and in the general commanding
each of the seven military districts into which the republic is divided.
The most important of these districts is that of Rio Grande do Sul,
where a force of 11,226 men is stationed. The principal war arsenal is
in Rio de Janeiro. The rifle used by the infantry is a modified Mauser
of the German 1888 model. Military instruction is given at the Eschola
Militar of Rio de Janeiro. The military organization is provided with an
elaborate code and systems of military courts, which culminate in a
supreme military tribunal composed of 15 judges holding office for life,
of which 8 are general army officers, 4 general naval officers and 3
civil judges.

_Navy._--The naval strength of the republic consisted in 1906 of a
collection of armoured and wooden vessels of various ages and types of
construction, of which three armoured vessels (including the two
designed for coast defence), four protected cruisers, five destroyers
and torpedo-cruisers, and half a dozen torpedo boats represented what
may be termed the effective fighting force. The loss of the armoured
turret ship "Aquidaban" by a magazine explosion in the bay of
Jacarepagua, near Rio de Janeiro, in 1905, had left Brazil with but one
fighting vessel (the "Reachuelo") of any importance. Many of the wooden
and iron vessels listed in the Naval Annual, 1906, though obsolete and
of no value whatever as fighting machines, are used for river and
harbour service, and in the suppression of trifling insurrections. The
Annual describes 21 vessels of various types, and mentions 23 small
gunboats used for river and harbour service. Besides these there are a
number of practice boats (small school-ships), transports, dispatch
boats and launches. A considerable part of the armament is old, but the
more modern vessels are armed with Armstrong rifled guns. The naval
programme of the republic for 1905 provided for the prompt construction
of 3 battleships of the largest displacement, 3 armoured cruisers, 6
destroyers, 12 torpedo boats and 3 submarine boats; and by 1909 the
reorganization of the navy was far advanced. The principal naval arsenal
is located at Rio de Janeiro. The government possesses dry docks at Rio
de Janeiro. The naval school, which has always enjoyed a high reputation
among Brazilians, is situated on the island of Enxadas in the bay of Rio
de Janeiro. There are smaller arsenals at Para, Pernambuco, Sao Salvador
and Ladario (Matto Grosso) and a sh