The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-02-21
FRANCE ARMED FOR THE FIGHT.
A Portentous Fact-A Trained Force of
HSa%tS q Ean nas.
[From the London Taesreph. !

FRANCE ARMED FOR THE FIGHT.
A Portentous Fact-A Trained Force of
Yearly 2, 800 e,0eV.
From the London Tslesreph.i
| An exhaustive compilation Of StStist3cs
relating to "The Armed Strength of
France" has recently emanated from
the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter
master (&eberals Department at the
Horse Guards, and it is impossible tt
sean. the results of Major East's fabori.
otls investigatiot,s ah the subject without
| being struck at the prodigiG1s strides
tnaae by the French military authorities
in the work Of Reorganization since the
| passage of the new law, " sur ie se8rhte-
ment," by the National Assembly five
years ago. Never since the disastrous
campaign of Napoleon l., which closed
| at Waterloo; has the normal rate of ex-
penditure upon the ARMY OF Franco ap-
preached the amount it has now reached.
| The numerical strength of the troops ar
present established on peace footing,
| exceeds by g3, coo men what was Gee aed
sufficient oh the came basis Immediately
before the outbreak of tie Sar with
Germany. The French War Office has
spared no pains to become acquainted
with the working of every military sys
-
that, according to the estimate Of Major
East, notw; ;thstanding her immense loss
OF territory, money and population,
available land force, consisting exelu-
sively of trained men, numbering
2,473, 1866. This vast aggregate includes
the ''active' and territorial armies,
with the reserves belonging to them re-
speetively.
Consequently mighty force, drawn
from this armed host, Under the hew
regime, could be put in the field in a
comparatively brief space of time. OF
| coiifse, Il IS only the modified plan Of
recruiting introduced subsequent to the
Franco German war that could rtf1der
possible the mobilization of force SO
enormous. By the act passed in 1872,
every Frenchman between 20 and 40
years became liable to personal military
service, without the chance of receiving
any kind of bounty by way of compen-
sation for enlistment. SO stringent are
the regulations enforced lii Respect to
this matter, that no substitution is al
lowed, and even dispensations from SER
vice. obtainable under certain condi-
tions, do not necessarily secure ex-
emption. A table, showing the number
of young men domiciled in each canton
having completed their Goth year, is
drawn up by the Mayor of the district.
This table is regularly placarded in each
commune at a given period, and, on
day fixed for the purpose, it is examined.
The drawing of lots follows at the chief
town of the canton, in the presence of
the -Prefect, assisted by the Mayor
of the canton, and, when ot1ee these are
drawn, no causes of exemption are adj
missible, except in case of bodily in
trinity, deficient height, urgent domestic
claims, and some other specified contin-
gencies.
Every German capable of bearing
arms is compelled to serve in the stand
ing army of his country for seven years
from the end of his Goth year, and five
years more in the Landwehr. So every
Frenchman not declared unfit for mill
tary service is now bound to serve in the
regular army for five years, in the re-
serve of the regular army for an addl-
tiot1al four FEARS, and In the reserve OF
the territorial army for six years Hlote.
Serving a milita1 y apprenticeship so pro-
tracted and varied, French soldiers can
hardly fail in few years to attain the
highest proficiency in their profession.
From 1873 to 1876 the average yearly
number of young men who drew lote,
out of a population of sc. 900, 600, was
292, ZOO. OF that number, 145, 500 were
exempted on various grounds; SO that
145, 500 were left available every year for
actual service with the colors. The
grand total of the active army, including
those in disponibilite, is 1896 sub
officers and men. The reserve of the
active army, comprising four classes be-
tween the sixth and nintn year of ser
vice, numbers $40, ,982; the territorial
army, which embraces ff1en between the
tenth and fourteenth year of service,
amounts to 594, ,730: and the reserve of
the latter army, which represents those
between the fifteenth and twentieth year
of service reaches total of 63S, 782. If
this united force be compared with the
German Army of the Line, the Reserve,
the tahdwehr, and the Landsturm, it
will be found to be very much stronger
numerically. The French army is dis
tributed throughout the eighteen "re-
gions into which the country is di-
vided, and corps is stationed in each
of them. besides one located in Algeria.
The estimated cost for 1878 which this
extensive process of military reorganiza-
ton involves is g21 ,675 600; and, to
pICpSI1y eIS Late dD GA
penditure ON the War Department has
/ been augmented it should be remem-
bered that it now exceeds the amount
devoted to the army in 184S, when Louis
Philippe fell, by more than So, 200, 900,
and that it reaches within 81, 000, 900
of what was absorbed in the first year of
the Crimean war. The budget for 1873
also represents total of 35, 10S officers
and crews in the French navy, to be
provided for at collective cost of e5,-
091, ,803. There are 120 ships in commits
sion, comprehending iron-clad and un-
armored steamers, paddle wheel and
sailing vessels, relief and navigating
school ships. Only those who have not
studied the immense resources of France
will be surprised by the large develop
ment of physical force which has now
been accomplished. Despite the as
founding events of 1870 II, and the vast
increase of burdens to which they led.
France remained the most compact, rich
and homogeneous power on the CONT
nent. Thus, nearly seven years after the
close of a disastrous war, she stands
erect, and far more redoubtable than she
has ever been since her great strife with
Germany was brought to an end.
Tramp Legislation.