New-York tribune., 1875-05-12
placing tho responsibility for this wholesale
robbery, perjury, corruption. and dobauchery
where it properly belongs.
THE ARMIES OF EUROPE.

While the necessity for peace Is upon all
lps, and the benefits of international amity
are forcibly contrasted by the European press
with all the bale, the plague, the evil that
follow in the train OF war, yet, at tho same
time, tho governments continue to arm, ana
with feverish haste arc cndcavoring to swell
their armies TO the most formidable war foot
ing. All branches Of military administration
arc equally stimulated; armaments are per-
fected as we'll as assembled to an enormous
extent; ways Of communication arc extended
and ramifcd; new methods of conscrip-
ton or obligatory service aro digcstcd
so as to draw forth tho utmost
available effective strength Of tho country,
while over all these mcasurl-i, that speak so
clearly of war, there il thrown so slight vail
that no one should fail to ace the ultimate re-
suit. Beginning with Russia, that power has
at this moment under arms 100000 OF The ac-
tive force ready for the field, 10000 men
classed as garrison troops, $4,000 OF the local
force, 100000 of the reserve, $4,000 men in
depots, and, finally, 10000 Cossacks enrolled
for the active contingent, or total OF
1,463,000 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 enlarged to 100000
men, and there could be drawn n force OF
$4,000 men from the special corps occupying
TIE Caucasus, making tho effective strength
LOO, 900. This may be readily augmented
by 100000 COssaclls and from the OpOltchcssi
or Laadwehr may be drafted another million of
men, giving an aggregate of 100000 avalla-
Bile for war PURPOSES. For this immense force
the very best of modern arms have been pro-
vided, including the Catling gun and the latest
improved American revolver for the cavalry.
Never before was Russia so well prepared in
ail respects for war, defensive or offensive.
The scale of Prussiau military preparation
is known to all men. This is shown by official
reports within q few thousand men and half
dozen BATTERIES of field artillery, whilo the
recent FraDcO-Gcrman war gave positive evil
dcncc of the extraordinary moral and intel
lcctual elements which animate that vast war
machine, tic Pll,sian army, and the skill OF
those who direct its operations. Recently the
PrusSian artillery has been completely roOrgan-
ized, and the field artillery, separated from that
designed for siege and fortress service, has
been distributed among the several army
coips at tic rate of two regiments, each OF
two batialons and eight batteries, TO the
corps. OF these batteries there arc 800, and
when completed the organization will consist
Of 80 regiments with an armament OF 1,2O0
pieces, to be increased TO 500 in war. The
foot or fortress and siege artillery. ut present,
embrace 20 battaliOns OF four companies each,
armed with the nccdle-G,n, and trained in
infantry as well as in heavy artillery
service. Meanwhile experiments upon a
| lao, pif M "
field guns adopted for tho artillery in 1873,
and that arm has been thoroughly ard salts
factorily tested, or its yaluc asccrtaneu
Moreover, six army corps have been re.rmcd
with the new Mauscr ride, in place of the once
famous needle gun and all the cavalry carry
the captured ohasscpOi. shortened and other
wise modified into an excellent light carbinc.
| At the same time Malser carbnc has been
furnished to a number ol the ChasSeur bat
taions for experiment. Without counting the
reserves, we may set down the Imperial army
at nearly 100000 men. All tho frontier for
trcssos are being rapidly enlarged and strength
oncd by every engineering device; and it Is
noteworthy that those on the Russian border
have received % close attention as those facing
France By recent act of tic Rcichstag pro-
vision was also made iOy the maintenance OF
the Iandsturm (old soldiers for seven years,
at q peace footing of 100000 men.
! France OF course has been making prOdgous
cxcrtions to keep pace with these preparations
of Prussia and Russia, aud has "A reOrganized
army of at least Ga, ,0Jo men, exclusive OF Tie
new Territorial armies. In the recent Maneu-
"vers,n ut which many foreign officers were
present, the French corps are said, by general
consent, TO have shown high degree of dis
ciplinc, with every evidence of substantial re-
form. War material has been accumulated
the best defensive positions have been strongly
fortified, and the means Of rapid transportation
and concentration upon tho frontier are we'll
nigh perfected.
Even ii,slilar England has not stood an i'll
active spectator of these military preparations
OF ihe great continental powers but. after all,
| little has been dOno to increase the size OF the
array. The subject of recruitment is one,
however, that has excited much discussion in
the press and Parliament. but as yet nothing
definite has been determined. One thing, how
ever, has been settled no care is TO be spared
to preserve the maritime supremacy and
strength of England, whose navy to-day is
even stronger relatively, than ever before
end was never 80 formidable for oiicnse OF 80
effective for defense.
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