The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-22
I T A L Y.
Bill for the Reorganization Of the Italian
Army Passed by the Chamber.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The Present Organization Of the
Italian Army.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.

FLORENCE, June 81, 1871.
General La Marmora's pamphlet, which attacked
the War Department for Its bad administration has
had the effect to hasten the passage OF the bill for
the reorganization Of the army which has now
been adopted IN all Its provisions by the Italian
Chamber OF Deputies.
The bill provides for large increase Of the army.
but allows exemption from service by purchase. 1t
also admits OF u reduced term Of voluntary service
according to the Prusslan system.
HISTORY, PRESENT STRENGTH AND ORGANIZATION OF
THE ITALIAN ARMY.
The nucleus OF the Italian army Is the former Sar-
dinlan force. In the campaign OF 1s4S Piedmont had
but $4,000 men, which were easily vanquished by
Austria. Alter being recognized we see the Pied
m0ntese army In the year 1859 NUMBER $4,000, with
reserve Of 1900 men, strengthened by the Carl
bald1 volunteers. After the peace OF Vafranca and
the annexations III the year following the army
numbered 14s,00O. though 1t should have been
174,oOo. In the year 1868 the whole army counted
$4,000. Of whom 27a.OoO were regular troops and
100000 reserves-the well disciplined Piedmontese
army being now embodied with the Italian,
winch was thereby much improved In quality.
the reserves, however, were lnsunic1ently
drilled AND not v to be Ms upon me man G
alterations which have been adopted on that ac-
count but speak at once OF the plan OF reorganiza-
tion OF 1869. 1t provides for an active army OF
400 900 and reserve Of go 000 entrance OF recruits
OF twenty years Of age, aud abolshes Substitution.
The annual quota form three categores, OF which
the first serves n,ne years-four in the ranks anu
five on luroughater which 1t joins the reserve for
three years The cavalry serves ten years only five
or which, however In active duty. The second cate
CORY Is drilled during one or several years, but Tor
only five months altogether. and is liable to duty,
though on Through Tor SIX years. The same Is the
case with the third category, which Is drilled but
forty days. and belongs Tor six years 10 the reserve.
Those OF the rst category on urloag9 are not per-
sixth year OF age; OF the second category until the
twenty fourh year. Volunteers having the requisite
education are admitted for one years SERVICE pro-
vlded they are able to maintain themselves.
The field army OF Italy ID computed by the Minis
ter OF War, according to the new law as foliows;-
Ordinance ana remnants of the discharged. 900
Nine classes OF the 1lrst category..... 273CO0
Six classes Oh the second category 100000
cavalry ana uain. o'ooo
the number ready for mobillzatlon and to cross
the frontier IS gwen ut 27o,ooo TO 2So0uO men, sup
ported by the reserve, consisting Of
Men.
Three classes OF the first category $4,000
Six classes OF the third category. l29, 900
Total 19s, 500
This law was to come into operation on the LIST OF
January 1870, but IL IS dillcut to tell how much OF
1t has been executed and how much, owing TO the
financial stress OF the government remained dead
letter.
ing January l. 1865 23S, 921 at the close Of 1868
1t only 17Uo00, showing reduction during that
year OF 6s 600 men. Inc new orsanzatlon OF 1892,
and the reserve at 300 0O0 limits the military budget
to 140,000,00J lires thus compelling the govern
ment to restrict the army on peace footing 10
liza, 900 men.
the military budget for the current year amounts
to 1885, l43 OOO lires for the ordinary and 66i4 600
lres Tor the extraordinary wants OF the department..
The number OF actual combatants In 1866 was
about Ssq1S men vine ON ss a Of ae aaa
100000 to 2SO0OO. must be considerably reduced by
deductng the troops requisite for keeping up inter-
would be near the mark to estimate the available
Italian force at 100000 cOmbatants While it would
be unjust judge OF the quality OF the Italian army
by the unucky campaign OF 1866, the battle OF Co.'S
tozza and the deea OF the navy 1t must not be over
looked that II Is but o young institution, without
glorious tradition, and suffering materially from
permanent political and financial cmbarrassments.