The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-05
The Soldier.

The recent German proposition to
call out the landsturm, which has
hitherto corresponded in Germany to
the French Ievee en- naasse, increases
the available resources of the empire to
the extent of 10000 men. None of
these will be over AZ years of age, ard
the majority will have passed through
the reserve, and the landwehr. Having
attained q veteran experience of the
trials and discomforts of military SER
vice, they thought they had reason to
expect exemption from them in the fu-
ture, but their hopes seem doomed to
disappointment. When this measure be-
comes law, the German army will have
the astonishing total of from 1,700,0 900
to 1900, 900 men, all accustomed, by
regular periodical training, to the duties
of the soldier. On the 9th of last month,
the conseils de revision of France be-
gan their examination of persons sub
ject to military duty in the territorial
army, so-called--a sort of landwehr-
under the new law, devised after the
German plan. These comprise all men
between twenty-nine and forty years of
age, and they amount in total to the
vast figure of 100000 men. More
than half of these, of course, will be
found unfit for service; and the French
are not SO amenable TO military dis
cipline as the Germans, it is safe to
infer that the experience so far will be
continued, and, in spite of pains and
penalties threatened, only fraction of
those who are liable. will put in an ap-
pearance before the conseils. The ac-
tive army of France, we may add, is at
such low ebb that it would be hard
for the War Minister to place more than
France may love war-and she certainly
hates Germany-but she does not take
kindly to the Prussian military system.
The French army on war footing on
paper, besides the territorial army
above referred to, amounts to 689, 900
men, beside the reserve of each. The
active army of Austria numbers S97, 900
men, besides seven annual contingents
and landwehr. The nominal effective
force of the italian army was on the 1st
of January. of this year, 1854 men,
of whom 392, 1894 had received CON-
plete military education, 1887 were
imperfectly instructed, and SO, ,523 to-
tally untaught. Russia is now busily
engaged in following the general move
ment. The country has been divided
into fourteen military circumscriptions,
and the work of enrolling those liable
to military duty is rapidly going for
ward. It's completion will give Russia
the largest military force and reserve
in Europe. Add to these enormous
figures the men actually on service with
the navies of Europe-England, 6S, 264,
Gncluding naval reserve); Russia &c.
600; France, 800; Turkey. 1000;
Spain, IA. 600; Germany. II, ,450; Aus
t-ia. 1880; Italy, 1920; Holland,
$500; Denmark, $500; Norway, $500;
Portugal, $500. Europe, it will be
seen, from these figures, begins the
new year with q larger number of
armed men than she has had at any
previous epoch.
Glancing at these figures, the reader
may gather some comfort III comparing
our situation with that of the old world.
Our little army of $4,000 men, and the
militia of the States, numbering 1884,
600, represent all the military service
we are called on to render.-NeaO York
Times.