The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-02-07
THE ARMIES OF EUROPE.
Military Strength of Austria, Russia and
ltulys

Paris (Jau. ~ Correspondents crlhc london Times.
The statement mado the other day in the
legislative body by Nj, ROuhcr, during the
debate on the army bill, to the eitoct that
at any moment France was exposed 20 be
mcnaced by 100000 Austrians, | 100000
Russians, 900 900 Prussians, aud 800, 900
Italians, would, if well founded, be indeed
alarming, and would Justify tho Govern
mont in all it is doing for the national de,
fense. The Minister of State added that
it was much to expect from the courage of
the French soldiers and the power Of the
army of France, that military force of
500, 900 men could resist everywhere and
at all times an army of 100000 men. II
the fears are well founded, that france may
havo for enemies and at the same time,
Prussia, Russia, and Italy, an army Of
1000, 900, instead of 100000, would not
be excessive A writer in the Temps, NJ.
Maurice Block, strong in statistics, uudet.
takes to show that these hosts which M.
Rouher coniured MP, perhaps to facilitate
the passing of tho bill through reluctant
Chamber, have no existence,in reality. He
has examined the question with his usual
care, and he demonstrates by figures that
the calculations of the Minister of State
were erroneous. Prussia aud tho Northern
Confederation together do not figure for
more than 1854 men, plus. The second
ban of the Landwehr, which may stand for
the National Guard, as they have no other,
and this second ban, as appears from the
Annuaire M:litaire of Prussia, is $4,000.
men. OF these 500 and old thousands of
men there are but 42l ,528 forming part of
tho active army, which III seven years may
reach $4,000 men.
AS regards Austria, official documents
(Stotistiches Juhrbucb published by the
Statistical Department, shows the effective
strength of the Imperial army, on the lst
of January, 1866, to be 4,37l on the peace,
and 72S,9l5 men on the war footing. 1t ID
well known that in the campaign of 1866
the effective strength could not be attained
and that money; as well as men, was want.
ing. After the great disaster Of that year
an Imperial degree gave, it is true, the
basis for q new military organization,
which was to increase tho strength of the
army to S50000 in peace, and 100000 in
war. This decree, which was issued sim.
ply to tranqulize the public mind, then sc
agitated, had to DO withdrawn when the
| constitutional state OF Austria was estab
| lished, each Diet having the right to vote
one half of the contingent. Her contingent
Hungary fixed at 10000, with the obliga
tion of serving for six years, three Of then
in the reserve. The Hungarian army can
therefore. be counted at no more than siI
times 10000, or 100000 men. The othe
| half of the Empire will, in this case, prob
ably yield no more than six times 10000
or 300, 900 men--namely, total on the wa
footing for the whole Empire of 100000
aud allowance must be made for non-eflec
tives. No Que, not even the Governinen
itself, knows accurately what is the amour
of the present war establishment of Aus
tria and her rulers have been for sons
time too much occupied in organizing peac'
to attend to war.
If NJ. Rouher belives in the 100000
men of Russia, it is because il pleases hin
to indulge in illusions. M. Block afiirms
as in the case of Austria, that nobody knows
and the Gar less than any one, the numer
ical strength of the Russian army and tn
formidable numbers paraded IN terrOren
before the world exist only on paper. fl
is prevented by want of space from explain
ing in detail the mode of recruiting in tn
Russian Empire but it is "a fact that at tn
period of the war against France, England
Turkey and Italy. and in tie presence o
hostile Austria, the state of the Rusial
army showed 796975 men, including tn
militia (see Colonel De Rustow's work.
that is, less than 100000, and very far il
deed from NJ. Rouher's l 100000 men.
With respect to Italy, the Relazione de
Maggiore Generale NJ. Tore speaks q
476 ,O46 men, all included, and it is yer
doubtful whether all could be got togethe
in 1866. On what ground, then, did tn
Minister speak of 100000 men, exclusiv
| of ih.. NaftonoI EuarA In ltaIy II 10 "a
culated, says NJ. Block, that the countr
can furnish for the army maximum {
3,400 men out of evory million of pOpuli
ton. In the same proportion France wit
her 5000, 900 could raise every year l39
200 recruits and in Italy the annual col
tingent can not exceed twenty-fonr time
, 34OO, or 81, 600. OF this number 5000 al
f tended for the sea service; the remainder, 7f
000 for that of the land. The animal conti
, gent is divided into two parts or categorie
The first 10 composed Of 55 per cent. of III
, contingent or, in round numbers, 4O.0C
, men. These men have to serve for eleye
, years-five with the colors and six in Il
reserve. 10000 multiplied by IL giN
100000; and from these must be deducte
for deaths and other cdsualities 10 p'
{ cent. there remain, therefore, $4,000
, The remaining sc, 500 form the second ca
/ egory, who serve five years in the rcserv
| 5000 multiplied by five give $4,000 d
| duct per cent. for deaths, &c, and the
{ remain l13,25O, making total of 5G9,25
men.
After these calculations as TO number
NJ. Block observes
Have not pay, subsistence, arms, lorag
) aud the rest Indispensable 10 Sn aImy to