The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-05-21
The Empires of Peace.
From the New York Tribune, 12th.I


From the New York Tribune, 12th.l
Never before was Russia so well pre-
pared in all respects for war, defensive
or offensive.
Russia has under arms 100000 of an
active force ready for the field, 10000
men classed as garrison troops, $4,000 of
the local force, 100000 Of the reserve,
257 900 men in depots. and, finally, TO-
600 Cossacks enrolled for the active con-
tingent, or total of l 1,463, 600 men,
ready for the business of war at short
notice. Upon the enforcement of the
new laws regulating obligatory service,
the field force could be speedily enlarg-
ed 10 100000 men, and there could be
drawn force of 6S, 600 men from the
special corps occupying the Caucasus,
making the effective strength / 100000.
This maybe readily augmented by 200,-
900 Cossacks, and from the Opoltchessi
or Landwehr may be drafted another
million of men, giving an aggregate Of
100000 available for war purposes.
For this immense force the very best Of
modern arms have been provided, in
Guiding the Gatling gun and the latest
improved American revolver for the
cavalry.
The scale of Prussian military prepar-
alton is known TO all men. This is
shown by official reports within a few
thousand men and half dozen batteries
of field artillery, while the recent Fran
co-German War gave positive evidence
Of the extraordinary moral and intell-
ectual elements which animate that vast
war machine, the Prussian army, and
The skill of those who direct its opera
tions. Recently the Prussian artillery
! has been completely reOrgaBized, and
the field artillery, separated from that
designed for siege and fortress service
mas been distributed among the several
army corps, at the rate of two regiments
each of two battalions and eight batter
les, 10 the corps. OF these batteries
there are three hundred, and when com
pleted the organization will consist ot
! thirty-five regiments with an armament
Of l,200 pieces, to be increased TO /, 800
in war. The foot or fortress and siege
artillery, at present, embrace twenty,
aine battalions Of four companies each
armed with the needle-gun, and trained
in infantry as we'll as in heavy artillery
service. Meanwhile experiments upon
I great scale have been made with the
new field guns adopted for the ARTILLERY
in 1873, and that arm has been thorough.
| ly and satisfactorily tested, or its valuC
Iscertained. Moreover, six army corpi
have been rearmed with the new Mausel
rifle, in place of the once famous needle
gun; and all the cavalry carry the cap
tured chassepot, shortened and other
wise modified into an excellent ligh
rhine. At the same time a MauseI
carbine has been furnished to a number
Of the Chasseur battaIions for expert
ment. Without counting the reserves
we may set down the Imperial army a
nearly 100000 men. All the frontier
fortresses are being rapidly enlarged
and strengthened by every engineering
device; and it is noteworthy that thos'
on the Russian border have received al
close attention as those facing France
BY a recent act of the Reichstag provi
sion was also made for the maintenance,
of the Landsturm told soldier<l fol
seven years, at peace footing Of 400, ,Got
men.