. Ih estimating
the merits of applicants the following qualifications among others will be
considered: Special crosses granted to the officer such as those of San Fernando,
Military Medal, or Maria Cristina; physical aptitude; moral character and energy;
professional culture; special knowledge such as completion of the Escuela Superior
de Guerra.
THE GrARDIA ClvIL.--One of the most famous military police forces in the
world is the Guardia Civil of Spain, ranking with the Carabineros of Italy_ The
official Spanish Diaro recently published the details of the organization of the
force which now consists of 1245 officers, 26,224 other ranks, and 5557 horses.
This force is one of which Spain can indeed be proud. They are well paid and
well dressed; they are always on the alert and most courteous upon all occasions.
They give a wonderful sense of security to the traveler in Spain for wherever one
goes a pair of these Ci..-il Guards are ever ready to aid and protect one.
The organization is paid by the ~finistry of the Interior but as regards its
organization, personnel, armament, and discipline, it is administered by the War