deserters say that life is unbearable in the Spanish army. The soldiers
are roughly treated, have scarcely anything to eat, and receive their
pay in worthless paper money.

One entire battalion mutinied a short while ago, and refused to accept
this paper money. The colonel had to give the soldiers his solemn
promise that their pay should be given them half in gold and half in
silver before they would consent to return to duty.

It is stated that the sum of $50,000,000 is needed for the payment of
the soldiers, and that there is little hope of getting it from Spain,
because the Rothschilds will not lend the Government any more money
unless Spain sacrifices the income of the famous Almaden quicksilver
mines for twenty years.

The Rothschilds are the greatest and richest bankers in the world.

This firm has branch houses in all the great capitals in Europe, and has
probably lent money to every government on the continent.

If a war is contemplated, and a nation needs a large sum of ready money
to make preparations, it is to the Rothschilds that its government
generally turns.

When good security is offered there is never any trouble in getting
money from them, but if the security is not of the best they never find
themselves in a position to lend the money.

In 1870, Spain, needing money, applied to the Rothschilds and obtained
what she needed because she offered as security for the repayment of the