The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-09
FIGHTING RESOURCES OF THE EURO.
PEAN POWERS.


From the NJ Y. Herald.
''To cook a hare catch one" is an ancient
and trlte but very practical recommendation.
10 get up war is easy enough, but to carry
on a war is another thing. Neither indi
vlduals nor communities will long 90 about
through the world 'blue moulded. " like Pat
at Donnybrook Fair, ''for want of batin', T"
without being accommodated first or last
Such seems to be precisely the state of mind
that Prussia has reached with her enormous
military establishment, and such, too, the
humor of France laying down the law to all
Europe. But how are they and their allies,
ON either side, prepared for the issue? Ay,
there's the rub.
France, the military Colossus of the West,
has, according to the latest and most aceu-
rate advices, under the new laws recently
carried into effect, Ala, ,632 soldiers on the
peace footing, G47,271 of field army. or
1850, 900 men in all for her entire ordinary
war strength. Of these 10000 men are
ready to march at the tap of the drum on the
outbreak of hostilities. Austria, which, cor
rectly or incorrectly, is regarded as the inevi-
table ally of France, has 27S, 40 men on the
peace establishment, S3S, 700 of war
strength, or 300, 900 fully prepared to move.
Could the South German Confederation, or
group of States, be secured on the same
side, they have 6G, $40 men on the peace or
these prepared for instant service Such a
coalition would give France the control of
TT, 900 fighting men at once, with a reserve
OF ,596, 10G trained soldiers.
On the other hand, Prussia has 726, 600
men on the peace or 1,266, 900 on the war
footing, with 100000 now ready for opera
lions on her western frontier North Ger
many, going with Prussia, has 3l5, ,526 on the
peace, 55l 1898 on the field, or 944, ,32l on the
nf bfah -
available. This would place at Prussian dis
posal SAG, 900 men for the first movement and
l,364, ,32l IN reserve. Thus she would have.
instantly, $4,000 men more and, hereafter,
23l, lS5 less than the French alliance Should
she be be able to manage Southern Germany
for her cause she would have l, ,O53, 900 men.
or 10000 more than France, to move at
once, or quite enough to cope with her and
Austria together, for the time being, with all
the advantages OF common language and
position. This would leave Prussia still a re-
serve of !, AL, 737 men, or only 154,379 less
than that OF France and Austria coalesced a
difference swamped to the extent of nearly
80, 600 men by her superiority of immediate
force.
The inquiry now arises as to what wonld he
the course of the adjacent powers. France
has seriously angered Italy, and the latter is
reported 10 nave formed defensive if not an
~ "AtoiSO Will IuSSld. In such case.
the latter being attacked by France, the
Italians, out of force of 376, ,721 on a war
footing, with 1890 of reserve, or 573,7 ,721
in all, could spare possibly POO, 600 men to
operate on the French frontier or hold a hostile
corps IN check The direct and open partici-
patton OF Russia is hardly to be expected
unless circumstances should force her into
the melee. In that case she could dispose of
about 25O,O men from about TOO, 900 COM
posing her army in Europe, including the Cos
sacks She could take no other course by family
alliance, position, and the recollection of
Crimean wounds than to aid Prussia. Sweden
and Denmark would, if they dared to move at
all, have to go In the same direction. with
about 5O, 600 men. Thus Italy, the Car. and
Scandinavia would bring King William 800 600
men-a force that, with South German aid
would place him 100000 ahead of France