Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-29
TIIE uosTTLE ARMIES.

-
and means of organizing the armies of
France and North Germany, we proceed
TO say something of the comparative
pressure of the respective systems
upon the population Of the countries from
which these armies are drawn:
IN REGARD TO THE PRESSURE ON THE Pop
ULATIoN IN THdE OF PEACE.
This is heaviest on France, next great
est in North Germany, and least in Aus
tria, in SO sar as the total force perma-
nently embodied is concerned--those in
the standing army being to the population
as ! in 116 in Austria, ] in 100 in
North Germany, and / in SO in France.
In France, however, much smaller
proportion of the population is annually
distracted from the labor-power of the
country and passed through the army than
in North Germany; but, in return, they
are kept for two years longer in the ranks.
In Austria, far greater number in pro-
portion are annually embodied than in
France; but they remain in the ranks for
only the same period (three years. as in
North Germany. In North Germany,
the greatest number of all are annually
taken. The percentage of recruits alb
stracted annually from the productive
labor of the country is in round numbers
nearly as follows: In France, one recruit
from every GOO of the total population;
In Austria one recruit from every $40 of
the total population; In North Germany,
one recruit from every 500 of
the total population. The difference of
the results obtained, according as the pro-
portion of the standing army to the pop
ulation, or that of the annual conscrip-
ton to the population is regarded, is ow-
ing to the term of service being for two
years longer in France than in North Ger
many or Austria, and to the standing
army in it being much larger in proper
ton to the reserves. Out of the young
men who annually attain the military
age, in North Germany nearly one-third,
in France not quite one-ffth, are drawn
for the regular army. In regard to mar
risge, the check is most severe IN France,
where, on an average, the regular con-
script is not allowed to marry until twen-
ty-seven; whereas, in Austria and Prus-
STA, he can do so at twenty three and a
half
Upon the whole, we regard the econom-
ical effect of the military system adopted
to be much less detrimental to industry in
France than in either North Germany or
Austria. For, although larger standing
army is kept up in the former country,
yet the much smaller annual abstraction
Of young men IN the vigor and prime
Of life from the pursuits Of industry |
hat takes place in it than in the two lat
.er, leads to much more satisfactory re-
suits iadustri0lly considered. 1t is true, |
indeed, that nearly the whole French pop
llation of the military age is enrolled in
he Garde Rationale, yet great care is
aiken not to let this interfere with their
ordinary industrial pursuits and occupa-
oations.
n REGARD TO PRESSURE on THE PoPULA-
TON IN TINE OF WAR.
Here a very important difference arises
between the French and the North German
ystems. OF the young men who attain
ach year the conscriptive age Of twenty
Il North Germany, nearly one-third are
ITawn for the army, where they serve for
hree years, then pass into the reserve for
our years, and finally into the landwehr
or five. They are therefore, subject to
,e called out during war for twelve years
fer enrolment. But the remaining
Dung men who have the good for
lne not to be drawn, amounting TO tGUO-
birds Of tie aCIt0Le are finally released
rom all liability for military service,
kept as levy en- naasSe, in the last
gony Of the State.
In France, on the other hand, of those
Tho attain the conscriptive age of TWEEN
y-One in any one year, the 0Uhole are
nrolled in either the regular army, the
eserve, or the Garde Rationale Mobile
hose in the regular army serve for five
ears in it and four in the second reserve. |
hose at once enrolled in the first re- !
erve, though only drilled for few
lonths, remain in it for nine years.
hese two classes, therefore, are liable {
u service during war for nine years
rteT enrolment. Those posted to the | I
arde Rationale, embracing the aOboIe s
:yOoth Of the country, re-
ain in it, liable to home service, during
ar, for five years.
Hence, during war, the pressure on the
)pulation will be longitudinal in North q
ermany and lateral in France In North | 7
ermany, during peace, many more men S
c in proportion to the population, alb
racted from labor and annually called | a
TO the regular army than in France; |
I'd the pressure upon these In war will | c
, longer and more severe. But the more L
1merous class who altogether escape the q
inscription during peace, will also be al i
ge,her exempt from the war pressure. | L
France, on the other hand, many fewer i
i'll be actually taken from the pursuits T
industry and passed through the regu- +
: army in time of peace; and during f
lr their liability to be called out will be b
tended over shorter period; but the Il
hole youtb of the country a0iU be called f
arms in one capacity or another, when I
stilities actually break out. The sys- b
n viii press hardest on middle life in o
1rth Germany and on youth in France. I
ar in France will tell most heavily on o
2 gDh0le population between tWenty-one | a