The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-11 00:00:00

758 giortign 6ortzsporrbtutt. We publish with pleasure the following letter on the military resources of Prussia, as the details are derived from the most autheutic sources of information. At the present time it is very necessary that we should be well informed as to the military power of the German States.] HANOVER, August 6. THE Times of August 2 has a letter from its cor• respondent at Berlin on the military resources of Prussia, which contains many errors. In the first place, the numbers of the Prussian troops are in the Times very much understated. The normal strength of the army in time of peace is about 20J,000, and the force called Reserve is two-thirds of that amount. As the Times states, the number of recruits required— about 70,000 men in round numbers—are called up, and have to serve for three years under arms. They then go into the Reserve for two years more—that is, they go on leave from their regiments without pay, their arms, accoutrements, and clothing being kept in the stores of their regiments, ready for use at a moment's notice; so that the infantry regiments can be placed on a war footing as soon as the men have joined their regiments and put on their uni form. The effective strength of the army on a war footing—that is, including the Reserves—may be set down, therefore, at 350,000 men. The Times, how ever, calculates the annual supply of recruits at only 50,000 ; but this gives us 250,0(X) as the strength of the army, instead of 150,000, as assumed by the Times. These troops are liable to serve wherever they may be required. After completing their five years' service in the line battalions, they go, as stated by the Times, into the Landwehr battalions of their regiments. Be sides those men who have served five years in the line battalions, the Landwehr contains also a certain number of "Freiwillige," or "volunteers." These are young men, wbo, intending to study for a pro fession instead of waiting till they are drawn in their turn (when they would have to serve five years), volunteer for a year's service in the line battalions. They serve in the ranks, but find their own clothing and accoutrements. They can, if they choose, mess with the men when their rations are supplied to them. But, as most of them are of the upper or middle classes, they generally provide their own meals, some of them messing with the officers. Count Arnim was a volunteer while be was study ing at a university; and when the morning's duty was terminated, he would get leave to go out of bar racks, and, in the uniform of a private soldier, step into his carriage and be driven to his place of study. The presence of a considerable number of this class in the barrack-rooms among the men has a decided influence on the moral tone and manners of their comrades. Many stories are told of the sur prise of the worthy citizens of Baden-Baden at seeing Prussian privates walk into the best hotels and ordering champagne ; their surprise was scarcely decreased when they heard them addressed as "Count so-and-so." But to return to my subject. After the volunteers have served for one year in the anks they go into the Landwehr; and from among them the subaltern and non-commissioned officers of the Landwehr are usually selected. The article in - - the Times force, thong) to some SATURDAY, operation of Prussia, notwithstanding Lord Palmers ton's foreign policy, and his "judicious bottle. holding" for the heroes of the barricades in 1848. Before I conclude, I would remark id. at I think it would not be difficult for us to adapt some of the best portions of the Prussian military system to our own army. Among the most important I would name the system of Reserves. I think that we might very well in time of peace allow a certain number of men to go on leave without pay, on con dition that they should join the militia regiment of their native country whenever it was embodied or assembled for drill, and that they should return to their regular regiment whenever they were required. In return, I would allow their time to count for their pension in the proportion of (say) two years for one. I daresay many who are now afraid of binding them selves for so long a period would be ready to enlist if so ready a means of returning in case of disap pointment or a change of circumstances were held out to them. I also think that, as in Prussia, we might make every o cer do duty in the ranks, though living with the officers, until he had learnt the duties of every grade. I also think we might limit the selection of staff officers, whether personal or general, to those who had gone through a course of study to qualify them for those duties. PS.