( The Military Attaché, Cuban Embassy, Captain Cuban Army )
( This article was first published in "The Military Engineer" Vol. XX, No.113, Sept.-Oct. 1928, U.S.A. )

The island of Cuba, discovered by Columbus on October 27, 1492, was under the domain of Spain until 1898, when independence was obtained after a struggle of three years. By virtue of the United States aid to Cuba, the Island was under the military intervention of the United States until May 20, 1902, when the government of the republic was placed in the hands of the venerable patriot, Don Thomás Estrada Palma, who was elected president of the republic by direct vote of the people.

Cuba, the largest and the most fully populated of the West Indies, lies between the Gulf of Mexico, the Strait of Florida, and the Atlantic Ocean on the north, and the Caribbean Sea on the south. It is about 100 miles from Key West, Florida, 130 miles from Yucatan, 50 miles from Haiti, and 85 miles from Jamaica. The coast line, including the larger keys, is about 2,500 miles. Its population is three million, six hundred and thirteen thousand.

Its north coast is, for the most part, very uneven and rocky and, opposite Matanzas, Santa Clara, and Camaguey, there are many small islands of coralline origin, separated by dangerous pathways for navigation. These small islands are low, seldom inhabited, and covered in great part by forest and mangrove trees. From San Antonio, the western extremity, to Cape Maysi, the eastern, the length is 730 miles and the breadth averages 50 miles, with a maximum of 160 miles. Its area, including the Isle of Pines, is about 41,634 square miles.

The climate is quite uniform, very mild, and highly agreeable throughout the year. In the winter, the temperature has never dropped below 10 degrees, centigrade, and in the summer the highest temperature that has ever been officially registered is 32 degrees, centigrade.

The island is divided into six provinces: Pinar del Rio, Habana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Camaguey, and Oriente. The province of Pinar del Rio has fifteen municipalities; Habana, twenty-five; Matanzas, twenty-two; Santa Clara, thirty-one; Camaguey, eight (this is the province which has least population in proportion to its extension), and Oriente, twenty-two.

When the Republic of Cuba was established, the army consisted only of the "Guardia Rural" (rural guard), with a total of 1,603 men, and 3 companies of coast artillery. The Guardia Rural is a force organised as regular cavalry, but which has the function of rural police and is used solely for that purpose.

The Cuban Army has been increased gradually in accordance with the national needs and with the progress of modern military science. The first important reorganisation was made in 1908 when, in addition to the Rural Guard, there was created the Regular Army (Ejercito Permanente) consisting of the General Staff Corps, an Infantry Brigade, the Coast Artillery Corps, the Field Artillery and the Machine Gun Corps.

At the present time, Cuba has a small army, but well-trained and instructed. It is formed of the following units: General Staff, Cavalry, Infantry, Coast Artillery, Corps of Engineers, Air Service, Signal Corps, Medical Service, Veterinary Service, Judge Advocate Service, military and service schools, retired officers, and enlisted men and the militia.

We have 616 officers and 12,187 enlisted men. Of this number, 168 officers and 6,320 enlisted men are in the Rural Guard, with a total of 42 troops distributed throughout the country. These troops vary in strength in accordance with the needs of the zones to which they are assigned. The army budget for the present year amounts to $10,482,948.46.

The army was originally under the "Secretaria de Gobernacion" (Interior Department) but, on July 12, 1917, by act of Congress, the War and Navy Departments were created and the army came under its department secretary.

The President of the republic is the commander-in-chief of the army, and exercises his authority through the secretary of war and navy and the chief of the general staff of the army. The administrative unit is the battalion.

The highest commission in the army register is that of Colonel, although the Colonel holding the office of Chief of the General Staff has the rank and pay of a Major General while serving in that office, and those Colonels who are in charge of the Adjutant General's Department and the Quartermaster Department have the rank and pay of a Brigadier General while holding those offices.

The initial rank for the newly appointed officers of the army is that of 2nd Lieutenant. To this rank are appointed the cadets and the non-commissioned officers who are worthy of promotion. Officers of the Medical, Veterinary, and Judge Advocate services are admitted with the rank of 1st Lieutenants. The vacancies in these posts are covered by competition among the aspirants who possess adequate degrees for the exercise of their professions.

The promotions in the army are made by seniority and by selection. For 1st Lieutenants, of each 4 vacancies, 3 are covered by seniority and 1 by selection. For Captain, of each 3 vacancies, 2 are covered by seniority and 1 by selection. For Major, of each 2 vacancies, 1 is covered by seniority and 1 by selection. For Lieutenant Colonel, of each 4 vacancies, 1 is covered by seniority and 3 by selection. For Colonels, all vacancies are covered by selection. There exists a classification tribunal formed of the Chief of Staff and 4 Colonels, which prepares every year the list for the promotions by selection.

For promotion, there are special army registers as follows: for Lieutenant Colonels and Majors; for the Artillery, Infantry, Engineers and Signal Corps, from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to Major; for the Cavalry and Rural Guard; for the Air Service; for Surgeons; for Veterinarians; for Dentists; and for Pharmacists.

The entrance of the enlisted man in time of peace is voluntary, but he signs a contract to remain in the army for from 2 to 4 years. The initial pay of the soldier is $24.00 a month, plus quarters, food, clothing, and equipment.

The territory of the republic, from the military standpoint, is divided into 8 military districts. Each province corresponds to a military district with the exception of that of Habana, which has 3. A Colonel is in charge of each military district.

