Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-02-28
War-Food for Reflection.

4thA No vi agree WIN Us lnal IL ~ one
Of the stranesst things In the world when
two civilized nations actually get 10 the
point Of fighting each other. There is q
good deal Of force in the old saying, "Old
men fer counsel, young men for war;
Many thoughtiess, hair Drained youths
seem to look upon war as a species Of rare
ispert; and even old men will sometimes
become testy and pugnacious, and If they
do not actually engage in battle, will
"Shoulder their crutch, vvand show how fields are
, won.o
l. Asthsre is a considerable disposition %
the part Of some Of our people TO explode
little gunpowdsr Ground the domestic
hear,hstsne, we have thought that little
food for reflection on this subject might be
more acceptable 10 our readers than 10 of.
fer themselves as food for powder. No
one who thinks at oil will pretend to assert
thst q war between two nations can Re
otherwise than detrimental to their several
mutual interests. An immense amount of
money less IN war expenditure is certain
on both sides, 10 ssy nothing of the ipdi.
rect and incalculable loss from the suspen.
sion of commercial relations, the prostra.
tion Of industry, the Withdrawal of men
from profitable enplsynents. and the loss
Of human life ssd the sorrow resulting
ihsrefrsm. That il is virtue and ne
oessty in self:defense, we do moi deny, and
all history proves that self-interest and ma.
tIonai interest will not prevent men from
ineurring IFS terrible responsibilities
Millions Of men and thousands Of ships are
kept IN constant preparation for war, while
10 per cent Of the adult male population of
Europe are said to be required to supply
the oomplements of standing armies and
nsyles. Ii Is terrible comment on this
era Of boasted civilization that the newly
completed naval arsenal of Cherboure, in
France, has cost the astounding sum Of
nearly forty millions of dollars. Every
country in Europe, we believe, has national
debts in nearl y all instances Of most SO.
rious amount in proportion TO their popula-
ton and resources, and the origin of these
national debts 10 traceable 10 war, and their
Pefpeluity is solely attributable to war ard
warlike ornaments.
Everybody reads. from time to time, Of
new inventions and improvements in the
ideally art Of war;" but it may not be so
generally known that they are far more
costly than the simple asd less destructive
implements in use fifty years ago. The
various kinds Of improved rifles cauno, be
supplied at the price Of supersnnuated
'Old Brown Bess," The common flint mus.
rkst Of former days. As an example Of the
increased oostliness Of warfare, we may
mention that, during the great conflict
which terminated in the overthrow of Ma
poleou Bonaparte, sslid shot was the mis-.
siis usually fired from cannon, whereas
shells are now prsferred, being much more
destructive. A 32.pound ball cost about
$l.62; while 80 pound shell, filled ready
for firing. costs about So; and the guns to
fire il, weighing from three 10 five tuns, in
round numbers, cost from $500 to $500
each. ~.
The standing armies and naviss of Eu
rope, even on what is called tbs .peses
ieOtIng," srs on prsdigious scale; take,
for example,
Army, 600 900 men; 10 field batteries;
guards, &c. 600 men; navy, 425 vessels and
$4,000 sailors.
.7su.' % Ar'a AUSTRIA.
Army, 100000 men, of which SOS, 900
are infantry, $1,000 cavalry, &C, 900 artil.
lery and 10000 engineers and STAFF. /
q, .e- PRUSSIA. b h-..r ID
Army, $4,000 men. ..... 81. #a
.ea t@a EHGLAKp. 1-as
Army, 225, 900 men, including the colo.
NAL troops; navy, 600 vessels, oil. which
over 800 are sailing vessels, $50 steamers
and &c ships of the line, carrying about
$4,000 guns and 1000 men.
RUSSIA.
Army, 1000 900. including the reserve,
besides 225,ooo irregular troops; payy.
200 vessels and 60 900 sailors and gunners. |
Army (regulsr). sO,eoo men; reserve,
las, 900; irregular troops, 81 900; various
contiDgents, 10000, Total. 10000
Navy: 70 vessels and and 10000 sailors
and eunners.
Army Con war footing), st, 900 inf,n.
Try and 1900 cavalry.
swITzIRLAsp.
Army, l25, 900 men.
GERMAN CONFEDERATION.
Army, 525, 900 men, beside 80, 600 cav.
airy-I including the contingent Of Austri,
and Prussia, 5bii- -4-it L
UNITED STATES. l.
Army, 1900 men; militia, 1855, 6l4l,
neni navy, 10 ships Of the line, 10 frigatss,
u ssloops Of war, 3 briggs, ] schooner, 80
screw steamers and tenders, 9 side wheel
steamers, 3 ,sta.e vessels, 6 permanent
'ters and receiving ships Gin ali, "a YES
els "a naval asylum, naval academy, and
navy yards. .s:a.2 l 5tC - |,
!, As regards the comparative cost of stand
NJ armies and nsyies Of various countries,
Belgian paper asserts that the mainten-
nee Of these armies IN times Of peace cost,
he countries Of Europe annually 1885,.
lco, 600, and The Hsets sbout 500. Oo0, 900.
Tho expense Of tbs two greatest nsviss in
IL i l