—I have just learnt that the Prussian general staff of the Pomeranian military district were em• ployed this spring in drawing up a plan of campaign against Russia. FRANKFORT, August 6. THE publication of the Conferences of Vienna, and the "documents diplomatiques relatifs a la proposi tion Autrichienne sur la troisieme garantie, commu niqués a la Chambre des Communes d'Angleterre dans la séance du 12 Juillet," published in the Rus sian and German papers, have permitted the Oriental affairs to be discussed in every schlop and gasthaus throughout Germany. It was the certainty of this result that ruffled the temper of Count Buol, and in cited him, under its influence, to express himself towards France and England with greater energy than discretion. Austria in her conduct and present attitude has displeased Germany for many reasons. She assumes to dictate to the Confederation, and takes upon herself to contract engagements in which German relations are concerned without the consent of the Diet, to construe such treaties in a sense selfish and isolated, and, when unsuccessful and baffled, to fall back upon the Confederation for assistance, on the plea of a common and undivided interest. In no country is the policy of Austria more criti cised or more severely olamed than in Germany. She is loudly accused of being false to every one, and to have forfeited all respect from her organised du plicity, equalling that of Lord John Russell, and in actual unison with that disgraced Minister for an identity of object. The behaviour of the King of Prussia finds more favour by its singleness of pur pose, irrespective of consequence : and here it must be constantly borne in mind, and cannot be too often expressed, that Prussia to a man is against its sove reign and the Minister Manteuffel, and that, on the contrary, the young Emperor, Francis Joseph, stands almost alone amongst his soldiers in favour of the Allies. This disinclination of the Austrian army to- porals, and has also army, of contiins of Land, of a major each corn' drummer belong to wit the _ the regimen superior charge o► which inch, for the men. six weeks to which vres, they ever they their oftk, all respects Lions I _ service except cannot be tion. Thi wehr is show and their - more of t. tially mutilated, mentary - t 1 o men 'thistly* tine Lanawenr are usually selected. The article in be taken tor military purposes at a fixed price. Allies. This disinclination of the Austrian army to- the Times says nothing of the constitution of this Every farming operation would consequently be at a wards the Western powers does not emanate from force, though the particulars may be interesting standstill. So that we need not attribute any want any sentiment personal and hostile, but simply to some persons. Each regiment of the Prussian of courage to the people of Prussia if they do not from a thorough conviction that the empire, as at army, of all arms, is commanded by a colonel, and show themselves over anxious to join in a war with present constituted, cannot stand without Rus- contains three battalions of line, and three battalions the necessity for which, especially since Lord John sian assistance. There is but one opinion among of Landwehr. The staff of the latter is composed Russell's last feat, they are not forcibly impressed. the military upon this subject, and the experience of of a major commanding it, a lieutenant to command There can be no doubt that the knowledge of this 1818 bears them out in this appreciation of their each company, assisted by a pay sergeant, two cor- feeling on the part of his people is not unknown to crazy position. Fearing the power of France in porals, and a drummer. Each Landwehr battalion the King of Prussia, and shares with his fraternal Italy, the Vienna and military policy seeks to acquire has also a sergeant-major, two corporals, and a feelings in influencing him for peace. But I think directly the friendship of the Emperor Napoleon, drummer or two at its bead-quarters. This staff that in England we wrongly attribute to the Prussian and indirectly to preserve the protection of the Czar. belong to the line battalions, but are posted for duty nation, or even to its Government, any predilection It is well known, but not so in Italy, and may here wit:i the Landwehr, being selected by the colonel of for Russia. Id o no t p re t en d t o sa y as muz h f or th e b e re l ate d with advantage, that Austria in 1849 had the regiment on account of their good conduct and smaller States; but in Prussia I imagine that—with agreed to abandon her Lombard possessions, and superior qualifications. The permanent staff have the the exception of a handful of individuals of high rank, a private and official correspondence ensued thereon charge of the arms, accoutrements, and clothing, old aristocratic prejudices, and a dread of the very between the English and Austrian authorities. which includes shoes and all necessaries, ready fitted name of democracy, or even liberalism, and who are Copies of these despatches are extant wherein for the men. The Landwehr is called together for so weak as to have been won by the affability and deco- Austria covenanted absolutely to extinguish the six weeks drill in each year. If the corps d'armie rations of the late Czar, whom they looked upon as Italian provinces. The republican tyranny that to which they belong is assembled for great nianceu- their only safeguard against a republic—there are overruled Carlo Alberto against his will, permitted vres, they have to join their regiments; and when- few if any at all, devoted to Russia. The prevailing Marshal Radetzky, by th e v i c t or y of Novard, to ever they are under arms they receive the same pay, feeling in Prussia is one of antipathy to France, the vitiate the agreement. But the Italian territory is a their officers receive the same rank, and they are in alliance with which is thought unnatural for Eng- source of weakness, and these non-German interests all respects treated as the line. With the excep. land. They speak despondingly