no modern institution has been more talked about and written about than that of the police. the police problem is, in all cities, one to which continual thought is given by citizens as well as officials. the debt we owe to the police can more easily be understood by thinking for a moment of what city life would be without that body. in greater new york, with a population of five millions, there are about ten thousand policemen, or one to every five hundred inhabitants. in london the proportion is one policeman for every four hundred and ninety-six dwellers in the world’s metropolis. in buenos aires there are twice as many in proportion to the population as in new york. if these guardians of the peace were to be suddenly withdrawn, no man’s property or person would be safe at any time of the day or night in these great congested centres. men would be obliged to go armed; business places and dwellings[247] would have to be barricaded by night; no one could leave his home with a feeling of security as to what might happen during his absence. it was so during the middle ages when the people locked and bolted their massive doors and remained at home, or went about at night in companies in order to insure safety.
in ancient times many of the duties of the modern police were performed by the soldiers. in the early days of persia and ancient greece guards were stationed at the gates, and at night military watchmen were placed on the walls. rulers and persons of affluence had in addition their own personal body-guards. it was not until the days of augustus c?sar that the idea of a body of men trained and disciplined to maintain order for the benefit of the citizens at large was developed. the romans were averse to the presence of soldiers within the walls, for fear that they might become a menace to public liberty. as a result of this prejudice a body of civil police grew up, a part of whose equipment were buckets of rope made waterproof with tar, for they were the firemen as well. because of this outfit the people in derision called them “squirts,” or “bucket-boys.” the anglo-saxon system of police was not perfected[248] until in the time of the eminent sir robert peel less than a century ago. after several years of strenuous work in parliament he succeeded in passing a law organizing the metropolitan police of london. although this body of men gave security and protection to the citizens of that city it was considered an inroad upon personal liberty and the members of the force were termed in derision “bobbies” and “peelers,” names which have clung to them ever since.
it has often been a query in my mind whether we fully appreciate the work of the policeman. the soldier’s praise has been sung in every land and in every tongue, but the man who walks the city’s streets has not succeeded in inspiring the muse to any extent. the police are a mighty army in themselves. if one could shout the one word “police!” so that it might be heard the world over, it would call together an army of more than a million men. among these would be the stalwart “bobbie” of london, giant chinese policemen from hong kong, barefooted zulus clothed in english helmets and suits, tens of thousands of american “cops,” and last, but not least, the little brown policeman of argentina. buenos aires alone[249] could furnish five full regiments of a thousand men each.
a policeman of argentina
these dark-skinned, undersized men are always on duty. at regular intervals a sergeant comes along and signs the officer’s book, which is his record of service. the summer uniform is white, helmet and all. at night you will see one of these officers at every street intersection. as far as you can see down the narrow thoroughfares one of these white sentries may be seen on duty at every corner. should a disturbance occur he will blow his whistle and this will be answered for many blocks. soon policemen will be seen running from the four directions, and in a few minutes quite a force can be collected. a call to the central station would bring an additional force. in this way an incipient disturbance could soon be checked. as these men are under the pay of the national government, they form a part of the defensive forces of the country and are a really creditable body. the mounted men are well mounted and have a very smart appearance as they canter through the streets.
since the probability of war with chile passed away the army of argentina has not been kept as full as prior to 1904. the proportion[250] of soldiers to the population is perhaps less than in any other republic of south america, except brazil. there are thirty infantry battalions, nine cavalry regiments, eight regiments of the various branches of artillery, besides the numerous special features. the cavalry in particular will compare most favourably with those of any other nation. they are recruited principally from the gauchos, the cowboys of argentina, who are born to the saddle and sit upon the horses with a grace and naturalness that only comes with familiarity to such form of locomotion from the very cradle itself almost. the infantry are well equipped with modern arms and accoutrements, but they will not bear comparison with the troops of uncle sam, germany or france. they are fighters, however, when once aroused and interested in the cause for which they are fighting. there is in addition to the permanent army a reserve army of about one hundred and fifty thousand. by the provisions of the law every argentine citizen, from his twentieth to his forty-fifth year, a period of twenty-five years, is subject to compulsory military service. actual service, however, except in the navy, rarely extends beyond one year. naturalized citizens[251] are exempt from military duty for a period of ten years after their naturalization. the fact that every one born on argentine soil is considered an argentine citizen has led to some unpleasant experiences among the foreign population, whose children have been born in that country. many women have gone back to the home land so that their children would not become argentine subjects.
general leonard wood, of the united states army, makes the following comment upon the argentine army following a recent official visit to that country.
