The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
FRINGE .iRmED FoR Tnn rronE
Porcntous Fnct-A Trained Force OF
Nearly Two Million and u Half

Fran NJ Loe,is niegroph
An exhaustive compilation of statistics
relating ~ Tine Armed Strength II France
has rc"ntly rmanatod from the Intelligence
Branch Ut the Quart rnnster- Generals Depart
mcnt at the Horse Guards. and II IL impossible
to scan tn" res ulis of MAJOR Eust's lahoriOus in
vcstiEAtions ON the subject without being struck
ai the prodigious strides made by tho Frcnch
ro"rutcmrnt.' 10y the National Assembly i've
years ago. Never since the disastrous cam
paign of tho First Napoleon. which closed at
Waterloo has the normal rate Of cxpcndtur"
upon the army OF France approached the
hnounl u nus now r'ached INC nuincricn
strength OF the troops at present established ON
q peace footing exceeds by $4,000 men what was
deemed sufficient on the sumo basis imm"-
diatrly heiorc the outbreak Of the war with Ger
many. The French War Onlcc has spared no
pains tO become acquainted with the working
of every military system in Europe. II is por-
tcntous fact that, according TO the estimate "
MAJOR East. Notwithstanding her immense loss
Of territory. money. and population. France az
force. consisting exclusively Of trained men,
numbering. 2l73.SGG6. This vast asgregaie in
tiyciiv'' "' ''''' We '''O"' '"N ~ '''''
Consequently mighty force. drawn from
this armed host under the new regime. could
be- put In the field in n comparatively brief
space of time. OF course. 1t is only the modi-
He'd plan Of recruiting introduced subsequent
to the Franco German war that could render
possible the mobilization of force 80 enor-
nous, By the act passed in 1872 every French
man between twenty and forty years became
liable To- personal military service, without the
chance OF receiving any kind " bounty by way
of compensation for enlistment. So stringent
are the regulations rnlnrr'd ~ respect y this
matter that no substitution is allowed. and even
dispcnsationS from service. ohtainablc under
certain conditions, do not necessarily secure
exemption. A table, showing the number OF
young men d9mieiicd IN each canton hay
drawn up 10y tho Mayor OF the district
This table is regularly placarled In each com
munr at given period. and on n dav fixed for
~ A wi 4
lots follows at the chief town OF the canton. in
TIE presence OF the Sub Project. assisted 10y the
Mayor ~ the canton. and when once these are
except In case Of bodily inirmity. deficient
height. urgent domestic claims. and some other
specified contingencies.
Every German capable Of hearing arms IL
compelled to serve in the standing army of his
country Tor seven years from the end Of his
twentieth yenr. and five years moro in tho
Iandwvhr. So every Errnchman not declared
unfit for military service is now bound To- serve
in the regular army for five years, In the re-
serve of the regular army for an additional four
years. and in the reserve ~ the territorial army
Tor ~lN years more. serving a military appren-
ticcship 50 proirHrted and varied. French sol
dicrs can hardly fail in few years to attain the
iishes, rroll i.ncy in thoir profession. From
1873 To- 1876 the average yearly number uf
young men who drew lots. out Of 4 population
ot 80 100 100. WIS 292.On. OF that number.
10 5,M were exempted ON various grounds. So
that IA. 500 were lett available every year for
actual service with the colors. The grand total
ofthe active army. including thOss in dispOni-
sory,' ffhr A., ar,,,y i f',,r
between the sixth aud ninth y"ar II service.
on br.,'s mn H. t,r,..n ~ t,ntH ma f,,,r
t.rnth y.nr az service, amounts t. 5oi 7gG and
Tho reserve az Tho lnff.r aru,y which A. tr. ,,f :
tios,. ,yann The Nnl.rth NM tv,,ntf fla y,i, r
~ .ryi., r.IDh.s "A total al cl- 80 III ',b's
mn f,,I fnr 4, b., o,tritrDl with th. Cnrnlan
ARMY II tiI. l. u.. tNs Rr.nrXr thn | an,lN.tr
mi No Iapistmr,n T., ,.Il IN. fr,ni IT, Ia, o.. a.
much siren-"rnnm"riealN The French army
4 |
H.1rns - Stationed m a.,rh If tn',n h'-ii :
one io.,,ioI IN A.Ir.n. Faeh r.r.nn nas-
s.s... .,.rsr.i ~ ,, ,nn.-ns.,'. In,
stor,. ~ ariI- ari,i.iiu tinn CLOTHING. harness
nm , i,,n,,.,,i. 49, en- "a ,,r,.,,, ,',1 +. - nm,
M, nf ttv,, ,ii,ist'n- al i,,frtrv N iri,.tde ~
/ ri,.,irv "A hrigal,. 81 ariiii.rv . battalion ~
,n,-iu.ssrs "A Snuud~nn 81 n,ili,nrv train IA.
r'ih"r Win ~ n,......,r, s,,ei ,n1 j',,or,
m.nts When il !. ,i..i,.rniin., H., III. Cavern
u,.nf IA t,lnr.. "a, f,r.,s ~ "A r.,,I,n an y, sem
f,ntin, tho Minister s.nis mo nrlcr :" ,Hr
1;nn,ral ro,nrnn1lnt, the army r,ins MIN
I1tot If their corn ami il i. Considered thn,
n 'l.Jy ,roIns' sLould H." r.,J, =,
start from It's quarters In canton for
~ nphillzsfinni If he minute r,l,s NOW Inn.
nnratix,iv hiuiinr n,nn H.. Iirnr,"r. ~, Il, ,yer.
,n' derartni'ni. r n~rini'es',riai h. of..rv,d
! NJ oi'itt'r ',n H.. l,, lin ,,,i,r,.,r IA
war nt.nifst pru.-'n ,yitl, "A I'm La,r,'' ,nr.
/ M o,'ur ,riin' The art,li'rT ,-t..i i,shm.n,
npt.ar- to 10 under rrf,,t adm -trntinnnnI
4 i,eiir- num- roll- training s"houIs. nr- .ual-
T powder inetori-s nanuiaatu ri,.- ~ arms iron
works and inuudrl,- m ti,,. Same. ,l.unri ntruf
commcdation for archives. maps. plans. mo-, 4.
81 modern artillery. libraries. workshops. aud
I is bestowed ON the efficiency Of the mrdica
| stan hospital arrangements provision for reli.
,<ious minstrations. and military. railway
postal. and Geographic service The import
ance oi the sound elementary ~ well ~ profcs.
is also recognized under the nov system To an