of it, and fear we and provinces disunite Austria from the Confede- tions I have mentioned they are not liable for any may suffer for abandoning our ancient policy of ration. service except in time of war, and even then they alliance with the Protestant powers of northern Ger- There is a party now rising in Germany, powerful, cannot be sent beyond the limits of the Confedera- many; but they retain friendly feelings towards us, patriotic, and popular, which is equidistant alike tion. The strength of the first levy of the Land- and, looking upon us as their natural ally (in this from the foulness of democracy and the tyranny of wehr is about the same as that of the regular troops, I confess I agree with them), they express their irresponsible government. It comprises amongst and their period of service is seven years. Some desire to help us. I suspect that the court we paid its partisans the higher nobles who desire to reform more of the young men, especially such as are par- to Austria, of whom they are so jealous, wa4 not and to consolidate the German empire, and to render tially mutilated, are called up and drilled in a rudi- without its share in inducing them to remain neutral. it—that which it is not at present—a barrier against mentary manner for the waggon-trains, Sic.; so that Ido not doubt that if we had been less anxious for Northern encroachment, and a territorial security for n o men capable of bearing arms are required for the the unnecessary and impossible alliance of Austria, the true balance of power in Europe. This emi- n 'fleetly* services. After the first seven years' ser• we should have been more likely to obtain the co- nently influential party is opposed to the Ministry THE PRESS. vice in the Landwehr, the men belong to the second levy of that force, which is only called out in case of emergency, and then only employed in garrisoning strong places ; so that in time of war Prussia would have 350,000 men for aggressive operations, 350,000 more for defence, and some 200,000 or 300,000 in case of emergency. This is no such trifling amount, and brings me to another error of the Times, which states that Prussia had proposed under certain cir cumstances to place a minimum of 10,000 men on the Russian frontier, and under certain ulterior con tingencies a maximum of 200,000, intimating at the same time a doubt of her being able to do so, as it would have been her whcle disposable force. It might be so until war had been declared, but from that time, as I think I have shown, she has 350,000 men for aggressive operations. With regard, also, to this frontier, the Times overlooks the fact that Prussian-Poland is considered the most defensible country in the kingdom, and contains the best Land wehr, as its inhabitants are both morally and physi cally the best of her soldiers. I think, then, if my figures are correct (and I have no reason for doubt ing their correctness), that, notwithstanding the discoveries of the Times correspondent, we must still consider a country which can dispose of not less than 300,000 men, at the same time that it retains an ample force for the defence of its frontiers, as a great military power, so far at least as the numbers of its troops are concerned. With regard to the financial resources of Prussia, I doubt if the inferences of the Times correspondent (for he does not state many facts) are more exact. I am informed that the revenue of the country averages sixty or seventy million thalers per annum, of which, in time of peace, about thirty millions are required for the army ; that out of this revenue she has up to this time contrived to pay off about two-thirds of her debt of 600 millions. She has, of course, within tne last few years added somewhat to her debt for the construction of railroads ; but these are a source of revenue to the Government. Her Three-and-a-Half per Cents. are at 84 or 86, which shows that the country cannot be poor, or out of credit with capitalists. In fact, no traveller who remarks the iron and coal mines, the excellent farm ing, the productive soil in most parts, and the numerous factories, can doubt that Prussia is a rich and prosperous country. So that, in respect both of her financial resources and her command of troops, I think Prussia has a right to claim a place second only to England and France. But when we consider as a whole her capabilities of going to war, and her readiness to wage it, I fear the case is altered. I sin afraid we must acknowledge the correctness of the assertion of the Times, that her military organi sation would in the event of war greatly interfere with the productive power of the country, and, because the burdens of war will press much more immediately and evident:y on individuals than is the case with us, the people are naturally much more disinclined to incur the risk than even we are. The employers of labour know that it would immediately have the effea of withdrawing all their best labourers, and, of course, the workmen would not like to be taken from their ordinary occupations, unless it were ab.olutely for the defence of their homes. There is also another way in which the process of putting the whole force of the country on a war footing would press heavily, especially on the upper and middle classes ; because in that event every horse in the country is liable to be taken for military purposes at a fixed price.