“instruction in this army is vigorous and thorough during the entire period of service. they have a good general staff organization, and a superior school of war for training staff officers and special training of line officers, under the care of specially selected line officers. in argentina there are excellent relations between the officers and the men. there are few court-martials and insubordination is rare. their infantry is of a sturdy type, good marchers, well uniformed and equipped. the cavalry is well mounted and they are good horsemen. the bulk of the cavalry is armed with sabre and carbine, and there is also one regiment[252] of lancers and one heavy regiment of cuirassiers. they are all very smartly turned out and make fine troops. compulsory service, it has been found in argentina, as elsewhere, is useful not only in making good soldiers, but also good citizens are so made. men from remote districts, after a year’s service with the colours, have a greater respect for the flag, for the authorities, and the national government. these men have also benefited physically and acquired habits of promptness and exactness. they return to their communities in every way improved by the service. all who enter unable to read and write are taught during their service. after the year’s service with the colours men are called out at intervals, gradually decreasing in frequency, for short periods of service with the colours during man?uvres, usually about six or eight days a year. careful track is kept of the reserves, who are almost immediately available in case their services are needed. sufficient equipment for them is held in reserve.”
in travelling over argentina one sees very few soldiers. a man in a navy uniform will be encountered much more frequently. the standing army only numbers twenty thousand men,[253] while the active naval force is not less than twenty-five thousand, most of whom are young men of twenty and twenty-one years of age. this force is kept recruited by conscription. all citizens are registered at birth and a number placed opposite the names on the register. numbers are drawn each year of the young men who have reached the age of eighteen. the higher numbers pass into the navy for two years, and the lower numbers enter into the army for one year. then after their discharge from active service these men pass into the reserves, where they are kept enrolled until they are thirty years of age. this keeps a large reserve force ready for duty in both army and navy. the escuela naval militar, a naval college, is maintained where young men are trained to take positions as officers in the navy, similar to our own naval school at annapolis. in nearly all the public schools the boys are given a military training under the direction of retired naval and military officers, and are allowed the gratuitous use of firearms and ammunition. nearly every city and town has a shooting range where target practice is carried on under the direction of officials. the tactics are german, but the uniforms[254] in both army and navy are of french design.
the argentinians are very proud of their navy. there is a great jealousy between that republic and brazil, and a consequent rivalry in building up a navy. a few years ago brazil ordered three dreadnaughts from english builders, the first two of which have just been received, and the other one will be delivered very soon. these boats were supposed to be the most powerful representatives of this style of war vessels ever constructed, but the argentine naval experts believe that their new marine monsters will be still more effective. they considered the proposition for a long time, and maintained a committee in europe for a year in order to peruse plans and keep in touch with the very latest developments in naval construction. the plans finally adopted were the result of this careful and painstaking study. the boats will be seventy feet longer than the brazilian dreadnaughts, twenty-five hundred tons greater displacement and will have a guaranteed speed of one additional knot.
a twenty-two million order for battleships was not a bad thing for american ship builders. and yet that was the contract given them by[255] the argentine republic, after a fierce competition in which twenty-five firms from five of the leading nations of the world were engaged. the eagle may well scream a little, for it is the first time that the united states has been considered a serious competitor in the building of battleships. the european nations used every influence, including that of their diplomatic representatives and a “knocking” of american manufacturers, to secure the order, but all to no avail. the american builders were the lowest bidders; they promised the boats in a shorter time; and the visit of the fleet a few years ago showed the argentinos that we could build first class battleships. the writer was in buenos aires when the contract was let, and it awakened the people of that section of the world to the fact that the united states has become an active competitor in all lines of business.
