The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-03-12
THE COMING WAR In EUROPE.
An English Writer ON the Fighting Ca
paeity of tho Nations.

An English Writer ON the Fighting Ca
/ paeity of the Nations.
In that respectable Loadon periodi-
cal, the Gentleman's Magazine, fol-
| January. there appears an article con.
tributed by Mr.. FL. M. Hosier, which,
| in an intelligent and thoughtful man
ner, discusses the fighting capacity OF
1 the nations of Europe in view of the
/ general war SO confidently predicted by
MIR. Disraeli and other English states
men. Mr.. Hosier alludes to the dis
| quietude prevailing in the public mind
in England in consequence of these
mysterious utterances on both sides of
the house of commons, and believes
that careful survey OF the field will
have the effect of en1ightening his read
ers as to the nature of the conflict, the
parties which will be engaged in it, and
the duty of the English people and gov
ernment in the crisis which will soon
be upon the civilized world.
He begins his survey of Europe with
France, considers the military condition
of each country in turn, and concludes
with an endeavor to fix the exact point
where hostilities will break out.
FRANCE.
Notwithstanding the desire which
may exist on the part Of the French
people TO rush into q war with Germany,
to gain revenge for the defeat of four
years ago, it is doubtful if the French
government would encourage the as.
piration. Torn as France is by politi-
cal dissentions, it is extremely doubtful
whether any ministry would add the
cares and the perils of war to the other
prominent dangers of it's existence.
Neither is the French army In condition
nor is likely to be for many years-to
undertake o campaign of any magni-
tude. The military organization of the
second empire was entirely broken up
by the disasters of the German war.
At the present time no fixed plan can
really be said to have been adopted for
the organization of the army the
questions as to depots and cddres are
still unaolved. French military men
assert that their artillery is in power.
full state but it may reasonably be
doubted that, in the short time that
has elapsed since the enormous loss of
that arm which occurred in the German
war, it can have been replaced by guns
iudiciously selected and carefully man.
ufactured. Though there is not great
dearth of men in the French army, it
cannot be said that the recruits are of
satisfactory kind. The weakness of the
commissariat arrangement was one of
the most potent causes of the failure of
the French In the German war. It has
not yet been thoroughly changed for
the better. The mitrailleuses, which
were so zealously guarded, and which
were expected to strike terror in the
German ranks, were found to be fall
ure In the war, and have now been
abandoned for all practical purposes of
campaigning SO that ct present France
is not in q condition to rush into
war" Ib has taken England twenty
years to reorganize from the break
down of her military system in the
Crimean war, and a vast amount of
money has been expended in effecting
the changes and it can hardly be pos.
sible that things are so much better
managed in France that she can in four
or five years put an army in the field
with any prospect of winning back the
laurels 30 rudely Wrested from her in
her last great contest.
SPAIN.
Spain may be considered at the pres
ent moment out of the military arena of
Europe. She is too much engrossed
by her internal troubles to be available
either as an ally or enemy in case Of
international disturbances. Italy pos
sesses an army Of ofeonsiderable numeri-
cal force-an army which may be in |
round numbers said to amount to 400,
600 men. But in Italy the sinews of |
war are wanting. The Italian govern
ment is hard pressed by financial diff
culties. The italian army is a new |
machine, and, like all other new ma
chimes, it can not be expected to work |
smoothly throughout. Its organiza- |
tion and administration were originally |
copied from the French /; but since the
breakdown of the French system the |
organization Of the Italian army has
been considerably modified. StiIl, it |
can not be denied that the italian milf |
tary forces are formidable power to
be considered IN the fighting capacity
of Europe, and would cast an enormous
weight into the scale on either side.
BELGIUM AND SWITZERLAND.
AS to the two new neutral countries
of Belgium and Switzerland little need
be said. The neutrality of one is guar
anteed by the great powers, and the
other has d perhaps still greater guar
anbee of neutrality IN the shape Of
public opinion in Europe. The Bel
gian army may be 50. 900 strong. Per-
haps they are not the finest troops in
the world, but still they are not, as a
great statesman il rep0rted to have
said of them, merely all coat and
musket and little man. It il certain
that Belgium, unaided, could hold her
frontiers against neither Germany nor
France IL either of these powers wished
to make tho Netherlands its battle
field or it's line of communications.
RUSSIA.
g A great end mysterious power looms
up ID the north. On the 1st of No
yember last a law came into force In
Russia by which every Russian subject
became liable 10 military service, and |
the consequence of this decree is an
enormous increase in the army. It is
that next year Russia will be
able to put 10 the field !. 500, 900 men.
These men are excellent soldiers In |
many respects. They may not be acute
or intelligent. but they are strong, /
hardy, capp bla Of bearing fatigue, have
an intense loyalty to their sovereign, |
believe tbat the Russian government /
ean do no wrong, and would enter upon
a, n, "a n,s,oieyr, ordered hv that govern