The General Staff is divided into the Adjutant General Department and the Quartermaster Department. The Adjutant General Department is sub-divided into the Inspection, Information, Personnel and Orders, Instruction, Engineers, Judge Advocate General, Sanitary, Veterinary, and the Public Welfare Departments. The Quartermaster Department is sub-divided into the General Supply, Accounting and Finance, War Material, Subsistence, and Transportation Departments.

Special attention is given to promoting efficiency in the army by means of furnishing the officers with the most modern instruction and the most severe training for all its units. Instruction receives paramount attention. Besides the Primary School for soldiers and non-commissioned officers, there exists the Application School for officers, the Preparatory School for non-commissioned officers aspiring to become officers, and the School of Cadets at Morro Castle. The latter stands high for its admirable discipline, the strictly military life which is led by the cadets, and for the valuable instruction which they receive during the four years which are required for their graduation from this excellent academy.

During 1911, there was introduced the policy of sending officers of the Regular Army to the military schools of other countries. The Government of the United States has been generous in this respect, allowing a great number of Cuban officers to receive courses of instruction in practically all the schools of the different branches of the service, and also many officers have been allowed to receive useful training attached to the different units and posts.

Since 1921, the number of officers instructed in foreign countries has been increasing constantly, and it is safe to state that it is difficult nowadays to find a regular officer of any rank, who has not had at least one course in a national or foreign school with the object of improving, as far as possible, his capacity for the proper exercise of his profession.

The Air Service, although in its infancy, is also receiving all the attention which can be afforded, and there was recently inaugurated the School of Aviation at Havana. The United States Government, upon request of the Cuban Government, appointed a mission to Havana consisting of 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, and 2 Sergeants from its Air Corps to assist in the organisation of the school.

The military tribunals, in the early days, were governed by a "Guide of Court Martials" product of the first intervention of the United States Government in Cuba. In 1909, the army had the first military code laws approved by the government. In 1927, there was created a code for the "Garrison Courts Martial" and "Superior Courts Martial of War and Navy." The latter court is formed of members of both the army and navy and constitutes the supreme court of the army.

The General Staff of the Army is in charge of the investigation of all matters which might affect the efficiency of the army and its state of preparedness for military operations, and on matters relating to the organisation, distribution of forces, equipment, arms, and instruction in their use. They propose legislative measures, general and special regulations, budgets, plans for national defense, studies of strategic subjects in general; obtain national and foreign military information; and keep the secretary of war and navy informed of all matters pertaining to the army.

With regard to rewards ad recompenses, there was created, in 1909, the Order of Military Merit and, in July, 1924, this order was modified in such a way as to be granted with a distinctive mark for services. In red, they indicate heroic action during war; in indigo blue, exemplary conduct, such as 20 years of honourable service for an officer and 16 for the enlisted men; in green, constancy in any undertaking, such as 30 years of service for the enlisted men, and 32 for the officers; in white, the invention of arms or work of positive utility to the army; in red and white, to indicate capture of bandits with extraordinary valour, or for doing humanitary acts which endangers one's life, or performance of professional prowess under the same circumstances. The sharpshooters of every arm have a different badge, in accordance with the grade obtained. The members of teams in international competition receive a special badge if they obtain 1st or 2nd place in a competition in a foreign country. The veterans of the war of independence, besides wearing the corresponding medal, have certain right and privileges within the rules and regulations of the army. There are also several other medals and distinctions for other services rendered.

There is a well organised and well kept library of more than 6,000 books. These books are accessible to the officers and may be taken out for a period of thirty days, which may be extended. The Official Gazette of the Republic is bound and distributed in ample bookshelves.

The Boletin del Ejercito is progressing constantly; fine articles are published by officers of the army who take interest in the progress and increasing success of this publication. There is a well organised service of exchange of this publication with military publications of other countries.

The Engineer Department is sub-divided into a Construction Bureau and the Chartographic Bureau. The Construction Bureau has charge of the studies pertaining to the plans, designs, and the estimates and calculations for all the construction and repairs of importance. The works are performed by personnel of the Corps of Engineers or by civilians under its supervision, and direction.

The Engineer Department has built a great number of barracks and houses for the officers as well as foundations for guns, bridges, and similar activities. One of the constructions which is worth mentioning is the military hospital recently inaugurated, and which stands as one of the best of its class. The direction of the works for the Pavilion, which the Republic of Cuba is building in Spain for the coming Exposition of Seville, is in charge of the Engineering Department of the Cuban Army, which was also entrusted with the design of the building.

The Chartographic Bureau is in charge of the construction, printing, revision and filing of the domestic and foreign maps and plans, as well as of the military geography. This Bureau has completed the seventy sheets which comprise the military chart of the republic to a scale of 1.62,500, which is a complete revision and mapping of the reconnaissance map of Cuba made in 1906. They are also finishing the strategic chart to a scale of 1.250,000, which is composed of six sheets, corresponding to each of the six provinces.

On the whole the military system of Cuba is a practical and efficient organisation. Since the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when the island was a Mecca for English and French privateers, until 1909, when the last of the American troops, were withdrawn, Cuba has witnessed intermittently the bearing of sword and gun. The wrestling of Havana in 1762 from the Spanish occupants by a British force under Admiral Sir George Pocock and the return of the city next year is typical of the abortive, but none the less active, warfare which marked the eighteenth century contest of European powers for possession of Cuba. Under the forceful and high-handed Spanish soldier-governors, Cuba seethed continually and suffered the restlessness born of oppressive rule. An ineffective and corrupt administration provoked the Ten Years' War of rebellion in 1868 and, another ten years after Martinez Campos had succeeded in terminating this uprising, the rebel leaders took the field again, and Cuba was in the fierce struggle which brought her freedom.