these “dreadnaughts,” which will be known as the “rivadavia” and “moreno,” will be 604 feet long, with a displacement of 20,500 tons, and a speed of 22? knots will be generated by engines of 40,000 horsepower, and the normal draught will be 27 feet. the height of the turret above the water will be 26? feet and[256] at the poop it will be 17 feet. the armour will extend for 250 feet in the centre, 4? feet above and 3? feet below the normal water line with a uniform thickness of one foot. the total weight of the armour will be 7,000 tons. the outward appearance of these two leviathans will be very similar to the “arkansas” and “wyoming,” of our own navy. the armour both above and below the water line will be heavier than has heretofore been in use, while the bottom will be well protected against submarines by nickel steel. the armament will consist of twelve thirteen-inch guns in six turrets, twelve six-inch guns in the central casement and an equal number of four-inch guns well located. the coal bunkers will have a capacity of four thousand tons, besides several hundred tons of petroleum. both of these leviathans of the deep will be delivered early in the year 1912.
the armoured cruiser, “pueyrredon”
the navy of argentina aggregates over thirty vessels, and some of them are very good boats. among these are four armoured cruisers, all of which are 328 feet in length. two of these, the “general san martin” and “pueyrredon,” are twin ships of 6,773 tons displacement; the “garibaldi” and “general[257] belgrano” have a displacement of 6,732 and 7,069 tons respectively. the oldest one, the “garibaldi,” was launched in 1896, and the newest one, the “pueyrredon,” in 1901, all of them being built in italian yards. they develop 13,000 horsepower with a speed of twenty knots, and have a daily coal consumption of one thousand tons. all carry a crew of five hundred men, except the “garibaldi,” which carries only three hundred and fifty men. the cost of these vessels averaged about $3,500,000 each. the “almirante brown,” named after the famous english-argentine admiral, an older boat, is what is generally known as a central battery ship, and is a considerably smaller and less effective boat. there are also four cruisers. three of these, the “buenos aires,” “nueve de julio” (ninth of july), and the “25th of may,” have a speed exceeding twenty-two knots; the “patagonia” is a smaller vessel with a speed of only thirteen knots. the coast defence vessels number two, the “independencia” and “libertad.” the “espera” (hope), “patria” (fatherland) and “rosario” are torpedo boats with a speed of twenty knots. the “sarmiento” is a training ship which has twice visited the united[258] states in recent years. fifteen new torpedo boat destroyers have also been ordered which, with the new battleships, will place the argentine navy in a very effective condition.
the entire fleet is mobilized for four months each year. an annual review, which is held about the first of june, is made the occasion of great display. the president boards one of the vessels, which is then made the flagship, and the other vessels pass in review before it and man?uvres take place. target practice is held and mimic engagements are “fought.”
what to do with these big monsters now building is a problem which is seriously engaging the minds of the naval department. at the present time there is only one port in the republic which they can enter, and that is the puerto militar, at bahia blanca. they will not be able to reach buenos aires, because the waters of the la plata are too shallow. the same is true of the other naval bases. it looks as though they will be obliged to stay near bahia blanca, or else anchor out on the broad atlantic the most of the time.
in the writer’s opinion argentina has little use for a big navy. it cannot be placed on a par with european navies, and it is a big burden[259] of expense. she has only one city on that coast, bahia blanca, and has not many vessels engaged in commerce, except on the la plata and its affluents. buenos aires is protected from the dreadnaughts of other nations because of its shallow harbour. one great item of cost is coal, of which great quantities are consumed, and all of which is imported either from europe or australia, the cost per ton being very high. the new dreadnaughts will have a coal-consuming capacity of sixteen thousand tons per day. the annual expense at the present time of the navy is $7,500,000, and the new ships will increase this by at least $4,000,000. this will make a per capita cost of nearly two dollars for each man, woman and child in the republic. it simply resolves itself into a jealousy of and rivalry with brazil. if the united states builders will construct dreadnaughts that will have better armour, greater speed, and more powerful guns than the new brazilian boats, then american manufacturers can get anything they want in argentina.
