Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-04
The AUSTRIAN Military Po,Uer.
New York Sum-

ING" lOIA DUN.
In tho event of Russia being left to con-
tend single-handed against the Anglo-Aus
tran league, it would be interesting to APP
praise the fighting strength of the two
parties. We know something about the
numbers and organization of the Cars
armies, and We know, too, how seriously
fiscal shortcomings at home must cripple
efficiency in the field. We have had occasion
also to notice the reforms introduced in Eng
land by the Cardwell bill, and it is certain
that Great Britain is rich enough to afford
mistakes, and to reconstruct under fire her
military system. But what is the weight of
the third factor, and what would be the value
OF Austrian cooperation, as compared, for
instance, with the French alliance in the
Crimean war? These consid-
erations of local proximity and popular
enthusiasm would have great weight if the
military resources and organization of the
Austro- Hungarian empire remained what
they were ten years ago. But in no direc-
ton has the astonishing transformation,
which dates from the appointment of Count
Beust as Prime Minister in 1867, been more
sweeping and efectual. One of the first
steps of the new ruler was to reconstruct the
whole army system of Austria, as regards
recruitment, term of service, and scheme of
mobilization, after that Prussian model
which has proved itself 50 incompatible at
Sadowa. During the decade which has
elapsed, the new regulations have been
sagaciously and faithfully applied, and the
result is that the fighting strength of the
empire, always impressive upon paper, is
now formidable fact. By the law of Dec.
8, 1868, the strength of the regular army on
a war footing was fixed at somewhat less than
100000 men, of which nearly moiety was
to be furnished by Hungary. But according
to the report lately published by Gen. Upton,
the above numbers are now swollen to 1,O13,-
600. nearly hundred and thirty thousand
being contributed by the Hungarian
I0ndpehr alone, whose ratio, however, to
the whole Transleithan contingent is but as
one to four. Thus it appears that in addi-
ton to his German Czech, and South Slavic
forces, the Austrian coadjutor of England
might launch into Bulgaria thoroughly
compacted and disciplined army of some half
million mon, largely made up of the Mag
vars. and wholly animated with their fiery
spirit. A sufficient number of troops would
remain available for movements, in Bosnia
and Servia, or on the frontier of Galicia in
The east.
There are other reasons which we cannot
dwell on here, but which plainly render a
contest with Austria peculiarly dangerous to
Russia. A large force would have to be de-
tailed to prevent an uprising in Poland.
Moreover, the Slavic subjects of the Kaiser
could not fail to exert much pressure on the
kindred peoples of the south, and there are
signs already that Austrian influence would
be dominant at Belgrade, if not at Cettinje.
But, aside from these matters, the broad facts
above outlined demonstrate that, provided
Russia is left isolated in the struggle which
seems impending, the league Of Austrian
stsel and British gold Will probably be fata!
her prestige and her ambition.