The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-14
RANCE.

The Array GJntingents Bil--Auima.ed Debate
IN the Legislative DOdy--ll. Thiors' Cpl.
nion-How Sadowa Lost to Austria--
Taking Lessons If0m Ncrti Gcrmany-.An
Angry Scene.
The French Legislative Body held sitting June
W, NJ. schneider In the chair.
The order OF the day was the discussion on the bill
Tor calling out 1000 men nom the class OF 1870
Count DE LA TOUR said-Tne report OF Tie commit
tee contains the expression OF two sentiments I'm
winch fully concur The trst is regret that the
reduction OF our contingent should not have com.
cided win serious dlminutiOn I'm the armies OF
foreign natons the second fear least the defalca-
tion of ten thousand men should not become a
source Of serious weakness to France under So ch
circumstances. Even with our contingent of one
hundred thousand men our military forces in.
proportion is destined to become every yoar more
marked BY the practice OF existing military nstitJ-
en Ihe IS ths MIRIAM now on al
for attack or defence TIE active "H army
OF tho whole population, and the King has been
authorized to treat with the different sOveregns OF
the nomination and promotion OF officers. In time
Of peace, indeed, the military effective Of Prussia
not extravaganza she has 2s9, 104 soldiers, OF whom
b2, 1883 are cavalry; besides 4,300 volunteers and Il
complement of officers and surgeons, forming n
total of $4,000 men, But In case OF war; Southern
Germany Is Obliged TO place her military forces at
the disposal OF Prussia, and setting down the conti-
buttons OF Bavaria, Baden ana Wurtembeig at
5000, together with 1000 gendarmes for ali Ger.
many, VIC reach total OF 4I40OO men. In France
for population OF more than 40 0O0, 0O0 we have an
Algeria, 80 that on the Continent we nave only
34J 900; consequently the difference In favor OF Ger
many 10 u 900. Moreover Tie principle on which
we act Is that an elective OF 100000 trained
soldiers IL SUFFICIENT tor all requirements and
that one field army is enough; whereas In
Geraany the main Idea Is that force OF from
100000 70 l,2090Oo men Is necessaiy, and
tnat TWO field armies were wanted. Here the honor
able member described at some length the sixteen
military districts into which Germany nad been
divided since 1867, and spoke in high praise OF tue
landsturm as being composed oil men lar better in
strueted ia the AIT Of war tnan the garde rationale
mobile OF France. an Therefore or opinion, lie
continued, that unless TIE German institutions are
m01lHed In Tie sense or q disarmament zoe should
act hnprUdenLty az reducing our coattlcenLs 10
1ie,V thousand men, al the same time our attitude
fo,cards Germany oughtto be IN no ,oay n,eaaciag;
our policy should be inspired and directed by con
clllatory policy IL was IN that sense hat the treaty
OF Prague was concluded and we are bound to main
tain me strict execution or those clauses rhicd
auolced the subsistence ora group Of South German
States, ana ensured TO austria a situation sU19cent
conclude by asking the government while retain
ing the reduction FOR this year. redoube Its efforts
10 bring about an alienation OF tile military charges
imposed ON Germany and, If 1t should fail, to revert
once more to the normal and necessary contingent
OF one hundred thousand men. (Applause.)
M. GARNER PAGES said-Nothing can be more in
structive than comparison OF the different military
organizations In Europe; shall therefore make
some brief observations on the subject. Russia has
population OF 7SO0o,000; the system Is recruit
ment-often forced; the men serve fifteen years; the
average effective Is 6e7 900 men and the expense
system there Is voluntary enlistment, the active
army at home being l27 900 men and 1000 in India,
the whole with an expense OF 1861, 000 000f aud wth
in addition, 142 600 men of the militia. Italy has
&C. 000 900 inhabitants; the effective IL l87, 900 men,
but in case Of war 500, 900 may be called out the
cost ID 100, 000 O00f. Austria has learned impor-
tant lesson at Sadowa, and with n population OF
3e has established an obligatory service on
all citizens without distinction; In peace time her
effective Is $4,000 men, and her outlay l06, 600 000f
Bavaria has 900 men ct expense OF a5 600 000f
need not describe the Prussian system; you are
aw "a n
footing ana $4,000 for war; the cost Ii limited
to 225 o0of Switzerland, for 1000 900 OF souls,
has 1000 men for the active army, 1000 reserve
force of20o 900 men, very easily assembled, at cost
oil only 100000 ] shall now show that France
more TO produce an inferior result Our active force
" soo,ooy, the reserve 1000 o, the National Guard
Mopiie should DO 55gooo; toial, 1,360,00o men, And
down 422Q000oof. for the War Department. and
Is,VooVVof for the Marine; total 600 .00Of, cid