THE QUINTA OR CUBA?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 277, 31 December 1909, Page 4

THE QUINTA OR CUBA?

At the age of eighteen every male Spaniard becomes liable to serve cither in the Army or Navy. Hut the (lovcrnment does not need, or cannot all'ord. as many soldiers' and sailors as there are young men in' the country. The peace footing of the Army 'is onlv 80,000 and of the Na,vy about 0000, in a country of which the population is seventeen millions. Hence the cpiinta, or choosing by lot of those who are to serve in the national forces. The worrl ijuinlii literally means the selection of every liftli man, or one man out of every live eligible*. The qninta takes place once a year in every town,

bud all the males resident, in ihe district, who have just completed their (eighteenth year are called upon to participate. Those whom fortune appoints to serve their country are forthwith drafted inlo Ihe Army or Navy. Exemption may be 'bought in lime ol I peace. Ihe an lit payable being .t.w; but youths approaching the military a«c |:frc(|ucntly leave the country bfore | they arc summoned to the quinta. Cuba |and the Argentine Republic, both Rpan-ash-speaking countries, where work is .abundant, are the commonest objee-1 itivca of the sons of Ihe working classes (flying from conscription.